Labor Relations Specialists
Business and Financial Operations
Negotiates labor contracts and drafts proposals or counter-proposals for those talks. Much of the day is spent investigating union complaints, interpreting existing agreements, and checking that pay, hours, and working conditions match what was signed. When talks stall, the work often means mediating between employer and employee representatives, or preparing evidence and witnesses for disciplinary hearings. The work fits people who like close reading of contracts, careful listening, and settling disputes through argument and written language rather than physical work.
Typical education: Bachelor’s Degree (4-year)
Annual Median Wage in Field (2025)
$95'420
Median Wage Market Position
$95'420
What you might do
- Negotiate labor contracts between unions and employers
- Investigate union complaints to judge their strength
- Draft contract proposals and written counteroffers
- Explain contract terms to workers and managers
- Mediate talks to settle workplace disputes
- Prepare evidence and witnesses for disciplinary hearings
Skills that matter
- Listening through union complaints and arguments
- Negotiating collective bargaining agreements
- Drafting contract proposals and counteroffers
- Mediating talks between labor and management
- Interpreting contracts for both sides
- Preparing evidence for disciplinary hearings
AI & the future of this role
Dispute resolution and contract talks lean on trust, persuasion, and reading the room in tense settings. Drafting and research may get faster with automation, yet negotiation and grievance handling are likely to stay people-centered.
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Includes O*NET® 30.3 Database information by USDOL/ETA under CC BY 4.0; modified by LostInCareer. Wage/outlook from BLS. Attribution details