Employment projections from the Vermont Department of Labor suggest that the state will see approximately 115,306 job openings between 2012 and 2022, which will drive demand for the HR professionals responsible for recruiting, hiring and training the most talented employees.
Labor relations specialists in Vermont are highly paid compared to their colleagues in the rest of the country. This is true for both entry-level and experienced professionals. Entry-level labor relations specialists earned an average of 51.8% more than the national average reported by the US Department of Labor, while experienced labor relations specialists earned an average of 21% on average more than their colleagues in the US as a whole.
HR Degrees Available Online and through Campus Based Programs in Vermont
A number of these HR management degrees are located in business schools that provide training in business fundamental, producing graduates that are well rounded are prepared to advance in the business world.
The diversity of programs available allows new students and current business professionals to tailor their degree to match their personal career goals. Programs available in Vermont include:
Bachelor’s Degrees in Human Resources - Designed for those preparing to become HR recruiters and labor relations specialists, among others:
Bachelor of Science in HR Management (Online)
- 120 credit hour program
- 10 core courses in HR management
Bachelor of Arts in HR Management (Online)
- 128 Credit hour program
Bachelor of Science in HR Management
- 120 credit hour program (Online)
- Culminates in a portfolio-based project to compile an advanced plan for HR development in a professional practice
Master’s Degrees in Human Resources - Designed for those preparing to become HR managers or training and development managers, among others:
Master of Science in HR Management (Online)
- Does not require an undergrad HR degree
- 12 course program
- May require a course in Business Foundations for those without a business background
Master of Science in HR Management (Online)
- Does not require an undergrad HR degree
- 48 quarter credit hour program
- Up to 12 transfer hour credits allowed
Master of Science in HR Development (Online)
- Does not require an undergrad HR degree
- 30-33 credit hour program
MBAs with a Concentration in Human Resource Management – Designed for those preparing to become HR Directors or VPs:
MBA with a specialization in HR Management (Online)
- Does not require an undergrad HR degree
- 30 credit hour program
- 18 hours in foundational courses and 9 hours in HR management
MBA in HR (Online)
- Does not require an undergrad HR degree
- Program consists of 9 core MBA course and 3 HR courses
- Can be completed in a little over a year
MBA in HR Management (Online)
- Does not require an undergrad HR degree
- 48 quarter credit program
- Students can transfer up to 12 credits
The Largest Employers of HR Professionals in Vermont
It was good news for Vermont when GlobalFoundries announced that it was acquiring IBM’s microelectronics business and would continue operating the semiconductor production plant in Essex Junction. Vermont officials had feared that the loss of the state’s largest employer would devastate Essex Junction and affect the state’s economy, but the thousands of IBM employees transitioned to other roles at GlobalFoundries. This transition represented one of the biggest HR training and placement initiatives in the state’s history.
Shown below is the US Department of Labor’s listing of the major employers of HR professionals in Vermont as of 2014 along with their total number of employees:
- IBM - Manufacturing (Essex Junction) - 5,400
- Fletcher Allen Health Care (Burlington) - 5,000
- Killington Grand Resort (Killington) - 2,000
- Jay Peak Resort (Jay Peak) - 1,500
- Mt. Snow Resort (West Dover) - 1,500
- Okemo Mountain Resort (Ludlow) - 1,500
- University of Vermont Medical Center (Berlin) - 1,500
- Rutland Regional Physician Group (Rutland) - 1,325
- Southwestern Vermont Medical Center (Bennington) - 1,300
- Grand Summit Hotel (West Dover) - 1,200
HR Professional Salary Ranges in Vermont
The US Bureau of Labor Statistics provides the salaries for a number of HR positions in Vermont as of 2014. The values shown range from the bottom 10% average to the top 10% average:
- Human Resource Managers: $60,030 - $171,290
- Training and Development Managers: $66,970 - $117,150
- Human Resources Specialists: $35,350 - $92,150
- Labor Relations Specialists: $27,230 - $130,480
- Compensation, Benefits and Job Analysis Specialists: $35,140 - $88,710
- Training and Development Specialists: $27,660 - $107,500
- Payroll and Timekeeping Clerks: $26,230 - $55,480
- Human Resources Assistants, Except Payroll and Timekeeping: $23,890 - $52,800
Job Growth Projections for HR Positions in Vermont
Occupational categories that include HR professionals are likely to have the highest number of annual openings between 2012 and 2022 according to the Vermont Department of Labor. The category of office and administrative support is projected to have the highest number of positions available, while management is expected to have the sixth highest. This agency predicts steady growth in a number of HR positions during the ten-year period of its analysis:
- Human Resource Managers: 10%
- Human Resources Specialists: 3%
- Compensation, Benefits and Job Analysis Specialists: 5%
- Training and Development Specialists: 12%
- Payroll and Timekeeping Clerks: 8%
- Human Resources Assistants, Except Payroll and Timekeeping: 10%
