Labor Relations Specialists
Labor Relations Specialists (SOC 13-1075) earn a median $95,420 a year ($45.87 an hour) in the United States, with 64,810 employed as of May 2025; the highest-paying state is New Jersey.
What labor relations specialists do
Labor relations specialists handle the relationships between employers and workers, especially in settings with unions. Their tasks include negotiating collective bargaining agreements, drafting contract proposals and counterproposals, and investigating and evaluating union complaints or arguments to see whether they have merit. They coordinate grievance procedures to resolve employee complaints, and propose solutions in bargaining or other labor disputes. Titles include arbitration specialist, collective bargaining specialist, business representative, and grievance and appeals specialist. The classification excludes equal employment opportunity officers, who are included with compliance officers. It also differs from human resources managers, who direct a personnel department, and from lawyers who practice labor law. Preparing evidence for disciplinary hearings, including preparing witnesses to testify, is part of the job, as is reviewing employer practices for compliance with contracts on wages, hours, and conditions.
Typical entry: O*NET respondents most often report a bachelor's degree as the typical level of education for this occupation.
Also called: Appeals and Grievances Specialist, Arbitration Specialist, Business Agent, Business Representative, Collective Bargaining Specialist.
National wage percentiles, May 2025
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||
| United States | Hourly | $24.27 | $34.58 | $45.87 | $59.34 | $75.09 | $47.46 | 64,810 |
| Annual | $50,490 | $71,920 | $95,420 | $123,420 | $156,180 | $98,720 | ||
Employment per 1,000 jobs and the location quotient are area measures; they appear in the state and metro tables below. To see what a wage in this range leaves after tax, use FastCalc's take-home pay calculator.
Where labor relations specialists earn and work most
Five highest-paying states
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| New Jersey | Hourly | $35.17 | $41.64 | $56.91 | $63.86 | $80.46 | $55.28 | 3,700 | 0.86 | 2.07 |
| Annual | $73,150 | $86,600 | $118,370 | $132,830 | $167,350 | $114,980 | ||||
| District of Columbia | Hourly | $39.27 | $46.95 | $55.58 | $74.03 | $77.05 | $59.91 | 160 | 0.23 | 0.55 |
| Annual | $81,690 | $97,650 | $115,600 | $153,990 | $160,260 | $124,610 | ||||
| Massachusetts | Hourly | $29.58 | $39.24 | $53.49 | $63.63 | $77.82 | $53.45 | 1,660 | 0.46 | 1.10 |
| Annual | $61,530 | $81,610 | $111,260 | $132,350 | $161,860 | $111,180 | ||||
| California | Hourly | $25.65 | $36.91 | $50.87 | $62.49 | $82.75 | $53.95 | 8,830 | 0.49 | 1.16 |
| Annual | $53,350 | $76,770 | $105,810 | $129,970 | $172,110 | $112,210 | ||||
| Illinois | Hourly | $30.36 | $38.16 | $50.09 | $56.20 | $69.33 | $49.51 | 3,670 | 0.60 | 1.44 |
| Annual | $63,150 | $79,380 | $104,180 | $116,890 | $144,200 | $102,970 | ||||
Five states with the most jobs
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| California | Hourly | $25.65 | $36.91 | $50.87 | $62.49 | $82.75 | $53.95 | 8,830 | 0.49 | 1.16 |
| Annual | $53,350 | $76,770 | $105,810 | $129,970 | $172,110 | $112,210 | ||||
| New York | Hourly | $28.44 | $37.69 | $48.32 | $66.76 | $81.83 | $53.48 | 6,860 | 0.71 | 1.70 |
| Annual | $59,160 | $78,390 | $100,500 | $138,860 | $170,210 | $111,230 | ||||
| Ohio | Hourly | $22.43 | $35.47 | $38.54 | $48.62 | $61.06 | $41.53 | 4,100 | 0.74 | 1.77 |
| Annual | $46,660 | $73,770 | $80,150 | $101,130 | $127,010 | $86,380 | ||||
| New Jersey | Hourly | $35.17 | $41.64 | $56.91 | $63.86 | $80.46 | $55.28 | 3,700 | 0.86 | 2.07 |
| Annual | $73,150 | $86,600 | $118,370 | $132,830 | $167,350 | $114,980 | ||||
| Illinois | Hourly | $30.36 | $38.16 | $50.09 | $56.20 | $69.33 | $49.51 | 3,670 | 0.60 | 1.44 |
| Annual | $63,150 | $79,380 | $104,180 | $116,890 | $144,200 | $102,970 | ||||
Five highest-paying metropolitan areas
