Is a Degree in HR Worth It?

Armed with a degree in human resources (HR), you'll be ready to serve your organization’s greatest asset: its people.

A bachelor’s or master’s in HR can give you the credentials needed to start your career or pivot in a new direction.

If, for example, you have been working as a recruiter but are interested in changing to a new job, you can use your HR degree to “focus your career in a new area,” said Deborah Guenther-Alexiou, an adjunct instructor of business for Southern New Hampshire University (SNHU).

And if you're already working in HR and want to position yourself for promotions and advancement in your field, earning a degree may help get you there.

What Does an HR Degree Teach?

A degree in HR focuses on a career working with people and developing your organization's workforce.

“A degree in human resources is designed to help you gain knowledge with real-world scenarios with regard to analytics, strategy, recruitment and more,” said Lisa Jammer, an adjunct instructor for business programs at SNHU.

As for how HR programs differ:

• Certificate: Many HR certificate programs “have a stair-step progression of credentials which allow a less experienced professional to gain knowledge as they progress in their careers,” Guenther-Alexiou said. Explore whether it makes sense to get an HR certificate before a degree.
  
  
• Bachelor’s Degree: A bachelor's in HR establishes a foundation in the human resources function. This degree can provide knowledge and skills to help support entry into the field of human resources.
  
  
• Master's Degree: A master’s in human resource management gives learners a more focused look at the world of business, specifically as it relates to human resources. According to Guenther-Alexiou, this degree is well-suited for someone with a foundational business background who wants to focus more deeply on HR management.

Another HR-focused option is a Master of Business Administration (MBA) with a concentration in Human Resources. This is an option for business professionals who wish to gain a better understanding of HR overall.

While a bachelor’s degree with an emphasis in HR is a great starting point, “over the course of your career, many larger companies may require an MBA before they’ll consider you for higher-level openings,” said Rhett Beyer, a team lead and adjunct instructor in the MBA program at SNHU. That’s why it's important to research before deciding which path is best for you.

Is HR a Good Career in 2026?

If you like providing support to people at all levels of an organization, HR could be a great fit for you. Some key aptitudes and skills for a successful career in HR are, according to Jannel Hill, a business adjunct instructor at SNHU:

• Being patient and adaptable
• Providing support to staff
• Staying current with policies and procedures related to employment law
• Working with people at all levels of an organization

Businesses and their processes may change, and people may change. Being able to manage that change is a core part of the profession. If that appeals to you, then working in HR could be a great option.

The role of a human resource professional is more valuable than ever as organizations strive to retain their talent during a changing job market,” said Jammer. Working in HR allows you to “attract top talent, upskill and reskill your workforce.”

Are HR Jobs in Demand?

Through 2035, roles for human resources specialists are projected to grow at a rate of 6% — that's faster than the average expected growth rate for all occupations, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS).*

Roles for human resources managers are expected to grow at the same faster-than-average rate of 6% through 2035, BLS reported.*

Is HR Being Replaced by AI?

HR work is changing due to artificial intelligence (AI), but that doesn't mean AI is replacing the field. In fact, HR professionals are helping organizations navigate AI-driven change, according to a 2026 report by the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM).

The report said AI makes a true impact when paired with human judgment, empathy and experience, and HR leadership is critical in ensuring that tools serve employees and reinforce core values.

The faster-than-average growth rates BLS projects for HR roles through 2035 are another indicator of the field's continued relevance in an AI-integrated world.*

Types of Roles in Human Resources

The HR field is “robust with options to perform a variety of job functions at different levels within your respective organization,” said Hill.

Hill and Guenther-Alexiou named just a few jobs you could pursue with an HR degree:

• Benefits administrator, where you may be responsible for managing all areas of your organization’s employee benefits package, such as health insurance, disability insurance, workers' compensation and retirement plans.
• Diversity, equity and inclusion specialist or chief diversity officer, where you would take steps to ensure that your organization complies with best practices regarding anti-discrimination, as well as work toward an inclusive company culture.
• HR business partner, where you may be the point person to advise managers on best hiring and management practices and ensure that the people needs and organizational needs are consistently in alignment.
• Learning and development trainer, where you may design and implement training classes on a number of topics to help your staff stay current with their skills.
• Payroll processor or payroll manager, where you may work to ensure that staff members are paid appropriately and in a timely fashion.
• Talent acquisition specialist/recruiter, where your role will be to source, recruit and hire staff to best fit open roles at your organization.

