Human Resources Degree in Worcester, MA — Salary & ROI 2026
Human Resources degree analysis for Worcester, MA. COL-adjusted salary data, local tuition costs, ROI calculator, and job market outlook.
Starting Salary
$59K
COL-adjusted
Mid-Career
$91K
COL-adjusted
ROI Payback
8.4 yrs
in Worcester
Cost of Living
117
index (100 = avg)
Human Resources in Worcester, MA Overview
Worcester, Massachusetts (pop. 206,518) has 11 colleges offering Human Resources programs. The local cost of living index of 117 is higher than average, so budget accordingly, with average rent near campus at $1,228/month. Human Resources enrollment is stable nationwide, with steady demand for graduates skilled in Recruiting and Employee Relations. The adjusted starting salary in Worcester is approximately $58,500, growing to $91,260 by mid-career.
Category
Business
Local Colleges
11
Public Tuition
$16,670/yr
Private Tuition
$56,344/yr
Room & Board
$20,077/yr
Avg Fin. Aid
$15,422/yr
Unemployment
5.2%
Graduation Rate
51%
Human Resources Salary in Worcester (COL-Adjusted)
Salaries adjusted for Worcester's cost of living index of 117 (national average = 100).
Note: National average Human Resources salary: $50,000 starting, $78,000 mid-career, $100,000 senior level.Worcester adjustment factor: 1.17x based on the local cost of living index.
Human Resources ROI Calculator for Worcester
Estimate your return on investment for a Human Resources degree using local Worcester tuition and cost of living data.
Public avg: $16,670 | Private avg: $56,344
Worcester avg aid: $15,422/yr
Federal avg: 6.5% | Private: 4-14%
Total Education Cost
$146,988
tuition + room & board - aid
Annual Earnings Premium
$17,550
vs HS diploma in Worcester
ROI Payback Period
8.4 years
to break even
Lifetime Return in Worcester
$438,012
Lifetime earnings premium ($585,000) minus total education cost ($146,988)
Student Loan Payoff for Human Resources in Worcester
Standard Plan (10 years)
Aggressive Plan (5 years)
Colleges in Worcester for Human Resources
Worcester Polytechnic Institute
private
$56,818/yr
$227,272 total
College of the Holy Cross
private
$55,870/yr
$223,480 total
Community Colleges (2-Year Transfer)
Quinsigamond Community College
$5,760/yr
Top Employers for Human Resources in Worcester
Worcester offers opportunities in Financial services, Consulting firms, Fortune 500 companies for Human Resources graduates. National top employers in this field include:
Key Worcester Hiring Sectors for Business
Financial services
Consulting firms
Fortune 500 companies
Startups
Marketing agencies
Common Human Resources Job Titles
Human Resources in Nearby Massachusetts Cities
Boston, MA
$69K starting · COL 137
24 colleges
Springfield, MA
$67K starting · COL 133
6 colleges
Cambridge, MA
$67K starting · COL 133
6 colleges
Lowell, MA
$56K starting · COL 112.5
5 colleges
Brockton, MA
$54K starting · COL 108.5
5 colleges
Quincy, MA
$64K starting · COL 128.5
4 colleges
New Bedford, MA
$51K starting · COL 102.5
4 colleges
Lynn, MA
$59K starting · COL 118.5
4 colleges
Other Business Majors in Worcester
Business Analytics
$91K starting · 2 yr ROI
Finance
$82K starting · 3.5 yr ROI
Economics
$76K starting · 4 yr ROI
Information Systems
$59K starting · 3.3 yr ROI
Supply Chain Management
$59K starting · 3.5 yr ROI
Operations Management
$59K starting · 3.8 yr ROI
Accounting
$73K starting · 3.8 yr ROI
Real Estate
$59K starting · 4 yr ROI
Human Resources Degree in Worcester — 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 Worcester.