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | Hourly | $32.73 | $45.37 | $64.07 | $79.59 | $100.13 | $63.54 | 510 | 0.45 | 1.08 |
| Annual | $68,090 | $94,370 | $133,270 | $165,550 | $208,270 | $132,160 | ||||
| Vallejo, CA | Hourly | $35.20 | $47.82 | $63.31 | $131.17 | $131.17 | $79.48 | 100 | 0.69 | 1.66 |
| Annual | $73,220 | $99,470 | $131,680 | $272,830 | $272,830 | $165,310 | ||||
| Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA | Hourly | $38.41 | $44.49 | $61.69 | $75.63 | $93.47 | $60.86 | 40 | 0.40 | 0.96 |
| Annual | $79,900 | $92,540 | $128,320 | $157,310 | $194,410 | $126,580 | ||||
| Bellingham, WA | Hourly | $35.83 | $43.13 | $60.65 | $85.51 | $109.83 | $65.78 | 30 | 0.37 | 0.88 |
| Annual | $74,520 | $89,700 | $126,160 | $177,860 | $228,450 | $136,810 | ||||
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | Hourly | $27.89 | $42.36 | $59.81 | $72.57 | $95.54 | $60.57 | 2,000 | 0.84 | 2.02 |
| Annual | $58,000 | $88,100 | $124,400 | $150,950 | $198,720 | $125,990 | ||||
Five metropolitan areas with the most jobs
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | Hourly | $31.53 | $40.27 | $51.67 | $73.94 | $81.16 | $56.41 | 6,930 | 0.73 | 1.75 |
| Annual | $65,570 | $83,760 | $107,470 | $153,800 | $168,820 | $117,330 | ||||
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | Hourly | $22.08 | $35.71 | $49.51 | $60.90 | $79.21 | $50.76 | 3,300 | 0.53 | 1.26 |
| Annual | $45,920 | $74,280 | $102,980 | $126,670 | $164,750 | $105,570 | ||||
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | Hourly | $27.04 | $37.11 | $49.79 | $55.93 | $65.04 | $48.07 | 3,090 | 0.69 | 1.64 |
| Annual | $56,250 | $77,190 | $103,570 | $116,340 | $135,290 | $99,990 | ||||
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | Hourly | $27.89 | $42.36 | $59.81 | $72.57 | $95.54 | $60.57 | 2,000 | 0.84 | 2.02 |
| Annual | $58,000 | $88,100 | $124,400 | $150,950 | $198,720 | $125,990 | ||||
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | Hourly | $28.95 | $37.56 | $57.31 | $64.65 | $91.38 | $57.17 | 1,990 | 0.95 | 2.29 |
| Annual | $60,220 | $78,120 | $119,200 | $134,480 | $190,070 | $118,910 | ||||
Top industries employing labor relations specialists
Business, Professional, Labor, Political, and Similar Organizations employ 77.8% of labor relations specialists nationally (50,420 jobs) at a median $95,700 a year ($46.01 an hour), followed by Management of Companies and Enterprises (3.4%) and State Government, excluding Schools and Hospitals (OEWS Designation) (1.9%).
| Industry | Employment | Share of occupation | Median annual | Median hourly |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Business, Professional, Labor, Political, and Similar Organizations NAICS 813900 | 50,420 | 77.8% | $95,700 | $46.01 |
| Management of Companies and Enterprises NAICS 551100 | 2,190 | 3.4% | $99,260 | $47.72 |
| State Government, excluding Schools and Hospitals (OEWS Designation) NAICS 999200 | 1,260 | 1.9% | $78,890 | $37.93 |
| Local Government, excluding Schools and Hospitals (OEWS Designation) NAICS 999300 | 1,050 | 1.6% | $99,080 | $47.64 |
| Insurance Carriers NAICS 524100 | 860 | 1.3% | $77,010 | $37.03 |
Share is the industry's employment over the occupation's national employment (64,810). Industries whose employment BLS withheld are not ranked.
Published medians, May 2021 to May 2025
BLS published a median annual wage of $77,010 for labor relations specialists in May 2021 and $95,420 in May 2025, with employment of 63,810 and 64,810.
| Release | Median annual | Median hourly | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| May 2021 | $77,010 | $37.03 | 63,810 |
| May 2022 | $82,010 | $39.43 | 62,200 |
| May 2023 | $89,980 | $43.26 | 62,800 |
| May 2024 | $93,500 | $44.95 | 64,590 |
| May 2025 | $95,420 | $45.87 | 64,810 |
BLS does not design OEWS as a time series: each release pools three years of samples, and occupational classifications, area definitions and estimation methods change between releases, so a difference between two releases is not a measure of change over time. The figures are shown as published, side by side, and nothing is computed from them. See how often OEWS is updated.
