Human Resources Manager Jobs in Los Angeles, CA
Human resources managers in Los Angeles earn a metro median of $168,400 a year, and employers from SpaceX in Hawthorne to USC and L.A. Care downtown are hiring HR partners and leaders now. Here are the current openings, followed by who is hiring, what it pays and how to qualify.
Current human resources manager Openings in Los Angeles, CA
Listings marked External are sponsored openings provided by the Jobs2Careers network.
Human Resources Manager Work in Los Angeles
HR management in Los Angeles splits between the big public and nonprofit institutions and the South Bay's aerospace and space companies. USC's University Park campus, UCLA and L.A. Care Health Plan in downtown Los Angeles run large unionized and benefits-heavy workforces, while SpaceX in Hawthorne and K2 Space in Torrance hire HR business partners to keep up with fast-growing engineering and production teams. California employment law shapes the job more than in most states: employers with five or more workers must give supervisors two hours of harassment-prevention training every two years, and the City of Los Angeles Fair Chance Initiative bars private employers in the city from asking about criminal history until after a conditional offer.
Top Los Angeles Employers Hiring Human Resources Managers
These employers have current HR manager and HR partner openings in the Los Angeles area posted on their own careers sites:
- SpaceX - hires HR business partners and senior HR business partners, including employee relations roles, at its Hawthorne headquarters.
- L.A. Care Health Plan - the public health plan hires HR leaders, including a compensation and benefits director, at its downtown Los Angeles offices.
- USC - University Human Resources hires HR partners for the University Park campus.
- UCLA - campus HR hires labor and employee relations specialists who work with UCLA's unionized staff.
- K2 Space - the Torrance satellite builder is hiring a senior HR business partner for in-office work.
Human Resources Manager Salaries in Los Angeles
- Entry level: about $85,000 to $120,000 a year for HR partner and first-level HR business partner roles.
- Experienced: roughly $115,000 to $160,000 a year for senior HR business partners and employee or labor relations leads.
- Senior: about $170,000 to $290,000 a year for HR directors and heads of compensation and benefits.
These are estimates based on pay ranges posted by Los Angeles employers in 2026 and BLS 2025 wage data for the metro, where the 10th percentile was $98,810, the median $168,400 and the 90th percentile $299,740. Pay moves with the size of the workforce you support, your specialty, whether the employer is a fast-growing private company or a public institution, and equity at private aerospace firms.
How to Become a Human Resources Manager in Los Angeles
California does not license HR managers, and certification is voluntary, though many Los Angeles postings prefer it. SHRM offers the SHRM-CP and SHRM-SCP, and HRCI offers the PHR, SPHR and the California-specific PHRca. Local programs include the Option in Human Resources Management in Cal State LA's Business Administration B.S., CSUN's Minor in Human Resource and Talent Management, the UCLA Extension Human Resources Management Certificate, the Human Resources Management Certificate at CSU Dominguez Hills in Carson, and USC Bovard College's online MS in Human Resource Management. The California Civil Rights Department enforces state workplace discrimination and harassment rules and offers free training online.
What the Job Involves
HR managers oversee hiring, onboarding, pay and benefits, performance reviews, employee relations and investigations. They advise managers on discipline and policy, keep the company in line with state and local employment laws, run required training, work with unions where staff are represented, and use HR data to plan staffing and retention.
Skills Employers Look For
- California employment law and compliance
- Employee relations and workplace investigations
- Coaching and advising managers
- Compensation and benefits administration
- Labor relations and union contracts
- HR systems and workforce data
- Discretion with confidential matters
Career Path and Advancement
Most Los Angeles HR managers start as HR coordinators, recruiters or generalists, then move into HR partner or business partner roles before managing a team. From there the path runs to senior HR business partner, HR director and head of people. Specialists in labor relations, compensation and benefits are in steady demand at the region's universities and health plans, while aerospace firms in Hawthorne and Torrance reward experience scaling HR at fast-growing companies.
Related Careers in Los Angeles
If HR management interests you, these related Los Angeles roles are close matches:
Frequently Asked Questions
How much do HR managers make in Los Angeles?
BLS 2025 data puts the Los Angeles metro median at $168,400 a year. Posted 2026 ranges run from about $85,000 for HR business partner roles to more than $290,000 at the top of an HR director range.
Do HR managers need a license in California?
No. California has no license for HR managers. Certification such as SHRM-CP, PHR or the California-focused PHRca is voluntary, though many employers list it as preferred.
What is the PHRca certification?
The PHRca is HRCI's credential for HR professionals who work under California law. It uses the same experience rules as the PHR, and you do not need to hold the PHR first.
What harassment training must Los Angeles employers provide?
Under California law, employers with five or more employees must give supervisors at least two hours and other employees at least one hour of harassment-prevention training every two years. The California Civil Rights Department offers free training online.
Can employers in Los Angeles ask about criminal history on a job application?
No. The City of Los Angeles Fair Chance Initiative for Hiring bars private employers in the city from asking about criminal history on applications or postings. They may ask only after a conditional job offer, alongside the state's Fair Chance Act.
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