Human Resources Specialist Jobs in California

Human Resources Specialist jobs in California are among the most active in the country, concentrated in technology, entertainment, healthcare, and professional services across every level from entry-level HR coordinator to senior HR business partner. Los Angeles, San Francisco, and San Diego are the largest hiring metros, home to major employers such as Kaiser Permanente, Disney, and Salesforce that maintain substantial HR teams year-round. Talent acquisition, employee relations, and HR compliance are the most consistently in-demand specializations across California listings. Find a role that fits below and apply directly.

Find Jobs

Overview

Open roles442+
Top employerTarget
Top cityLos Angeles, CA
Cities hiring183
Work type58% On-site
Top industryStaffing

Showing 5 of 442+ Human Resources Specialist jobs

East Bay Regional Park District
Temporary Human Resources Technician
We won't show you this job again
East Bay Regional Park District
New 14h ago
Temporary Human Resources Technician
East Bay Regional Park District
Oakland, California
Account Management
Business Development
Partnerships & Business Development
$56.05 - $66.14/hr
Experience equivalent to degree accepted
501-1,000

Have you applied for this role?

Spring Fertility
Senior Director, People Operations
We won't show you this job again
Spring Fertility
New 15h ago
Senior Director, People Operations
Spring Fertility
San Francisco, California
Business Operations
Executive Leadership & C-Suite
Project & Program Management
Project Management
$175k - $225k/yr
Remote (US)
Bachelor's degree in business administration
201-500

Have you applied for this role?

Rocketship Public Schools
Associate Director of Human Resources
We won't show you this job again
Rocketship Public Schools
New 15h ago
Associate Director of Human Resources
Rocketship Public Schools
San Francisco Bay Area, California
Business Operations
Executive Assistant & Personal Assistant
Project Management
$100k - $121k/yr
Hybrid
Bachelor's degree
501-1,000

Have you applied for this role?

Smart & Final
Regional Human Resources Business Partner
We won't show you this job again
Smart & Final
New 16h ago
Regional Human Resources Business Partner
Smart & Final
Los Angeles, California
Logistics & Fleet Management
Project Management
$72k - $87k/yr
On-Site
Bachelor of Science
10,000+

Have you applied for this role?

Lee's Sandwiches
Human Resources Associate
We won't show you this job again
Lee's Sandwiches
New 16h ago
Human Resources Associate
Lee's Sandwiches
Garden Grove, California
Human Resources (HR) — Generalist
Learning & Development
Recruiting & Talent Acquisition
$18 - $21/hr
On-Site
Bachelor's degree
51-200

Have you applied for this role?

See All 442+ Human Resources Specialist Jobs in California

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

Find Jobs

Human Resources Specialist Jobs by City in California

Where California roles are concentrated, by current openings.

San Diego
29 jobs
Irvine
12 jobs
Fremont
11 jobs
Oakland
9 jobs
San Jose
9 jobs
Sacramento
8 jobs
Fresno
7 jobs

Human Resources Specialist Job Market in California

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

Who's Hiring

  • Target
    Target11
  • Amazon
    Amazon5
  • Legacy Education
    Legacy Education5
  • ADP
    ADP4
  • Hyatt
    Hyatt4

Top Industries Hiring

  • Staffing & Recruiting
  • Healthcare & Medical Services
  • Retail
  • Food & Beverage
  • Technology & Software

What California Employers Look For

The qualifications that appear most often in human resources specialist jobs across California.

  • Bachelor's degree in human resources, business administration, or a related field
  • PHR or SHRM-CP certification preferred by many California employers
  • Two or more years of HR generalist or specialist experience in a California workplace
  • Familiarity with California labor law including CFRA, FEHA, and wage-and-hour regulations
  • Proficiency with HRIS platforms such as Workday, ADP, or SAP SuccessFactors
  • Strong written and verbal communication skills for employee-facing HR functions

Human Resources Specialist Jobs in California: Frequently Asked Questions

How do you become a human resources specialist in California?

A bachelor's degree in human resources, business administration, or a related field is the standard starting point for human resources specialist roles in California. California does not require a state-issued license to practice HR, but professional credentials such as the SHRM-CP or PHR are widely expected by mid-size and large employers. Because California has some of the most complex employment laws in the country, hiring managers consistently prioritize candidates who demonstrate working knowledge of FEHA, CFRA, and California wage-and-hour rules.

How much do human resources specialists make in California?

Human resources specialists in California earn a median of about $83,500 a year, based on May 2025 Bureau of Labor Statistics wage data, ranging from around $52,770 for the lowest 10% to over $151,410 for the top 10%. Pay rises with experience, specialty, and employer.

Which companies hire human resources specialists in California?

Employers hiring human resources specialists in California right now include Target, Amazon, and Legacy Education, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of October 2026. California's concentration of large technology firms, healthcare systems, and entertainment studios means HR specialist demand is spread across a particularly wide range of industries.

Which California cities have the most human resources specialist jobs?

Los Angeles, San Diego, and San Francisco have the most human resources specialist openings in California. The distribution closely follows corporate density: Los Angeles draws volume from entertainment, healthcare, and retail headquarters, San Francisco and San Jose reflect the technology sector's ongoing HR hiring, and San Diego adds openings from its biotech and defense industries.

Are there remote human resources specialist jobs in California?

Yes, and more than most fields. About 42% of human resources specialist openings tied to California are remote or hybrid as of October 2026, reflecting the desk-based and systems-driven nature of much HR specialist work. Employee relations coaching, HRIS administration, benefits coordination, and talent acquisition are the functions most likely to be offered on a fully remote or hybrid basis.

How can I get hired as a human resources specialist in California with little or no experience?

The most realistic entry path is an HR coordinator or HR assistant role, which California's large employers including Kaiser Permanente, the University of California system, and major technology firms regularly post as new-grad positions. A SHRM student membership and the SHRM-CP exam, which can be sat before completing a degree, signals commitment to California recruiters. Lateral moves from roles such as recruiting coordinator, payroll administrator, or office manager are common in-roads, particularly at mid-size California companies that treat those positions as on-ramps to broader HR responsibilities.

Where can I find and apply to human resources specialist jobs in California?

You can find and apply to human resources specialist jobs in California on Migrate Mate, which lists current California openings across industries and experience levels. Find roles that fit your background and apply directly from the listing.

See All 442+ Human Resources Specialist Jobs in California

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

Find Jobs