Every state, by median wage
51 states and DC publish a row for this occupation. A linked state has its own page with the within-state metro table and comparison; the others appear here only.
| Rank | State | Median hourly | Median annual | 10th pct (annual) | 90th pct (annual) | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | New Jersey profile | $56.91 | $118,370 | $73,150 | $167,350 | 3,700 | 0.86 | 2.07 |
| 2 | District of Columbia profile | $55.58 | $115,600 | $81,690 | $160,260 | 160 | 0.23 | 0.55 |
| 3 | Massachusetts profile | $53.49 | $111,260 | $61,530 | $161,860 | 1,660 | 0.46 | 1.10 |
| 4 | California profile | $50.87 | $105,810 | $53,350 | $172,110 | 8,830 | 0.49 | 1.16 |
| 5 | Illinois profile | $50.09 | $104,180 | $63,150 | $144,200 | 3,670 | 0.60 | 1.44 |
| 6 | Washington profile | $50.05 | $104,100 | $60,080 | $185,530 | 2,760 | 0.78 | 1.86 |
| 7 | North Dakota profile | $48.66 | $101,220 | $65,370 | $124,610 | 90 | 0.21 | 0.51 |
| 8 | Minnesota profile | $48.44 | $100,760 | $75,950 | $152,530 | 1,710 | 0.58 | 1.39 |
| 9 | New York profile | $48.32 | $100,500 | $59,160 | $170,210 | 6,860 | 0.71 | 1.70 |
| 10 | Virginia profile | $47.47 | $98,730 | $60,650 | $146,280 | 990 | 0.24 | 0.58 |
| 11 | Delaware profile | $46.82 | $97,390 | $70,810 | $137,870 | 280 | 0.57 | 1.36 |
| 12 | Arizona profile | $46.67 | $97,070 | $60,230 | $126,420 | 790 | 0.24 | 0.59 |
| 13 | Maine profile | $46.48 | $96,680 | $56,660 | $140,350 | 210 | 0.34 | 0.80 |
| 14 | Wisconsin profile | $46.04 | $95,750 | $48,440 | $148,030 | 1,690 | 0.57 | 1.38 |
| 15 | Maryland profile | $45.21 | $94,030 | $63,760 | $145,430 | 890 | 0.32 | 0.77 |
| 16 | Missouri profile | $45.11 | $93,840 | $60,650 | $136,560 | 1,190 | 0.41 | 0.97 |
| 17 | Idaho profile | $44.77 | $93,110 | $46,830 | $118,570 | 190 | 0.22 | 0.53 |
| 18 | Pennsylvania profile | $43.90 | $91,320 | $56,400 | $164,880 | 3,470 | 0.57 | 1.37 |
| 19 | Rhode Island profile | $42.32 | $88,030 | $34,190 | $140,180 | 410 | 0.81 | 1.95 |
| 20 | West Virginia profile | $42.32 | $88,020 | $65,500 | $135,250 | 420 | 0.60 | 1.43 |
| 21 | Wyoming profile | $41.98 | $87,310 | $56,810 | $126,790 | 60 | 0.20 | 0.49 |
| 22 | Colorado profile | $41.90 | $87,150 | $62,240 | $134,520 | 470 | 0.16 | 0.39 |
| 23 | North Carolina profile | $41.48 | $86,270 | $59,280 | $123,590 | 690 | 0.14 | 0.33 |
| 24 | Vermont profile | $41.29 | $85,870 | $62,290 | $140,380 | 120 | 0.39 | 0.94 |
| 25 | New Hampshire profile | $40.76 | $84,780 | $35,820 | $158,300 | 150 | 0.22 | 0.53 |
| 26 | New Mexico profile | $40.28 | $83,770 | $57,850 | $135,810 | 120 | 0.14 | 0.34 |
| 27 | Kansas profile | $39.79 | $82,750 | $60,560 | $128,490 | 370 | 0.25 | 0.61 |
| 28 | Nebraska profile | $39.38 | $81,910 | $55,140 | $121,050 | 270 | 0.27 | 0.64 |
| 29 | Florida profile | $39.28 | $81,700 | $50,200 | $133,240 | 1,970 | 0.20 | 0.47 |
| 30 | Georgia profile | $39.17 | $81,480 | $19,730 | $129,560 | 920 | 0.19 | 0.45 |
| 31 | Oregon profile | $38.70 | $80,490 | $51,360 | $152,320 | 1,210 | 0.62 | 1.48 |
| 32 | Ohio profile | $38.54 | $80,150 | $46,660 | $127,010 | 4,100 | 0.74 | 1.77 |
| 33 | Texas profile | $38.29 | $79,640 | $42,040 | $135,340 | 2,590 | 0.18 | 0.44 |
| 34 | Connecticut profile | $38.28 | $79,620 | $46,480 | $177,150 | 1,240 | 0.73 | 1.76 |
| 35 | Mississippi profile | $38.15 | $79,360 | $45,060 | $120,610 | 200 | 0.17 | 0.41 |
| 36 | Iowa profile | $38.05 | $79,140 | $61,020 | $151,890 | 610 | 0.39 | 0.95 |
