Labor Relations Specialist
Labor relations specialists resolve employee-management disputes and negotiate labor contracts.
What the job is
- The work
- Labor relations specialists resolve employee-management disputes and negotiate labor contracts.
BLS
Labor Relations Specialists — Summary (Quick Facts)U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (OOH)- Checked
- 20 Oct 2026
- Work environment
- Labor relations specialists typically work in an office setting. Most work full time.
BLS
Labor Relations Specialists — Summary (Quick Facts)U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (OOH)- Checked
- 20 Oct 2026
- Good fit for
- Calm negotiators who like law, contracts and settling disputes between workers and management.
- Career cluster
- Management & Entrepreneurship
Key numbers
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Outlook Handbook, pay for May 2025 (labor relations specialists).
- Median pay
- $95,420 a year ($45.87 an hour)
BLS
Labor Relations Specialists — Summary (Quick Facts)U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (OOH)- Checked
- 20 Oct 2026
- Jobs in 2025
- 66,300
- Typical entry
- Bachelor's degree
- Work experience
- Less than 5 years
- Training after hire
- None
Job outlook, 2025–35
- Projected growth
- +2%, which BLS calls "slower than average"
BLS
Labor Relations Specialists — Summary (Quick Facts)U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (OOH)- Checked
- 20 Oct 2026
- Jobs added
- +1,400 over 2025–35
- All U.S. jobs
- 3.5% over the same period, for comparison
How to become one
- The usual route
- To enter the occupation, these specialists typically need a bachelor’s degree in labor and industrial relations, human resources, business, or a related field. Specialists also may need several years of experience in a related occupation.
BLS
Labor Relations Specialists — Summary (Quick Facts)U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (OOH)- Checked
- 20 Oct 2026
- In short
- Labor relations specialists typically need a bachelor's degree in labor and industrial relations, human resources, business or a related field, and may need several years of experience in a related occupation. Certification is not required, but some employers prefer it.
- License
- None
- Paying for it
- File the FAFSA (opens by October 1) for grants, work-study and federal loans; a Pell Grant pays up to $7,395 a year (2026–27). Average public four-year tuition and fees: $11,950 in-state vs $31,880 out-of-state (2025–26). Residency rules and regional discounts · Save with 2+2 transfer
- Your state
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StateChoose a state
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Step-by-step roadmap
The routes step by step, the exam gates and the state license step are on one page.
Labor relations specialist: bachelor's in labor and industrial relations, HR or business, then HR experience
See the roadmap
Route 1: Labor relations or HR degree → HR job → labor relations · Route 2: Add a labor relations certificate (such as mediation)
More careers in Management & Entrepreneurship
Open the cluster hubEvery career page in this cluster, with entry, license, pay and outlook side by side.
Every number links to the BLS page it came from, checked 20 Oct 2026. Education Margdarshan does not recommend paid courses.