Human Resources Director Salary in Memphis, TN: 2026
Human Resources Director salary data for Memphis, TN, adjusted for local cost of living. Entry-level to senior pay ranges, take-home pay calculator, and local job market insights.
The median Human Resources Director salary in Memphis, TN is $138,560 per year ($11,547/month, $66.62/hr). That is the BLS OEWS May 2025 median annual wage for Human Resources Managers (the closest BLS occupation to Human Resources Director) in the Memphis, TN-MS-AR metropolitan area, which covers Memphis. Salario's cost-of-living model (index 86) would have estimated $128,381; the entry, senior and top tiers below are Salario estimates rescaled to the BLS median.
Median: BLS OEWS May 2025, Human Resources Managers (SOC 11-3121), Memphis, TN-MS-AR MSA. Entry, senior and top earner are Salario estimates rescaled to the BLS median.
Human Resources Director Take-Home Pay in Memphis
Tax Breakdown (Median Salary)
| Gross Annual | $138,560 |
| Federal Tax | -$21,988 |
| State Tax (0.0% eff.) | -$0 |
| FICA (SS + Medicare) | -$10,600 |
| Annual Take-Home | $105,972 |
| Monthly Take-Home | $8,831 |
Living Cost Comparison
Human Resources Director Requirements
Key Skills
Memphis Job Market Overview
Memphis, Tennessee has a population of 633,104 and an unemployment rate of 4.2%. The top industries are Logistics, Healthcare, Manufacturing. The local job growth rate is 1.0%, and the average commute time is 24minutes. These local figures come from Salario's city dataset; verify current values with BLS Local Area Unemployment Statistics and Census QuickFacts.
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Human Resources Director Salary in Nearby Tennessee Cities
Salary Percentile Breakdown: Human Resources Director in Memphis
Based on Salario's cost-of-living-adjusted salary tiers for Human Resources Director in Memphis, TN, here is an estimated percentile breakdown:
| Percentile | Annual Salary | Hourly Equivalent | Career Stage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th (lowest) | $94,000 | $45/hr | Entry-level, < 1 yr exp. |
| 25th | $116,280 | $56/hr | Junior, 1-3 yrs exp. |
| 50th (median) | $138,560 | $67/hr | Mid-career, 8-12 years |
| 75th | $195,200 | $94/hr | Senior, 5-10 yrs exp. |
| 90th (top) | $241,000 | $116/hr | Lead/Principal, 10+ yrs |
P50 is the measured BLS OEWS May 2025 metro median; P10, P25, P75 and P90 are approximations, not measured local percentiles: they map to Salario's entry, senior and top tiers rescaled to the BLS median, with P25 interpolated halfway between entry and median. Top earners (P90) typically include managers, specialists with rare skills, or those at high-paying employers in Memphis's Logistics sector.
5-Year Salary Trajectory
Salario's national dataset models approximately 14.0% salary growth for Human Resources Directors over the past 5 years. That national assumption is applied to the Memphis estimate below; it is not a measured local trend, and it should be compared with cumulative CPI inflation before treating it as a real-terms gain:
Year-over-year, an average Human Resources Director can expect a 6.3% annual increase moving from entry to senior level over 12 years in Memphis. Negotiation, certifications (SHRM-SCP, SPHR), and changing employers strategically can accelerate this trajectory.
Memphis vs National Average
The national median Human Resources Director salary is $149,280 (BLS OEWS May 2025, Human Resources Managers). In the Memphis, TN-MS-AR metro, the BLS median of $138,560 is 7.2% below the national figure. Memphis's cost of living index is 86 (lower than the national average of 100), so the wage premium and the cost premium do not necessarily cancel out.
For Human Resources Directors, this means: rent typically consumes 11.3% of take-home pay (households spending >30% are considered affordable), and a median home in Memphis costs about 1.6× annual take-home. Homeownership is relatively attainable on this salary in Memphis.
Industry Context: Logistics in Memphis
Memphis's economy is anchored by Logistics, Healthcare, Manufacturing, with 633,104 residents and an unemployment rate of 4.2% in Salario's city dataset. Pay for Human Resources Directors can differ by sector, so compare Logistics employers with other local employers. The local job growth rate in Salario's city dataset is 1.0%, and Salario's job dataset lists a 6.0% growth outlook for Human Resources Director roles; check the BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook for the official 2024-2034 projection for the closest matching occupation.