| 37 | Louisiana profile | $37.55 | $78,110 | $48,550 | $108,140 | 170 | 0.09 | 0.20 |
| 38 | South Carolina profile | $37.53 | $78,050 | $18,990 | $128,010 | 340 | 0.15 | 0.36 |
| 39 | Alaska profile | $37.44 | $77,870 | $49,870 | $130,200 | 380 | 1.16 | 2.77 |
| 40 | Hawaii profile | $37.17 | $77,310 | $62,740 | $172,590 | 510 | 0.81 | 1.94 |
| 41 | Nevada profile | $37.13 | $77,240 | $59,910 | $140,710 | 610 | 0.39 | 0.95 |
| 42 | Indiana profile | $37.11 | $77,190 | $30,550 | $106,450 | 2,600 | 0.81 | 1.95 |
| 43 | Tennessee profile | $36.98 | $76,930 | $29,570 | $141,290 | 560 | 0.17 | 0.41 |
| 44 | Michigan profile | $35.46 | $73,760 | $36,200 | $121,500 | 2,430 | 0.55 | 1.33 |
| 45 | Kentucky profile | $35.36 | $73,550 | $39,220 | $97,860 | 640 | 0.32 | 0.76 |
| 46 | Montana profile | $33.83 | $70,360 | $55,890 | $123,860 | 160 | 0.31 | 0.74 |
| 47 | Oklahoma profile | $30.00 | $62,400 | $43,070 | $116,230 | 250 | 0.15 | 0.35 |
| 48 | Arkansas profile | $29.84 | $62,070 | $33,500 | $129,800 | 180 | 0.14 | 0.34 |
| 49 | Utah profile | $29.42 | $61,190 | $42,040 | $128,120 | 250 | 0.14 | 0.34 |
| 50 | South Dakota profile | $27.84 | $57,900 | $49,270 | $158,800 | 100 | 0.22 | 0.53 |
| 51 | Alabama profile | $23.13 | $48,120 | $17,880 | $96,990 | 590 | 0.28 | 0.67 |
Related occupations
Occupations in the same SOC broad group (13-1070), with their national median annual wage.
Part of Business and Financial Operations Occupations. Compare any area in the wage explorer.
Source and notes
Data: BLS OEWS May 2025, released 2026-05-15. Cross-industry estimates, all ownerships. BLS page: OEWS 13-1075 Labor Relations Specialists.
- Annual wages assume 2,080 hours a year at the hourly rate; occupations BLS publishes on one basis only show an en dash (–) on the other.
- Employment is rounded to the nearest 10 by BLS. Where BLS withholds a cell, nothing is estimated in its place.
- Top industries: nat4d_M2025_dl.xlsx in oesm25in4.zip (BLS OEWS May 2025, national, 4-digit NAICS, cross-ownership). Employment is the industry's rounded total for this occupation; industries whose employment BLS withheld (**) are not ranked.
- Published medians: national_M2021_dl.xlsx to national_M2024_dl.xlsx in oesm21nat.zip to oesm24nat.zip (BLS OEWS May 2021 to May 2024, national, cross-industry, all ownerships) and the May 2025 spine. Each release is shown as published; nothing is computed between them.
Sources
- BLS Standard Occupational Classification 2018, definition of 13-1075, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- O*NET 30.1 Database, 13-1075.00, National Center for O*NET Development, USDOL/ETA (CC BY 4.0).
- OEWS May 2025 national industry-specific estimates, 4-digit NAICS (oesm25in4.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2021 national estimates (oesm21nat.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2022 national estimates (oesm22nat.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2023 national estimates (oesm23nat.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2024 national estimates (oesm24nat.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2025 national estimates (oesm25nat.zip), the site's data spine, US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
Includes information from O*NET 30.1 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration, used under the CC BY 4.0 license.
Description written 2026-10-17 in our own words from the sources above.