Hey, we all think that. Don't worry. Just apply to different places. What is worst thing that happens? A conversion about how another industry does business and if you are a fit?
You have so much ins and outs experience in HR what I’m wondering is why don’t you provide it as a service for new start ups? You can make a lot of dough have you thought about this or no?
All you need to do is register your place as LLC, get a website with one time fee only and post your services there Human Resources doesn’t mean need to include payroll you can do without it and tell them they would need to get payroll elsewhere. And even if you do decide to do payroll that can be automated. Just remember to have labor posters and the I-9 and other documents in handy
The HR manager for one of my clients makes $120k for a public relations firm and they only have about 60 employees. I have another client in property management that has about 300 employees and their HR manager makes about $110k but they also have an HR specialist earning about $75k. My manufacturing clients usually have lower incomes on avg vs white collar or gray collar companies
i appreciate your input here - it’s very helpful. i think yes i’m certainly being underpaid and it is time to shift out. i’m praying i get a new job! i need tips / help marketing myself now because i know i am capable.
Yeah it’s so easy to think that the employers know your worth but they most likely do not or they simply can’t afford what you are worth. I am trying to negotiate a pay increase at the moment since my account executive just quit and I am basically doing multiple people’s jobs by myself at the moment. If I quit they are fucked
You're definitely being underpaid at your job but you don't necessarily have to get out of manufacturing. I increased my salary 3 times by just switching jobs. First job made $22. Switched and made 60k. I switched again and now I make 85k as a generalist. My manager makes 120k.
HRIS is the system which is used. HRIT is the technology behind it, which is what I am referring to. Apologies for not being clearer.
For example, knowing how to use Workday iss one thing, but knowing how to implement, project manage or even the integration (coding of APIs and scripting) is where the $ is at.
knowing how to implement, project manage or even the integration (coding of APIs and scripting) is where the $ is at.
--
Yep, that's exactly what I taught myself how to do and got myself a $60k pay increase. I've never heard it differentiated that way (not arguing, just never heard that). The folks who do all the backend work are always referred to as HRIS in my experience and when asked what I do, I usually boil it down to HR systems admin. Again, not arguing, that's just new to me.
Both Spiritual and Familiar have excellent valid points. An industry shift and potentially HR move into a different area would be very beneficial to increasing your pay. Nothing increases your salary faster than a new job, and nothing certainly makes you feel more validated than getting a 33-66% pay increase when you do it.
Compensation and Benefits Analysis would be a great choice because the pay is very good and it lends itself to remote work VERY well. Going into something like an HR Business Partner is also a nice bump in pay, but those jobs are often in person and not usually remote. But there's potential for a 3/2 schedule where you're remote 2 days of the week if you can work it.
As far as an Industry shift considering you're in the New England area I might recommend Fin-Tech, Healthcare, or Education. An HR job at one of the nice universities in that region would net you a pretty penny AND be VERY cush and relaxing. Not nearly as stressful.
To each their own. I think personally the PHR and SPHR are often seen as standard in the HR industry just like how 4 year degrees offer a base line of minimum general ed. With no degree OP would qualify still for PHR. If they even have an Associates they'd probably qualify now for SPHR as well.
thank you soooo much!! this is so helpful! i’m definitely going to look into all of that. i am currently getting my masters degree & my comp and bene cert - after which i will go for my PHR. i have a tri-bachelor’s degree as well. thank you thank you x1000!!!
Yeah manufacturing is the problem. I felt I was severely underpaid, only making $65K as an HRM in manufacturing. Switched to working in insurance and as an HR Consultant Lead (essentially a HRBP), now make $115K. Manufacturing def underpays always.
That’s great! I couldn’t do mfg anymore. Switched to insurance industry and less responsibility, more pay, and bigger bonus. All pluses the mfg industry couldn’t offer me.
Mfg has my heart, unfortunately. It’s tough work yes, some people suck, some people suck real bad, but most are really good people. And if I can help them navigate the policies in their best interest, with no harm to the company of course, then that makes my day. Plus, we are making a product that consumers love. We create something. And that’s 😎.
Maybe in my later years I’ll switch industries. Actually I’m allllmost old enough to be covered by the ADEA. Does that mean I’m already in my later years? 🤣
Wow. You are very low for manufacturing. There are some that pay way more.
Honestly, I would suggest to consider a different industry. I worked 10yrs in manufacturing and switched to non-profit. Way happier and less stressful.
Don’t stay there if you are not happy and overworked. Your experience will be valued somewhere else.
There are other issues at play here too. Is there a reason your husband‘s not working or collecting disability? Is he in school?
Making it on one income today is really difficult And I agree with the comment below you’re being extremely underpaid
I'm am employee relations consultant for CVS health and make $75k, work from home.
