HR Operations Specialist Jobs in Illinois

HR Operations Specialist jobs in Illinois are concentrated in Chicago, Naperville, and Schaumburg, where companies like United Airlines, Allstate, and Walgreens maintain large HR functions that routinely hire across benefits administration, HRIS management, and workforce compliance. The market supports roles from coordinator-level positions up to senior specialist and HR operations manager, with consistent demand tied to the region's deep concentration of corporate headquarters and professional services firms. Illinois ranks among the most active markets in the Midwest for this function. Scan the live roles below and apply to whichever ones fit.

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Overview

Open roles17
Top employerAbbVie
Top cityChicago, IL
Cities hiring5
Work type100% Hybrid
Top industryLaw

Showing 5 of 17+ HR Operations Specialist jobs

AIT Worldwide Logistics
Human Resources Operations Coordinator
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AIT Worldwide Logistics
Added 5d ago
Human Resources Operations Coordinator
AIT Worldwide Logistics
Itasca, Illinois
Business Operations
Business Strategy
Project Management
$26.4 - $37.2/hr
Experience equivalent to degree accepted
1,001-5,000

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Edgehog Trading
People Operations Generalist
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Edgehog Trading
Added 6d ago
People Operations Generalist
Edgehog Trading
Chicago, Illinois
Customer Service
Customer Support
Hospitality & Guest Services
$65k - $95k/yr
11-50

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Sertoma Star Services
People Operations Generalist (Benefits & Union Operations)
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Sertoma Star Services
Added 1w ago
People Operations Generalist (Benefits & Union Operations)
Sertoma Star Services
Alsip, Illinois
Business Analysis
Data Analytics
Data Science
$68k - $73k/yr
Bachelor's degree
501-1,000

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Opportunity Financial, LLC
People Operations Associate - Benefits & Engagement
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Opportunity Financial, LLC
Added 1w ago
People Operations Associate - Benefits & Engagement
Opportunity Financial, LLC
Chicago, Illinois
Business Operations
Customer Success
Project Management
$47k - $77k/yr
Hybrid
Bachelor's degree in business
51-200

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Kirkland & Ellis
Senior HR Operations Coordinator
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Kirkland & Ellis
Added 2w ago
Senior HR Operations Coordinator
Kirkland & Ellis
Chicago, Illinois
Communications
Content & Communications
Public Relations (PR)
$76k - $95k/yr
Hybrid
Bachelor's degree in business administration
5,001-10,000

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See All 17 HR Operations Specialist Jobs in Illinois

Find roles in Illinois that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.

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HR Operations Specialist Jobs by City in Illinois

Where Illinois roles are concentrated, by current openings.

Chicago
13 jobs
Alsip
1 job
Harvey
1 job
Itasca
1 job
North Chicago
1 job

HR Operations Specialist Job Market in Illinois

A snapshot from current Illinois openings, updated as new roles post.

Who's Hiring

AbbVie
AbbVie1 open role
Atkore
Atkore1 open role
OpenGov
OpenGov1 open role

Top Industries Hiring

  • Law & Legal Services
  • Staffing & Recruiting

What Illinois Employers Look For

The qualifications that appear most often in HR operations specialist jobs across Illinois.

  • Bachelor's degree in human resources, business administration, or a related field
  • Proficiency in HRIS platforms such as Workday, SAP SuccessFactors, or Oracle HCM
  • Experience supporting benefits administration, onboarding, or employee data management
  • Knowledge of federal and Illinois employment law, including WARN Act and FMLA compliance
  • Strong Excel and data reporting skills for workforce analytics and audits
  • PHR or SHRM-CP certification preferred by many Illinois employers at mid-level roles

HR Operations Specialist Jobs in Illinois: Frequently Asked Questions

How do you become a hr operations specialist in Illinois?

Most Illinois employers require a bachelor's degree in human resources, business administration, or a related field as the baseline qualification. Illinois does not issue a state license for HR operations specialists, so credentials such as the SHRM-CP or PHR certification from the HR Certification Institute carry the most weight in the local market. Building experience in payroll, HRIS administration, or benefits coordination at a Chicago-area company is the most common entry path.

How much do HR operations specialists make in Illinois?

HR operations specialists in Illinois earn a median of about $151,370 a year, based on May 2025 Bureau of Labor Statistics wage data, ranging from around $90,820 for the lowest 10% to over $267,520 for the top 10%. Pay rises with experience, specialty, and employer.

Which companies hire hr operations specialists in Illinois?

Employers hiring hr operations specialists in Illinois right now include AbbVie, Atkore, and OpenGov, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of August 2026. Illinois's concentration of Fortune 500 headquarters, large insurance carriers, and healthcare systems in the Chicago metro creates steady, recurring demand for this role year-round.

Which Illinois cities have the most hr operations specialist jobs?

Chicago, Alsip, and Harvey account for the largest share of hr operations specialist openings in Illinois. Chicago dominates because of its density of corporate headquarters and large employers across finance, healthcare, and logistics, while suburban hubs like Naperville and Schaumburg attract openings from regional offices and insurance companies that cluster along the Interstate 88 corridor.

Are there remote hr operations specialist jobs in Illinois?

Yes, and more than most HR roles allow, since hr operations specialists who focus on HRIS administration, data audits, and benefits coordination can perform much of that work off-site. About 100% of hr operations specialist openings tied to Illinois are remote or hybrid as of August 2026, reflecting the desk-based nature of the role. Tasks involving in-person employee relations or onboarding coordination are most likely to require some on-site presence.

How can I get hired as a hr operations specialist in Illinois with little or no experience?

The most realistic entry path is an HR coordinator or HR assistant role at a mid-size Chicago-area employer, where you gain hands-on exposure to HRIS systems, onboarding workflows, and benefits administration before moving into a specialist title. Large Illinois employers such as Advocate Health Care and Northern Trust run associate HR programs that target recent graduates. Earning the SHRM-CP or completing an HRIS platform certification in Workday or SAP SuccessFactors gives candidates without specialist experience a concrete credential that stands out in Illinois applications.

Where can I find and apply to hr operations specialist jobs in Illinois?

You can find and apply to hr operations specialist jobs in Illinois on Migrate Mate, which lists current Illinois openings updated regularly. Search the roles available, identify the ones that match your background and target location, and apply directly through each listing. No account creation is required to search.

See All 17 HR Operations Specialist Jobs in Illinois

Find roles in Illinois that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.

Find HR Operations Specialist Jobs