New report reveals drivers of HR turnover in organisations
HR leaders across Australia are getting paid an average of more than $200,000, according to a new report, which unveiled a compensation table for HR professionals.
Findings from EtonHR's HR Industry Insights 2025 revealed that HR Directors or Heads of HR at 501+ FTE firms get paid an average of $220,327.
Chief People Officers or General Managers of HR at 501+ FTE firms are paid an average of $342,538.
HR managers are paid an average base salary of $177,383, while the Heads of Learning and Development get paid around $205,000.
The Heads of Remuneration & Benefits are paid an average of $252,800, Heads of Employee Relations receive $350,000, while the Heads of Talent Acquisition get $210,667.
"What's clear is that the same title can mean very different things depending on the company size," the report read.
"If you're hiring or benchmarking your own career, don't just look at the job title - look at the context. Scope, scale, influence, and level of risk are the true drivers of remuneration value."
Culture crisis driving HR turnover
Reception over compensation is mixed among HR professionals, according to the report, with 53% expressing satisfaction and 30% expressing dissatisfaction.
"There remains a noticeable portion who feel dissatisfied or indifferent - suggesting that beyond base pay, expectations around total reward, transparency, and career progression may be driving perceptions," the report read.
Despite the mixed reception, the report underscored that the a stronger driver of HR turnover is culture instead of compensation.
Only 8.8% of HR talents who left their role in the last 12 months cited remuneration and benefits as the reason.
Nearly half (46%) cited poor leadership or organisational culture.
"Turnover drivers reveal a cultural crisis more than a compensation one," the report read. "Poor leadership, misaligned values, and burnout were consistently identified as top reasons for leaving roles."
The report suggested investing in strong leadership capability to retain talent, as well as creating visible career pathways for HR leaders. It also recommended aligning culture with values.
"The message is clear: retention is about leadership, alignment, and meaningful growth. For organisations willing to listen, there's a real opportunity to stand out," the report said.
