Median yearly pay€159k138 postings with pay
North America€164k115 postings
What the job covers
This family covers HR directors, heads of people, VPs of HR and chief people officers. It is the best-paid of 8 HR role families, with a median 135% above the median for HR overall. The top 10% of postings pay €241k or more.
Remote, hybrid or on-site
Hybrid€146k
On-site€174k
| Work format | Median | 25th percentile | 75th percentile | Pay ranges |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hybrid | €146,200 | €109,200 | €186,100 | 36 |
| On-site | €173,700 | €156,700 | €201,900 | 24 |
Salary by company size
51–200 people€158k
201–500 people€158k
1,001–5,000 people€162k
5,000+ people€183k
| Company size | Median | 25th percentile | 75th percentile | Pay ranges |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 51–200 people | €157,500 | €127,200 | €196,900 | 31 |
| 201–500 people | €157,500 | €101,300 | €212,600 | 23 |
| 1,001–5,000 people | €162,000 | €146,200 | €217,800 | 29 |
| 5,000+ people | €182,800 | €160,300 | €222,800 | 22 |
Salary by industry
Software and internet€171k
Healthcare and life sciences€162k
| Industry | Median | 25th percentile | 75th percentile | Pay ranges |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Software and internet | €171,000 | €144,000 | €222,800 | 21 |
| Healthcare and life sciences | €162,300 | €148,700 | €237,500 | 22 |
Frequently asked questions
›How much do HR directors earn?
The median advertised salary for HR director and head of people roles is €158,600 a year. Half of postings pay between €129,100 and €202,500.
›Where are HR director and head of people roles paid the most?
United States, with a median of €171,000 a year.
›Is HR director and head of people a well-paid HR job?
It is the best-paid of 8 HR role families, 135% above the median for all HR jobs (€67,500).
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Related salary data
About this dataPay ranges published in 132,956 job postings, collected from company career pages and applicant tracking systems. Each posting counts once, at the middle of its range, converted to yearly pay in euros. We show a figure only when at least 20 postings back it. Updated October 2026. How we collect and calculate the data