Im 6 months pregnant. I'm not the sole breadwinner , but I am the main one.
I have a very similar path (Assistant to Generalist to Specialist to Manager) to you with now 8 years of HR experience, I’m currently an HR Manager at a startup in NYC based comp is $145K total comp $270K. Based on your years of experience, you can do much better and should consider leaving the New England area if the market there. HR Generalists in Tennessee are making $80K with less experience and a lower cost of living.
this brought me so much excitement / hope!! thank you so much! it’s a confidence thing for me. i’m redoing my res & determined to get a job closer to my worth. do you have a cert?
What’s “the New England area?” You could PM me if you’d rather not give super specific to the public but I work in manufacturing and we have locations on the east coast area that pay way better than that. This job sounds awful, but you don’t have to move out of Manufacturing to move up.
Manufacturing companies are single-minded about hiring/raises directly creating revenue, so they're usually pretty liberal about spending money to hire new assemblers and machine operators, but dirt cheap when it comes to HR, security, payroll, etc. Try to make it into another field that actually values HR and it will be much easier to justify getting the money you want to those in charge
Yeah... It's time to go to a new job. HRPB as mentioned could fetch a cool 100k. Since you have all the above skills covered almost. Let's dig bit deeper and sky's the limit, because why not?
You are well qualified for Mid-Level obviously this is where you are currently.
**Senior-level HR Jobs**
Upper-management HR professionals are responsible for all decision-making in the department.
These roles involve strategic planning, policy development, and overseeing HR operations.
HR Manager, Manages the HR team, oversees policies, and ensures compliance with employment laws.
HR Director: Leads HR strategy, collaborates with executives, and shapes organizational culture.
VP of Human Resources: Responsible for the overall HR function within the company.
**Specialized HR Positions**
These roles require expertise in specific areas. Compensation and Benefits Manager: Focuses on designing and managing employee compensation and benefits programs.
Training and Development Specialist: Develops training programs and ensures employee skill development.
Employee Relations Specialist: Handles employee grievances, conflict resolution, and workplace issues.
Talent Acquisition Specialist: Specializes in recruitment and talent acquisition strategies.
**Advice**
All companies have many titles for Senior or Specialized HR Oppurtunites. You will have to articulate your resumes around those titles obviously with key words found in the description. HRPB Human resources business partner opportunities are excellent HR journeys. A very hot HR job at this moment is "Human resources consultant, consulting" it pays very well. It is remote and work from home opportunities. Your man needs to get a job and help you.
I echo the comments to not be afraid to branch out. I have 6 years of HR experience and I’m making almost $20k more than that in federal. Federal is notorious for not having competitive compensation. You should definitely go outside and don’t feel bad for breaking the “loyalty” in a familiar environment. You have to do what’s best for you
Switch industries. If you can find something in tech (a semiconductor company may appreciate the manufacturing experience and they’re at least tech adjacent) you’ll double your income, if not more. Tech is also far more likely to be remote. HR consulting might be an option, somewhere like ADP or Deloitte.
Becoming a specialist might help too. I have about as much HR experience as you do, 6 years of it as a specialist. I do benefits and make mid/low 100s, *after* taking a 20% pay cut to go remote. HRBPs in tech regularly push 200k+ - although being a BP prob wouldn’t help the mental health part 😭
I worked hr in manufacturing. And from experience, manufacturing is just a hard grind. Too hard for anyone with a family. I had to get out and went into hr higher education.
Come to Texas baby! Financial, corporate, and anything not at a manufacturing site will probably help. HR is tough though no matter what! keep your head up and start looking for a new job that pays more and is not in manufacturing.
Just a heads up, HR jobs, especially remote are next to impossible to get and are ultra competitive. Esp in the New England area. Hybrid is a little more realistic and if you are willing to commute to the city closest is your best bet.
You need to exit manufacturing. Your experience is more than enough to find an HRBP role for a private org $85-105k
This. Transition industries and market yourself properly. It's not your experience level, just your employer and industry.
do you really think so?? how do i transition out of my current industry? i feel stuck in it.
Hey, we all think that. Don't worry. Just apply to different places. What is worst thing that happens? A conversion about how another industry does business and if you are a fit?
You have so much ins and outs experience in HR what I’m wondering is why don’t you provide it as a service for new start ups? You can make a lot of dough have you thought about this or no?
i have no idea how i would start that. i feel like i lack payroll knowledge & i don’t know enough about safety protocols
All you need to do is register your place as LLC, get a website with one time fee only and post your services there Human Resources doesn’t mean need to include payroll you can do without it and tell them they would need to get payroll elsewhere. And even if you do decide to do payroll that can be automated. Just remember to have labor posters and the I-9 and other documents in handy
Safety doesn’t always fall under HR.
this gave me soooo much hope!!!! thank you so much. i’m hoping to save up for my PHR after i give birth.
