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How to become a labor relations specialist

Business & finance · SOC 13-1075

$95,420US median pay, 2025
+2.1%Projected growth, 2025–35
4,800Openings per year
Degree + experienceUsual way in

How you get in

Not an entry-level job: it usually takes a degree plus years of related work.

  1. Bachelor's degree
  2. Less than 5 years of experience in a related job
  3. Work as a labor relations specialist

Programs that lead to this job

These are the federal program codes (CIP) that the Department of Education maps to this occupation, and how many US colleges, community colleges or trade schools report awarding credentials in each.

ProgramCodeSchools
Human Resources Management/Personnel Administration, GeneralCIP 52.1001505
Dispute ResolutionCIP 30.280132
Labor and Industrial RelationsCIP 52.100227
Labor StudiesCIP 52.100414

See the 548 schools that offer these programs →

Common questions

How long does it take to become a labor relations specialist?
Typically about four years for the degree, then less than 5 years of related work first. That is the usual route rather than a rule — people arrive by other paths all the time.
How much do labor relations specialists make?
The US median is $95,420 a year, meaning half earn more and half less. Pay varies widely by state, employer and experience.
Do you need a degree to become a labor relations specialist?
Yes, and employers also expect years of related experience first.
Where can you train to become a labor relations specialist?
548 US colleges, community colleges and trade schools award credentials in a matching program. See which ones →

Pay and growth are national figures. What you earn depends on where you work, your employer and your experience, and these are projections rather than promises. Education requirements describe how most people enter the job, not a rule — plenty of people take another route.

Pay, growth, openings and entry requirements: US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections 2025–35. Program-to-occupation mapping: NCES CIP–SOC crosswalk (2020/2018). School counts: IPEDS completions, 2022–23.

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