Human Resources Degree in Huntington Beach, CA — Salary & ROI 2026
Human Resources degree analysis for Huntington Beach, CA. COL-adjusted salary data, local tuition costs, ROI calculator, and job market outlook.
Starting Salary
$84K
COL-adjusted
Mid-Career
$131K
COL-adjusted
ROI Payback
5 yrs
in Huntington Beach
Cost of Living
168.5
index (100 = avg)
Human Resources in Huntington Beach, CA Overview
Huntington Beach, California (pop. 198,711) has 8 colleges offering Human Resources programs. The local cost of living index of 168.5 is higher than average, so budget accordingly, with average rent near campus at $2,880/month. Human Resources enrollment is stable nationwide, with steady demand for graduates skilled in Recruiting and Employee Relations. The adjusted starting salary in Huntington Beach is approximately $84,250, growing to $131,430 by mid-career.
Category
Business
Local Colleges
8
Public Tuition
$14,500/yr
Private Tuition
$42,000/yr
Room & Board
$17,049/yr
Avg Fin. Aid
$8,141/yr
Unemployment
5.4%
Graduation Rate
73%
Human Resources Salary in Huntington Beach (COL-Adjusted)
Salaries adjusted for Huntington Beach's cost of living index of 168.5 (national average = 100).
Note: National average Human Resources salary: $50,000 starting, $78,000 mid-career, $100,000 senior level.Huntington Beach adjustment factor: 1.69x based on the local cost of living index.
Human Resources ROI Calculator for Huntington Beach
Estimate your return on investment for a Human Resources degree using local Huntington Beach tuition and cost of living data.
Public avg: $14,500 | Private avg: $42,000
Huntington Beach avg aid: $8,141/yr
Federal avg: 6.5% | Private: 4-14%
Total Education Cost
$126,196
tuition + room & board - aid
Annual Earnings Premium
$25,275
vs HS diploma in Huntington Beach
ROI Payback Period
5 years
to break even
Lifetime Return in Huntington Beach
$716,304
Lifetime earnings premium ($842,500) minus total education cost ($126,196)
Student Loan Payoff for Human Resources in Huntington Beach
Standard Plan (10 years)
Aggressive Plan (5 years)
Colleges in Huntington Beach for Human Resources
Huntington Beach State University
public
$13,570/yr
$54,280 total
University of Huntington Beach
public
$16,348/yr
$65,392 total
Community Colleges (2-Year Transfer)
Huntington Beach Community College
$7,272/yr
Top Employers for Human Resources in Huntington Beach
Huntington Beach offers opportunities in Financial services, Consulting firms, Fortune 500 companies for Human Resources graduates. National top employers in this field include:
Key Huntington Beach Hiring Sectors for Business
Financial services
Consulting firms
Fortune 500 companies
Startups
Marketing agencies
Common Human Resources Job Titles
Human Resources in Nearby California Cities
Los Angeles, CA
$71K starting · COL 141
69 colleges
San Diego, CA
$70K starting · COL 140
68 colleges
San Jose, CA
$65K starting · COL 129
95 colleges
San Francisco, CA
$57K starting · COL 114
22 colleges
Fresno, CA
$59K starting · COL 118
37 colleges
Sacramento, CA
$56K starting · COL 112
38 colleges
Long Beach, CA
$58K starting · COL 116
14 colleges
Oakland, CA
$66K starting · COL 132
13 colleges
Other Business Majors in Huntington Beach
Business Analytics
$131K starting · 2 yr ROI
Finance
$118K starting · 3.5 yr ROI
Economics
$110K starting · 4 yr ROI
Information Systems
$84K starting · 3.3 yr ROI
Supply Chain Management
$84K starting · 3.5 yr ROI
Operations Management
$84K starting · 3.8 yr ROI
Accounting
$104K starting · 3.8 yr ROI
Real Estate
$84K starting · 4 yr ROI
Human Resources Degree in Huntington Beach — FAQ
Data Sources: Salary data from BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook. Cost of living from BLS Regional Data. College data from NCES/IPEDS. Updated March 2026.
Explore More
Compare Human Resources ROI in other cities, or explore other majors in Huntington Beach.