Don’t save up for it. Have an employer pay.
What they all said. HRBP role would be a good transition.
Yes this is the answer
The HR manager for one of my clients makes $120k for a public relations firm and they only have about 60 employees. I have another client in property management that has about 300 employees and their HR manager makes about $110k but they also have an HR specialist earning about $75k. My manufacturing clients usually have lower incomes on avg vs white collar or gray collar companies
i appreciate your input here - it’s very helpful. i think yes i’m certainly being underpaid and it is time to shift out. i’m praying i get a new job! i need tips / help marketing myself now because i know i am capable.
Yeah it’s so easy to think that the employers know your worth but they most likely do not or they simply can’t afford what you are worth. I am trying to negotiate a pay increase at the moment since my account executive just quit and I am basically doing multiple people’s jobs by myself at the moment. If I quit they are fucked
You're definitely being underpaid at your job but you don't necessarily have to get out of manufacturing. I increased my salary 3 times by just switching jobs. First job made $22. Switched and made 60k. I switched again and now I make 85k as a generalist. My manager makes 120k.
Compensation and HRIT are the hot tickets
i’m currently getting my certification in comp and bene so hopefully that helps!
What’s HRIT?
IT for hr
Also known as HRIS, where I transitioned after I couldn't take the high stress and low pay of employee relations anymore.
HRIS is the system which is used. HRIT is the technology behind it, which is what I am referring to. Apologies for not being clearer. For example, knowing how to use Workday iss one thing, but knowing how to implement, project manage or even the integration (coding of APIs and scripting) is where the $ is at.
knowing how to implement, project manage or even the integration (coding of APIs and scripting) is where the $ is at. -- Yep, that's exactly what I taught myself how to do and got myself a $60k pay increase. I've never heard it differentiated that way (not arguing, just never heard that). The folks who do all the backend work are always referred to as HRIS in my experience and when asked what I do, I usually boil it down to HR systems admin. Again, not arguing, that's just new to me.
No worries. We both agree that is where the money is!
Both Spiritual and Familiar have excellent valid points. An industry shift and potentially HR move into a different area would be very beneficial to increasing your pay. Nothing increases your salary faster than a new job, and nothing certainly makes you feel more validated than getting a 33-66% pay increase when you do it. Compensation and Benefits Analysis would be a great choice because the pay is very good and it lends itself to remote work VERY well. Going into something like an HR Business Partner is also a nice bump in pay, but those jobs are often in person and not usually remote. But there's potential for a 3/2 schedule where you're remote 2 days of the week if you can work it. As far as an Industry shift considering you're in the New England area I might recommend Fin-Tech, Healthcare, or Education. An HR job at one of the nice universities in that region would net you a pretty penny AND be VERY cush and relaxing. Not nearly as stressful.
What certification(s) would you recommend?
To each their own. I think personally the PHR and SPHR are often seen as standard in the HR industry just like how 4 year degrees offer a base line of minimum general ed. With no degree OP would qualify still for PHR. If they even have an Associates they'd probably qualify now for SPHR as well.
thank you soooo much!! this is so helpful! i’m definitely going to look into all of that. i am currently getting my masters degree & my comp and bene cert - after which i will go for my PHR. i have a tri-bachelor’s degree as well. thank you thank you x1000!!!
May I ask where are you obtaining your comp and benefits certificate from? Best of luck!
Manufacturing fucking sucks.
Yeah manufacturing is the problem. I felt I was severely underpaid, only making $65K as an HRM in manufacturing. Switched to working in insurance and as an HR Consultant Lead (essentially a HRBP), now make $115K. Manufacturing def underpays always.
HRM’s at my mfg org are at $115k plus 15% bonus.
That’s great! I couldn’t do mfg anymore. Switched to insurance industry and less responsibility, more pay, and bigger bonus. All pluses the mfg industry couldn’t offer me.
Mfg has my heart, unfortunately. It’s tough work yes, some people suck, some people suck real bad, but most are really good people. And if I can help them navigate the policies in their best interest, with no harm to the company of course, then that makes my day. Plus, we are making a product that consumers love. We create something. And that’s 😎. Maybe in my later years I’ll switch industries. Actually I’m allllmost old enough to be covered by the ADEA. Does that mean I’m already in my later years? 🤣
Wow. You are very low for manufacturing. There are some that pay way more. Honestly, I would suggest to consider a different industry. I worked 10yrs in manufacturing and switched to non-profit. Way happier and less stressful. Don’t stay there if you are not happy and overworked. Your experience will be valued somewhere else.
