Template
An HR generalist covers the full range of HR tasks. This template fits a first or second HR hire at a small or mid-sized company.
Human Resources Generalist
[Company name], [City, Province]
[Full-time / Part-time], [schedule]
About us
[Company name] [one or two sentences on what you do, who your customers are and how big the team is].
What you'll do
- Manage full-cycle recruitment for [departments or roles].
- Prepare offer letters and employment contracts from approved templates.
- Run onboarding and offboarding, including payroll and benefits setup.
- Maintain employee files and the [HR system] with accurate, confidential records.
- Administer benefits, leaves and accommodation requests.
- Advise employees and managers on policies and employment standards.
- Support performance reviews, investigations and discipline documentation.
What you bring
- [2 to 4] years of generalist HR experience.
- Knowledge of the Ontario Employment Standards Act and OHSA.
- Experience with an HR information system such as [system name].
- CPHR designation, or working toward it, is an asset.
- Organized, discreet and comfortable with difficult conversations.
Pay and benefits
[$XX,000 to $YY,000] per year, plus [benefits, RRSP matching, vacation days, hybrid schedule].
How to apply
Send your resume to [email or application link]. [Add the Ontario disclosures from the builder below if you have 25 or more employees.]
HR generalist pay by province
Hourly wages Job Bank reports for human resources professionals (NOC 11200), with the median converted to a yearly salary at 40 hours a week. Use the median as a starting point for an experienced hire and the low end for entry level.
| Province or territory | Low | Median | High | Median, yearly |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ontario | $25.48 | $39.90 | $62.02 | $83,000 |
| British Columbia | $27.00 | $43.27 | $57.33 | $90,000 |
| Alberta | $24.23 | $42.31 | $57.00 | $88,000 |
| Saskatchewan | $24.98 | $37.53 | $62.50 | $78,000 |
| Manitoba | $23.00 | $38.94 | $53.00 | $81,000 |
| Quebec | $27.40 | $42.00 | $59.39 | $87,000 |
| New Brunswick | $27.00 | $35.00 | $52.89 | $73,000 |
| Nova Scotia | $26.92 | $37.00 | $56.41 | $77,000 |
| Newfoundland and Labrador | $27.00 | $39.27 | $57.95 | $82,000 |
| Canada | $26.00 | $40.87 | $59.77 | $85,000 |
Ontario by region
| Region | Low | Median | High |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ottawa | $28.50 | $39.90 | $60.00 |
| Kingston–Pembroke | $27.69 | $40.96 | $63.59 |
| Muskoka–Kawarthas | $27.04 | $40.22 | $62.67 |
| Toronto | $23.10 | $40.87 | $63.46 |
| Kitchener–Waterloo–Barrie | $26.05 | $39.01 | $60.59 |
| Hamilton–Niagara Peninsula | $25.05 | $39.44 | $63.59 |
| London | $19.17 | $35.26 | $52.88 |
| Windsor–Sarnia | $31.25 | $42.05 | $63.08 |
| Stratford–Bruce Peninsula | $27.39 | $40.07 | $62.45 |
| Northeast | $27.00 | $40.62 | $62.50 |
| Northwest | $24.73 | $37.84 | $48.00 |
Source: Job Bank wages for NOC 11200, Human resources professionals, reference period 2023-2024, revised November 19, 2025. NOC 11200 also includes HR coordinators, advisors and consultants.
Turn it into an Ontario job posting
If you have 25 or more employees, publicly advertised postings in Ontario must include pay, say whether the job is an existing vacancy, and disclose AI screening. Fill this in and copy the result.
With fewer than 25 employees these rules don't apply to you yet, but following them makes your posting more competitive and keeps you ready when you grow.
Ontario rules checkHiring an HR generalist in Ontario: what comes next
The posting is step one. These are the obligations most small businesses run into between the offer and the first few weeks.
- Follow up with everyone you interviewEmployers with 25+ employees must tell interviewed applicants whether the job has been filled within 45 days of their last interview, and keep postings and records for three years.
- Put the offer in a written employment contractA written contract isn't mandatory in Ontario, but without one your termination costs are set by the courts rather than by you. The termination clause is the part to get right.
- Register with WSIB if your industry requires itMost Ontario employers must register within 10 days of hiring their first worker. A few industries are exempt, so check before the start date.
- Collect payroll documentsGet the employee's SIN within three days of their start date, plus federal and Ontario TD1 forms for tax withholding.
- Hand over the Employment Standards posterGive new employees the current "Employment Standards in Ontario" poster within 30 days of their start date.
- Complete health and safety awareness trainingEvery worker needs basic health and safety awareness training as soon as practicable after starting.
- Have written harassment and violence policiesRequired once you regularly have six or more workers, and reviewed every year.
Not sure you need a full-time HR hire?
Our HR team handles policies, contracts, onboarding and employee issues for Ontario employers, with a flat monthly price and no long-term contract.
Questions employers ask
What does an HR generalist do?
An HR generalist handles every part of day-to-day HR: recruitment, onboarding, records, benefits, policies and employee questions.
How much does an HR generalist make in Ontario?
Job Bank reports $25.48 (low), $39.90 (median) and $62.02 (high) per hour for human resources professionals in Ontario, and a median of $40.87 in the Toronto region (reference period 2023-2024, revised November 19, 2025). The Ontario median is about $83,000 a year at 40 hours a week. Ontario's general minimum wage is $17.95 per hour as of October 1, 2026.
What is the NOC code for an HR generalist?
The National Occupational Classification code for this role is NOC 11200, Human resources professionals (TEER 1). Use the code that matches the actual duties. NOC 11200 also includes HR coordinators, advisors and consultants.
Do I have to include pay in an Ontario job posting?
Yes, if you have 25 or more employees. Since January 1, 2026, publicly advertised postings must include the expected pay or a range no wider than $50,000. They must also say whether the posting is for an existing vacancy and disclose if AI is used to screen, assess or select applicants, and they can't require Canadian work experience.
What's the difference between an HR generalist and an HR coordinator?
A generalist makes judgment calls across all areas of HR and advises managers. A coordinator mainly handles scheduling, paperwork and records and escalates questions to a generalist or manager.
Last updated October 2026. Sources:
- Job Bank wages, NOC 11200
- Ontario minimum wage
- Your guide to the Employment Standards Act (Ontario)
- National Occupational Classification
This page is general information for employers, not legal advice. Rules change, so check the official sources before you post.