Methodology & Data Sources
How we calculate Human Resources Director salaries in Memphis, TN:
- Local median is the BLS OEWS May 2025 median annual wage for Human Resources Managers (SOC 11-3121) in the Memphis, TN-MS-AR metropolitan statistical area, retrieved from the BLS Public Data API on September 17, 2026. BLS reports by metro area, so this is a regional figure, not a Memphis-only wage.
- Cost-of-living adjustment is shown only for comparison ($128,381 modeled) using the Memphis index of 86 relative to the national baseline of 100, with local rent, home price, unemployment, and tax inputs stored separately in Salario's city dataset.
- Percentile distribution (P10-P90) estimated from the entry, median, senior, and top compensation tiers in the Salario salary model rescaled to the BLS metro median rather than claimed as exact employer payroll data.
- Take-home pay calculated using 2026 federal tax brackets (10%-37%), TN 2026 state income tax brackets after the standard deduction (top rate 0.0%), and FICA (Social Security 6.2% + Medicare 1.45%).
- Tax brackets and standard deduction ($16,100 single filer for tax year 2026) sourced from IRS Revenue Procedure 2025-32 and updated annually.
Authoritative data sources:
- BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, national and metro-area salary data
- O*NET OnLine, occupation tasks, alternate job titles, skills, and SOC crosswalks
- BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook, occupation outlook where a matching profile is available
- BLS Consumer Price Index (CPI-U), regional inflation data (CPI measures price changes, not city-to-city price levels)
- U.S. Census Bureau, Memphis QuickFacts, population and demographic data
- IRS Revenue Procedure 2025-32 summary, 2026 federal tax brackets and standard deductions
- BLS Local Area Unemployment Statistics, official local unemployment rates to verify the Memphis figure above
Last reviewed: 2026. Salario's salary dataset is refreshed periodically, not automatically; check the linked BLS releases for the latest official data. Human Resources Director salaries can vary significantly based on employer, sector (Logistics vs others in Memphis), specific skill set (HR Strategy, Talent Management, Employment Law), and individual negotiation. Always verify current compensation through multiple sources before making career decisions.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the average Human Resources Director salary in Memphis, TN?
How much does a Human Resources Director take home in Memphis after taxes?
Is Memphis a good city for Human Resources Directors?
What skills are needed for a Human Resources Director in Memphis?
How does Human Resources Director salary in Memphis compare to the national average?
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the average Human Resources Director salary in Memphis, TN?
The median Human Resources Director salary in Memphis, TN is $138,560 per year: the BLS OEWS May 2025 median annual wage for Human Resources Managers (SOC 11-3121) in the Memphis, TN-MS-AR metropolitan area. BLS publishes wages by metro area, not by city. The entry-level estimate of around $94,000 and the senior estimate of $195,200 or more are Salario tiers calibrated to that BLS median, not BLS percentiles.
How much does a Human Resources Director take home in Memphis after taxes?
A Human Resources Director earning the median salary of $138,560 in Memphis, TN takes home approximately $105,972 per year ($8,831/month) after federal, state, and local taxes. The effective tax rate is 23.5%.
Is Memphis a good city for Human Resources Directors?
Memphis, TN has a cost of living index of 86 (below national average). Human Resources Directors here earn above the city median. The local unemployment rate is 4.2% and top industries include Logistics, Healthcare, Manufacturing.
What skills are needed for a Human Resources Director in Memphis?
Key skills for Human Resources Directors include HR Strategy, Talent Management, Employment Law, Compensation, Organizational Development. Typical education requirement is Bachelor's/Master's. Valuable certifications include SHRM-SCP, SPHR.
How does Human Resources Director salary in Memphis compare to the national average?
The national median for Human Resources Managers is $149,280 (BLS OEWS May 2025). In the Memphis, TN-MS-AR metro, the BLS median is $138,560, which is 7.2% lower than the national figure. For comparison, Salario's cost-of-living model (index 86) would have estimated $128,381.