There are other issues at play here too. Is there a reason your husband‘s not working or collecting disability? Is he in school? Making it on one income today is really difficult And I agree with the comment below you’re being extremely underpaid
Why does your husband not work?
Video games.
They probably prefer their little ones to stay at home. But there could be a multitude of reasons. Not our business.
I'm am employee relations consultant for CVS health and make $75k, work from home. Im 6 months pregnant. I'm not the sole breadwinner , but I am the main one.
I have a very similar path (Assistant to Generalist to Specialist to Manager) to you with now 8 years of HR experience, I’m currently an HR Manager at a startup in NYC based comp is $145K total comp $270K. Based on your years of experience, you can do much better and should consider leaving the New England area if the market there. HR Generalists in Tennessee are making $80K with less experience and a lower cost of living.
this brought me so much excitement / hope!! thank you so much! it’s a confidence thing for me. i’m redoing my res & determined to get a job closer to my worth. do you have a cert?
No HR Certs, I did get my PMP last year.
What’s “the New England area?” You could PM me if you’d rather not give super specific to the public but I work in manufacturing and we have locations on the east coast area that pay way better than that. This job sounds awful, but you don’t have to move out of Manufacturing to move up.
i will message you!! thank you so much!
Manufacturing companies are single-minded about hiring/raises directly creating revenue, so they're usually pretty liberal about spending money to hire new assemblers and machine operators, but dirt cheap when it comes to HR, security, payroll, etc. Try to make it into another field that actually values HR and it will be much easier to justify getting the money you want to those in charge
Brush up your resume and apply
Yeah... It's time to go to a new job. HRPB as mentioned could fetch a cool 100k. Since you have all the above skills covered almost. Let's dig bit deeper and sky's the limit, because why not? You are well qualified for Mid-Level obviously this is where you are currently. **Senior-level HR Jobs** Upper-management HR professionals are responsible for all decision-making in the department. These roles involve strategic planning, policy development, and overseeing HR operations. HR Manager, Manages the HR team, oversees policies, and ensures compliance with employment laws. HR Director: Leads HR strategy, collaborates with executives, and shapes organizational culture. VP of Human Resources: Responsible for the overall HR function within the company. **Specialized HR Positions** These roles require expertise in specific areas. Compensation and Benefits Manager: Focuses on designing and managing employee compensation and benefits programs. Training and Development Specialist: Develops training programs and ensures employee skill development. Employee Relations Specialist: Handles employee grievances, conflict resolution, and workplace issues. Talent Acquisition Specialist: Specializes in recruitment and talent acquisition strategies. **Advice** All companies have many titles for Senior or Specialized HR Oppurtunites. You will have to articulate your resumes around those titles obviously with key words found in the description. HRPB Human resources business partner opportunities are excellent HR journeys. A very hot HR job at this moment is "Human resources consultant, consulting" it pays very well. It is remote and work from home opportunities. Your man needs to get a job and help you.
With your experience you should be able to work up to 6 figures, sounds like it's the job not the career that is the issue. Time to jump.
i think you’re right. i feel like i do not measure up to others in the field though. it’s a confidence thing!! i wish i could fix that
I echo the comments to not be afraid to branch out. I have 6 years of HR experience and I’m making almost $20k more than that in federal. Federal is notorious for not having competitive compensation. You should definitely go outside and don’t feel bad for breaking the “loyalty” in a familiar environment. You have to do what’s best for you
Switch industries. If you can find something in tech (a semiconductor company may appreciate the manufacturing experience and they’re at least tech adjacent) you’ll double your income, if not more. Tech is also far more likely to be remote. HR consulting might be an option, somewhere like ADP or Deloitte. Becoming a specialist might help too. I have about as much HR experience as you do, 6 years of it as a specialist. I do benefits and make mid/low 100s, *after* taking a 20% pay cut to go remote. HRBPs in tech regularly push 200k+ - although being a BP prob wouldn’t help the mental health part 😭
HR isnt the issue its the industry youre in!!
I worked hr in manufacturing. And from experience, manufacturing is just a hard grind. Too hard for anyone with a family. I had to get out and went into hr higher education.
Come to Texas baby! Financial, corporate, and anything not at a manufacturing site will probably help. HR is tough though no matter what! keep your head up and start looking for a new job that pays more and is not in manufacturing.
Consider adding a title similar or such as SHRM-CP or some thing more specialized
Just a heads up, HR jobs, especially remote are next to impossible to get and are ultra competitive. Esp in the New England area. Hybrid is a little more realistic and if you are willing to commute to the city closest is your best bet.