Why We Love It
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$69,180Potential Avg. Salary
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3.3%Job Growth Rate
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Growing DemandJob Outlook
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Don't Take Work HomeCareer Attribute
Equal employment opportunity officers are responsible for ensuring organizations adhere to legal regulations regarding non-discrimination in employment. They review decisions for new hires and promotions to ensure decisions meet regulations, and they conduct equality training in the workplace.
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What is an Equal Employment Opportunity Officer?
The following job responsibilities are common for individuals in equal employment opportunity officer roles:
- Educate company leaders and hiring managers on the rules and regulations regarding workplace and hiring discrimination
- Conduct employee training sessions to prevent workplace discrimination
- Review staff demographics, hiring decisions, and promotion decisions to ensure adherence to equal opportunity laws and regulations
- Adjust job description language to ensure a non-discrimination clause is included in postings
- Liaise between employer and government agencies when employment decisions are questioned
A Day in the Life
In today’s times, equality is an extremely important concept, and laws have been passed to keep it at the forefront of employment policies. For larger companies that need to ensure they are following all relevant laws, having an equal employment opportunity officer on staff will give the peace of mind that all employment practices are completely up-to-date with regards to equality. These officers will be able to analyze the business and provide recommendations.
In addition to reviewing and making modifications to existing standards, an equal employment opportunity officer also has several other roles. Most officers are part of the human resources department and are actively involved in designing proprietary monitoring schemes as well as equal opportunity training classes for employees. Promotions and other decisions will often be vetted by an equal employment opportunity officer before being implemented.
An equal employment opportunity officer’s job also takes place outside the company’s office as well. In many cases, this person will act as a liaison between the company and government organizations to create a smoother experience in equal employment opportunities being provided to applicants and existing employees. This officer position is available for both full-time careers in larger companies and limited freelance roles.
Typical Work Schedule
Most equal employment opportunity officers work full-time schedules during normal business hours. Overtime may be required on occasion but is uncommon, and individuals in these positions are generally off of work for all major holidays.
Typical Employers
Equal employment opportunity officers may work for staffing agencies, or they may by employed by large businesses and corporations in the following industries: government, healthcare, manufacturing, and technology.
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How To Become an Equal Employment Opportunity Officer
Most companies that hire an equal employment opportunity offices will require that all applicants have a minimum of a bachelor’s degree, commonly in psychology, social work, or sociology, although other degree programs are also considered. The position itself may be titled in many different ways, such as an affirmative action officer or civil rights representative. Much of the on-the-job work will address compliance with equal opportunity legislation.
Apart from the educational requirements for an equal employment opportunity officer, there are several skills that are critical for an officer to be successful, not the least of which is an ability to communicate effectively. Because equal employment opportunity officers deal with both enforcing practices and hearing employee complaints, communicating between departments and being approachable is extremely important.
Most aspiring equal employment opportunity officers begin their careers as human resources specialists. As a human resources specialist, you’ll have the opportunity to receive on-the-job training on equal opportunity issues and begin refining your skills for later advancement into officer positions. Additionally, because an equal employment opportunity officer position may be considered a managerial role, some employers may prefer candidates to have master’s degrees, commonly preferring a master’s in business administration (MBA).
Equal Employment Opportunity Officer Salary Data
We’ve provided you the following to learn more about this career. The salary and growth data on this page comes from recently published Bureau of Labor Statistics data while the recommendations and editorial content are based on our research.
National Anual Salary
Low Range
$48,810Average
$69,180High Range
$102,940National Hourly Wage
Low Range
$23/hrAverage
$33/hrHigh Range
$49/hrHow do Equal Employment Opportunity Officer salaries stack up to other jobs across the country? Based on the latest jobs data nationwide, Equal Employment Opportunity Officer's can make an average annual salary of $69,180, or $33 per hour. On the lower end, they can make $48,810 or $23 per hour, perhaps when just starting out or based on the state you live in.
Salary Rankings And Facts
#204 Nationally for All Careers
Above Average Salary Nationally
Programs and Degrees
Here are the most common degrees for becoming an Equal Employment Opportunity Officer. a is usually recommended and specifically a degree or coursework that prepares you for the particular field, see below.
Highest Education Among Equal Employment Opportunity Officers
- 5.4% Doctorate
- 15.9% Masters
- 39.4% Bachelors
- 9.9% Associates
- 18.4% College
- 9.8% High School
- 1.1% Less than High School
Job Growth Projections and Forecast
2014 Total Jobs
260,3002024 Est. Jobs
269,000Job Growth Rate
3.3%Est. New Jobs
8,700How does Equal Employment Opportunity Officer job growth stack up to other jobs across the country? By 2024, there will be a change of 8,700 jobs for a total of 269,000 people employed in the career nationwide. This is a 3.3% change in growth over the next ten years, giving the career a growth rate nationwide of Above Average.
Growth Rankings And Facts
#507 Nationally for All Careers
Above Avg. Growth Nationally
What Companies Employ The Most Equal Employment Opportunity Officers
| Industry | Current Jobs | New Jobs Needed | % Increase |
|---|---|---|---|
| Federal government, excluding postal service | 57,100 | -5,500 | -6% |
| State government, excluding education and hospitals | 35,500 | 600 | 1% |
| Local government, excluding education and hospitals | 28,900 | 1,600 | 2% |
