Human Resources Specialists pay range in Modesto
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $48,890 a year or less, while the top 10% make $120,330 or more. The middle half of human resources specialists in Modesto earn between $60,450 and $97,570.
- $49K10th
- $60K25th
- $77KMedian
- $98K75th
- $120K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $80,480 | $6,707 | $38.69 |
| Median | $77,070 | $6,422 | $37.05 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $60,450 | $5,038 | $29.06 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $97,570 | $8,131 | $46.91 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Human Resources Specialists pay in Modesto vs. California and the U.S.
Human resources specialists in Modesto earn 15% less than the California average ($95,180) and about the same as the U.S. average ($81,990). At the median the gap is +1% against the U.S. median of $75,940.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Modesto | $80,480 | $77,070 | $48,890 | $120,330 | 730 |
| California | $95,180 | $83,500 | $52,770 | $151,410 | 104,000 |
| United States | $81,990 | $75,940 | $47,180 | $128,720 | 912,430 |
State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.
Human Resources Specialists salary after taxes in Modesto
On the average salary of $80,480, a single filer in Modesto takes home about $62,055 a year, or $5,171 a month and $2,387 every two weeks. Taxes take 23% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2025 rules). California State Disability Insurance (1.3% of wages, paid by employees) is not included.
Is Modesto a good place for human resources specialists? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Modesto area are 4% above the U.S. average (BEA price parity 104.1), so the average $80,480 buys what about $77,304 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.5 times the median wage of all jobs in Modesto ($50,610). A typical home costs $468,302, or 5.8 years of this average salary before tax.
Human Resources Specialists salary in other California cities
Modesto ranks 18th of 25 California metro areas for this job; San Jose pays the most ($122,290).
- San Jose$122,290
- San Francisco$113,530
- Santa Cruz$93,190
- Vallejo$92,480
- Santa Maria$91,880
- San Diego$91,760
- Napa$91,260
- Oxnard$90,570
- Los Angeles$89,780
- Modesto$80,480
Highest-paying cities for human resources specialists
San Jose, CA pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($122,290).
- San Jose, CA$122,290
- San Francisco, CA$113,530
- Washington, DC$105,580
- Lexington Park, MD$104,240
- Boulder, CO$99,420
Does this match what you are paid?
Anonymous, no account. Results update as visitors answer.
Share your pay anonymously
Human Resources Specialists salary in Modesto: questions
How much do human resources specialists make an hour in Modesto?
$38.69 an hour on average, and $37.06 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level human resources specialists salary in Modesto?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $48,890 a year and the 25th percentile is $60,450, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the human resources specialists take-home pay in Modesto?
About $62,055 a year ($5,171 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $80,480. California State Disability Insurance (1.3% of wages, paid by employees) is not included.
Do human resources specialists earn more in Modesto than elsewhere?
The average here is about the same as the U.S. average for this job ($81,990).
Sources and how to read this page
- Wages: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 estimates for metropolitan areas. SOC code 13-1071; area Modesto, CA (33700). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 1.1%.
- U.S. and statewide figures: BLS OEWS national and state estimates, May 2025, every employer including rural areas.
- Cost of living: Bureau of Economic Analysis regional price parities (RPP), 2024; 100 = U.S. average.
- Home value: Zillow Home Value Index. Typical-wage figure: OEWS all occupations, same metro.
- Take-home pay: Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2025 rules). California State Disability Insurance (1.3% of wages, paid by employees) is not included.
- Job concentration: location quotient 0.64, this job is less common than in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.64).
Read the full methodology. Spotted an error? Tell us.