HR salary benchmark 2023: What regional HR directors and HR heads in Hong Kong can earn

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Experienced heads of HR in Hong Kong may take home between HK$80,000-120,000 per month, while experienced directors holding regional HR responsibilities can earn between HK$100,000-200,000 per month.

High demand to hire but short supply of talent is a story across Asia at the moment, but in Hong Kong SAR it came into the spotlight, as 63% of hiring organisations polled in a recent survey said experienced hires (below mid-management level) were the most in demand, but were also the hardest-to-fill vacancies.

The good news, however, is technology & IT are expected to a particular growth area, specifically around digital banking, CDCs and cyber security. As such, employers hiring across technology & IT, banking and operations have had to increase remuneration in order to compete for talent.

Per Morgan McKinley's 2023 Salary Guide, the continued reduction of overseas talent arriving into Hong Kong SAR and increased levels of professionals leaving, alongside the offshoring of numerous functions, has heavily contributed to a shortage of talent and therefore increases in salaries for those remaining. Whilst demand to hire persists, 69% of employer respondents to the survey anticipate salaries will rise in their sector in the coming year.

As well as salaries trending upwards, there is also an expectation for bonus payouts. Out of the professionals in Hong Kong SAR who responded to this survey, 44% are expecting a company performance bonus, 16% are expecting a combined company performance and personal objectives bonus, and a further 11% are expecting a one-off bonus payment.

While these are the overall findings, HRO dives deeper into the human resources function to identify hiring trends and salary outlook from the report.

[Please note: All currencies are in Hong Kong dollars, HK$.]

HR function in Hong Kong: In-demand roles and potential salaries

With 60% of businesses in Hong Kong planning to hire new permanent or contract employees in H1 2023, the following are the most in-demand roles in the HR function:

1. Learning & development (L&D)
2. Compensation & benefits (C&B)
3. HR business partner (HRBP)
4. Talent development & talent management
5. Workforce planning

Within these roles, HR professionals are being asked to demonstrate the following skills and experiences:

1. Proactive and diligent, problem solving
2. Stakeholder engagement
3. Strong learning agility
4. Strong people engagement
5. Ability to effectively handle multiple priorities

Below are the salary benchmarks across a range of HR roles, listed out as expected salary ranges, per month, for permanent roles.

Hong Kong salary guide: HR management roles
[in order of low, median, high]

• HR Director / Head of HR (<8 years of experience)
  • $70,000 $100,000 $120,000
• HR Director / Head of HR (8+ years of experience)
  • $80,000 $100,000 $120,000
• Regional HR Director (10+ years of experience)
  • $80,000 $100,000 $130,000
• Regional HR Director (15+ years of experience)
  • $100,000 $180,000 $200,000

Hong Kong salary guide: HR generalist roles
[in order of low, median, high] 

• HR Executive
  • $18,000 $25,000 $30,000
• Senior HR Executive
  • $25,000 $30,000 $40,000
• Assistant HR Manager
  • $25,000 $30,000 $40,000
• HR Manager / HRBP (5+ years of experience)
  • $40,000 $45,000 $55,000
• HR Manager / HRBP (8+ years of experience)
  • $60,000 $80,000 $100,000
• Regional HR Manager / HRBP
  • $80,000 $100,000 $120,000

Hong Kong salary guide: Talent acquisition roles
[in order of low, median, high] 

• Talent Acquisition Coordinator
  • $18,000 $25,000 $30,000
• Talent Acquisition Specialist
  • $30,000 $40,000 $45,000
• Talent Acquisition Manager
  • $45,000 $50,000 $60,000
• Regional Talent Acquisition Manager
  • $45,000 $60,000 $70,000
• Regional Talent Acquisition Director
  • $70,000 $90,000 $100,000

Hong Kong salary guide: Learning & development roles
[in order of low, median, high] 

• Learning and Development Specialist
  • $20,000 $25,000 $30,000
• Learning and Development Manager
  • $40,000 $50,000 $65,000
• Regional Learning and Development Manager
  • $60,000 $70,000 $80,000
• Regional Learning and Development Director
  • $75,000 $100,000 $130,000

Hong Kong salary guide: Compensation & benefits roles
[in order of low, median, high] 

• Regional Compensation and Benefits Manager
  • $60,000 $70,000 $80,000
• Regional Compensation and Benefits Director
  • $80,000 $110,000 $150,000
• Compensation and Benefits Specialist
  • $25,000 $30,000 $35,000
• Compensation and Benefits Manager
  • $40,000 $50,000 $60,000

Hong Kong salary guide: HRIS roles
[in order of low, median, high] 

• HRIS Specialist
  • $18,000 $25,000 $30,000
• HRIS Manager
  • $40,000 $50,000 $60,000

Hong Kong salary guide: Payroll roles
[in order of low, median, high] 

• Payroll Manager
  • $40,000 $50,000 $60,000
• Payroll Specialist
  • $18,000 $25,000 $28,000

Hong Kong salary guide: Employee engagement roles
[in order of low, median, high] 

• Employee Engagement Specialist
  • $25,000 $35,000 $40,000
• Employee Engagement Manager
  • $40,000 $55,000 $65,000

Robert Sheffield, Managing Director of Morgan McKinley Hong Kong & Greater China, commented: "2022 was another year of high demand to hire but short supply of talent in Hong Kong, across most sectors. We see this increased level of demand stabilising in 2023, as clients will pay close attention to the economic climate."

He added: "Until availability of talent returns to normal levels, and pay expectations level out again, there will be plenty of competition between hiring organisations, and the potential for significantly higher earnings when moving roles will still be there."

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Lead image / Compiled by HRO from Morgan McKinley report