There are a variety of roles to consider, but that doesn’t mean the HR field isn't competitive — because it is.

“For every HR opening, there are large volumes of candidates," Beyer said. "One way to combat this is to network heavily outside your organization to gain a competitive edge.” You can network by joining HR professional groups or serving on boards.

Beverly Herring ’18G said earning her master’s in human resource management from SNHU helped her become confident enough to pursue professional experiences like those.

“It has afforded me so many wonderful opportunities,” she said of her master’s program.

Currently working as an HR manager for an international law firm, Herring said she’s on the board of directors for the Atlanta Association of Legal Administrators. She credits her master’s degree with helping her grow to this point in her career.

"It gave me affirmation, and I'm not afraid to take on other challenges in my career anymore," she said.

Is HR a Stressful Job?

Human resources can be stressful, just like any other profession. There are deadlines, high work demands, external impacts on the organization and workforce needs that directly impact human resources and the people you serve. “All of these factors can be stressful,” Jammer said. “However, they can also be invigorating and rewarding to accomplish.”

The good news is that while there are indeed stressors within the realm of HR, they can usually be mitigated with “solid organizational skills and proper time management,” Guenther-Alexiou said.

Situations can pop up, like an employee relations issue gone awry, managers not getting you the information that you need or a payroll issue that needs to be resolved. “But, the beauty lies in that a job in HR means that no two days will be alike, and you never truly know what your day looks like until you get there. That makes the work exciting," Guenther-Alexiou said.

Do You Need to Be Good at Math for HR?

While solid math skills are always a plus in the business world, “with the technology we have at our fingertips, we have readily available data analytics,” Guenther-Alexiou said. “With that in mind, I would say that a more important skill to have might be with Excel than with math.”

In addition to strong data analytics skills, other skills that are helpful for a career in HR, according to Guenther-Alexiou, are:

• Communication skills, because you will need to communicate in many different ways, including one-on-one and in groups, and with stakeholders at all levels of the organization
• Empathy, because you will have to address sometimes difficult or sensitive employee issues
• Ethics, because you will need a strong sense of diplomacy, discretion and tact
• Problem-solving skills, because your role may include elements of investigation
• Strategic thinking, because you’ll have a role in changing corporate culture and moving the business forward

Read more: What is Math Anxiety?

So, Why Choose HR?

A career in HR is centered on service to others. You'll have the ability to directly benefit employees across an organization, as well as to support and guide them. “I wanted to make an impact and feel as if I am contributing to the company that I work for,” Hill said. “Working in HR gives me this.”

Jammer said she enjoys working in HR because the profession allows her to use her core skills of empathy, relationship-building, adaptability, problem-solving and communication. “I love the evolving needs of organizations and the complex nature of the workforce that human resources professionals serve,” she said.

Those working in HR have a unique opportunity to become key contributors not only to the success of the organization but to the personal successes of others.

As a human resources professional, “you act as a strategic partner that influences, develops and implements organizational strategies,” Jammer said. This puts you in a position to positively impact the workforce in a myriad of ways.

“We, in this profession, have the ability to make a real difference in the lives of nearly everyone we meet in the course of our work,” Hill said. “We not only provide an opportunity to obtain a job, but we can help employees be promoted in that job, receive an increasing level of compensation in that job and ultimately have a chance for a better life. Few professions offer that possibility.”

*Cited job growth projections may not reflect local and/or short-term economic or job conditions and do not guarantee actual job growth. Actual salaries and/or earning potential may be the result of a combination of factors including, but not limited to: years of experience, industry of employment, geographic location, and worker skill.

A former higher education administrator, Dr. Marie Morganelli is a career educator and writer. She has taught and tutored composition, literature, and writing at all levels from middle school through graduate school. With two graduate degrees in English language and literature, her focus — whether teaching or writing — is in helping to raise the voices of others through the power of storytelling. Connect with her on LinkedIn.