Human Resources Management and Services (Associate's Degree) at Los Angeles City College

Est. Earnings (1yr)

$40,006

Est. from national median (23 programs)

Est. Median Debt

$16,261

Est. from national median (9 programs)

Analysis

In California, HR associate programs typically produce first-year earnings around $46,445—considerably higher than the $40,006 national benchmark used to estimate this program's outcomes. That $6,400 gap suggests Los Angeles City College graduates may face a tougher entry into the field, though without reported data from this specific program, it's difficult to know whether LA's job market or the college's placement actually differs from statewide norms.

The estimated debt load of $16,261 appears manageable, creating a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.41 that's well below the concerning 1.0 threshold. This figure comes from similar community colleges nationally and sits notably lower than California's $20,000 state median for HR programs. If accurate, it means graduates would theoretically need less than five months of gross income to cover educational debt—a workable scenario even at the lower earnings estimate.

The real question is whether this program equips students for California's HR market, where peer programs demonstrate significantly stronger earnings potential. With actual outcomes unavailable, parents should investigate job placement rates and whether graduates secure HR coordinator or specialist roles versus lower-paying administrative positions. The estimated numbers suggest a financially viable path, but the state comparison raises questions about whether this particular program delivers competitive preparation for California's higher-paying opportunities.

Where Los Angeles City College Stands

Earnings vs. debt across all human resources management and services associates's programs nationally

Compare to Similar Programs in California

Human Resources Management and Services associates's programs at peer institutions in California (9 total in state)

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School	In-State Tuition	Earnings (1yr)*	Earnings (4yr)	Median Debt*	Debt/Earnings
Los Angeles City CollegeLos Angeles	$1,238	$40,006*	—	$16,261*	—
San Joaquin Valley College-VisaliaVisalia	—	$46,445*	—	$20,000*	0.43
National Median	—	$40,006*	—	$26,536*	0.66

* Estimated from similar programs

Career Paths

Occupations commonly associated with human resources management and services graduates

Compensation and Benefits Managers

Plan, direct, or coordinate compensation and benefits activities of an organization.

$140,360/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Human Resources Managers

Plan, direct, or coordinate human resources activities and staff of an organization.

$140,030/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Training and Development Managers

Plan, direct, or coordinate the training and development activities and staff of an organization.

$127,090/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Labor Relations Specialists

Resolve disputes between workers and managers, negotiate collective bargaining agreements, or coordinate grievance procedures to handle employee complaints.

$93,500/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Business Teachers, Postsecondary

Teach courses in business administration and management, such as accounting, finance, human resources, labor and industrial relations, marketing, and operations research. Includes both teachers primarily engaged in teaching and those who do a combination of teaching and research.

$83,980/yrJobs growth:

Law Teachers, Postsecondary

Teach courses in law. Includes both teachers primarily engaged in teaching and those who do a combination of teaching and research.

$83,980/yrJobs growth:

Compliance Officers

Examine, evaluate, and investigate eligibility for or conformity with laws and regulations governing contract compliance of licenses and permits, and perform other compliance and enforcement inspection and analysis activities not classified elsewhere.

$78,420/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Environmental Compliance Inspectors

Inspect and investigate sources of pollution to protect the public and environment and ensure conformance with Federal, State, and local regulations and ordinances.

$78,420/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Equal Opportunity Representatives and Officers

Monitor and evaluate compliance with equal opportunity laws, guidelines, and policies to ensure that employment practices and contracting arrangements give equal opportunity without regard to race, religion, color, national origin, sex, age, or disability.

$78,420/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Government Property Inspectors and Investigators

Investigate or inspect government property to ensure compliance with contract agreements and government regulations.

$78,420/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Coroners

Direct activities such as autopsies, pathological and toxicological analyses, and inquests relating to the investigation of deaths occurring within a legal jurisdiction to determine cause of death or to fix responsibility for accidental, violent, or unexplained deaths.

$78,420/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Regulatory Affairs Specialists

Coordinate and document internal regulatory processes, such as internal audits, inspections, license renewals, or registrations. May compile and prepare materials for submission to regulatory agencies.

$78,420/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

About This Data

Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard (October 2025 release)

Population: Graduates who received federal financial aid (Title IV grants or loans). At Los Angeles City College, approximately 26% of students receive Pell grants. Students who did not receive federal aid are not included in these figures.

Earnings: Median earnings from IRS W-2 data for graduates who are employed and not enrolled in further education, measured 1 year after completion. Earnings are pre-tax and include wages, salaries, and self-employment income.

Debt: Median cumulative federal loan debt at graduation. Does not include private loans or Parent PLUS loans borrowed on behalf of students.

Estimated Earnings: Actual earnings data is not available for this program (typically due to privacy thresholds when fewer than 30 graduates reported earnings). The estimate shown is based on the national median of 23 similar programs. Actual outcomes may vary.