HR Coordinator: Duties, Pay, and How to Become One

A human resources (HR) coordinator is responsible for supporting the daily operations of a company’s HR department. In this role, you’ll perform clerical and administrative duties pertaining to hiring, benefits, retirement plans, and employee relations. As a result, you'll be a critical link between employees and HR managers, ensuring everyone's needs are met. 

If you're an organised, detail-oriented individual who excels in collaborative roles, then becoming an HR coordinator can be a rewarding, fulfilling career choice.

Discover more about HR coordinators, what they do, how much they earn, and what you need to do to become one. Explore some career paths you may pursue as an HR coordinator and find suggested cost-effective courses that can help you gain job-relevant skills today.

What is an HR coordinator?

HR coordinators are responsible for the administrative and clerical functions of HR departments, performing such tasks as maintaining personnel records, creating and updating employee handbooks, and developing employee orientation programmes. In some cases, they may also manage payroll functions, administer benefits plans, and coordinate employer-sponsored events. 

HR coordinators are frequently the first contact for existing staff and job applicants who have questions about open positions. Most HR coordinator roles are full-time during regular office hours, but you may occasionally work overtime to meet deadlines.

What does an HR coordinator do?

HR coordinators are responsible for a wide range of HR-related duties and work closely with HR managers. While their exact duties vary from one position to another, some of the most common duties that HR coordinators perform include the following:

• Manage hard and digital copies of employee records

• Assist with the recruitment process of candidates

• Manage the administrative process for interviews, meetings, HR events, and campaigns

• Conduct training sessions and seminars

• Update records of new and existing staff

• Assist in HR data analytics to facilitate decision-making

• Assist with internal and external HR inquiries from employees

• Assist with employee performance reviews

• Assist in the development and application of HR policies

• Conduct background checks on new employees

HR coordinator salary

HR coordinators make a slightly higher than average salary. According to Glassdoor, the average base salary that HR coordinators earn is ₹3,94,800 a year as of October 2024 [1]. This does not include commission, bonuses, or other additional pay, which averages ₹43,000 annually for an HR coordinator.

Related roles and their salaries

Some companies may call HR coordinator jobs by a different job title. While searching for an HR coordination role, some of the different titles you may encounter are given below along with their annual base pay, according to Glassdoor:

* HR assistant: ₹2,40,000 per year [2]

* HR representative: ₹4,00,000 per year [3]

* Recruiting coordinator: ₹4,60,000 per year [4]

* HR specialist: ₹6,00,000 per year [5]

* HR executive: ₹3,22,500 per year [6]

How to become an HR coordinator

HR coordinators are integral to ensuring the proper functioning of HR departments, both large and small. While you can consider numerous ways of beginning a career in HR, some of the most common steps many professionals take to join the field are as follows:

1. Get the relevant education.

Not all HR jobs require that you possess a college degree, but many of them do. While some jobs may require an associate degree, most will likely ask that you possess at least a bachelor's degree in human resources, business management, psychology, or a related field. For more senior positions, employers often expect applicants to have a master's degree in human resource management.

2. Gain the right HR coordinator skills.

To be a successful HR coordinator, you must be a detail-oriented and organised individual who excels at communication and collaboration. In effect, you'll need to possess the people skills to empathetically meet employee needs, as well as the technical know-how to ensure your company abides by all relevant laws. At a glance, some of the skills you'll want to develop to succeed as a professional HR coordinator are as follows:

• Understanding of payroll, benefits, and the recruiting and hiring process

• Comfortable leading training and development efforts

• Grasp of employment law

• Proficiency in Office Suite software

• Knowledge of HR procedures, practices, and laws

• Organisational skills

• Attention to detail

• Strong verbal and written communication skills to effectively manage employee relations

• Time and project management skills

3. Obtain HR certification.

Human resources professionals often rise through the ranks as they gain experience. However, getting certifications can help you advance your career more quickly. Certifications can also make it easier for you to change specialisations within human resources or move into a new company or industry. If you're interested in making HR your profession, then you can consider the following certifications you should consider include:

• Professional in Human Resources (PHR)

• SHRM Certified Professional (SHRM-CP)

• Certified Human Resource Professional (CHRP) or Manager (CHRM) 

• Certified Human Resource Management Professional (CHRMP)

• Certified Payroll Professional (CPP)

4. Make use of your networks.

Networking is an effective strategy to get your foot in the door, not just for an entry-level job but also for more senior positions within the HR industry. Consider the following ideas to build relationships, gather information, and improve your exposure:

• Talk with friends and family members who have worked in HR. 

• Attend local networking events and meet other HR professionals. 

• Join social media groups or follow HR professionals on LinkedIn. 

• Connect with a mentor who can provide career guidance and advice.

5. Craft a resume that demonstrates your HR coordinator competencies. 

When you're considering a new job or pivoting to a new career, it's important to understand how your experience and skills meet employers' needs. As a result, you should work to identify the transferable skills you possess and how they might fit with an HR coordinator role. For example, if you've previously worked in customer service, then you might highlight your experience manoeuvring complex interpersonal interactions, negotiating skills, and ability to come up with creative solutions that both resolve problems and improve customer satisfaction. These are all good examples of transferable skills that are valued in HR departments.

Hiring managers looking for HR talent will be interested in your accomplishments, so make sure to include them on your resume. For example, you might note that in a previous position, you reduced employee turnover from 15 per cent to 8 per cent by initiating an employee recognition programme. Whatever your accomplishment, potential employers will likely want to understand the impact of your work.

Future career paths from HR coordinator jobs

Landing a job as an HR coordinator could be the first step to obtaining more advanced positions in the field. If you're interested in advancing your HR career, you might consider pursuing a few of these jobs in the future:

Senior HR coordinator

Average annual salary in India (Glassdoor): ₹5,88,000 [7]

In this role, you would take on more responsibilities, such as supervising junior coordinators and handling more complex projects like coordinating benefits for new hires. You might also manage employee performance reviews for a larger group of employees.

HR specialist

Average annual salary in India (Glassdoor): ₹6,00,000 [5]

You could specialise in payroll and benefits, recruitment, training, or any other HR function. If you’re climbing the ladder in an enterprise environment, specialisation is a great way of gaining exposure to higher levels in the management structure.

HR consultant

Average annual salary in India (Glassdoor): ₹4,20,000 [8]

Many consulting firms work with companies of all sizes to help them address their talent needs or improve their people practices, such as employee engagement, training, or diversity and inclusion programmes.

HR manager

Average annual salary in India (Glassdoor): ₹8,00,000 [9]

In this position, you have full responsibility for everything related to human resources, from hiring staff to ensuring retention and performance management. Moving into this position typically requires several years of experience in the field of HR.

Build HR coordinator skills on Coursera 

A position as an HR coordinator can be a rewarding way of working with people. If you want to apply for an HR coordinator role, completing online learning can be a great way of building your resume and setting yourself apart from other applicants. In the University of Minnesota's Human Resource Management: HR for People Managers Specialization, you'll learn how to become a better manager of people by developing strategies and skills for hiring, managing performance, and rewarding employees.