A new nationwide survey has revealed growing dissatisfaction over the remuneration of Human Resource (HR) professionals in Ghana, with more than seven out of every 10 practitioners believing they are underpaid despite the increasingly strategic role they play in organisational success. The findings are contained in the HR Compensation & Salary Satisfaction Survey Report – Ghana 2026, launched by SEDAT Consult Ltd., which describes the situation as an “HR Value Paradox”—where organisations expect HR professionals to drive business performance, talent development and organisational transformation while many practitioners feel their financial recognition has failed to match those expectations. The study, one of the most comprehensive of its kind in Ghana, surveyed 232 HR professionals across multiple sectors of the economy and examined issues relating to compensation, professional recognition and talent retention.
Widespread dissatisfaction According to the report, 71.1 per cent of respondents believe HR professionals in Ghana are generally underpaid, reflecting what it describes as a widespread perception across the profession rather than isolated personal experiences. It also found that 42.2 per cent of HR professionals are dissatisfied with their current salaries, compared with only 28.4 per cent who expressed satisfaction. Additionally, 64.7 per cent believe HR professionals earn less than colleagues in finance, information technology, engineering and operations despite performing equally strategic functions within their organisations.
The report further indicates that 54.7 per cent of respondents do not believe HR professionals receive fair compensation compared with employees in other departments within the same organisations. According to SEDAT Consult, the findings point to four major concerns—low salary satisfaction, perceptions of widespread underpayment, internal pay inequity and an increasing risk of salary-driven staff turnover. Retention challenge The report warns that dissatisfaction with compensation is beginning to threaten organisations’ ability to retain experienced HR professionals.
It revealed that 71.1 per cent of respondents have considered leaving their organisations because of salary concerns, while 61.7 per cent said they would likely accept another job if offered a salary increase of just 20 per cent elsewhere. A comprehensive national survey on the compensation of Human Resource (HR) professionals has revealed growing concerns over pay disparities, with more than four in every 10 HR practitioners expressing dissatisfaction with their salaries despite the increasingly strategic role they play in organisations. The report, which surveyed 232 HR professionals across multiple sectors of the Ghanaian economy, found that 42.2 per cent of respondents were dissatisfied with their current salaries, while only 28.4 per cent said they were satisfied with their remuneration.
It also revealed that 71.1 per cent believe HR professionals in Ghana are generally underpaid, while 64.7 per cent said HR practitioners receive lower remuneration than colleagues in finance, information technology, engineering and operations despite performing equally strategic functions. Strategic role Launching the report on Thursday, July 23, the Founder and Managing Director of SEDAT Consult Ltd., Mrs Patricia Abena Kissi, said the research was undertaken to replace anecdotal discussions about HR remuneration with credible evidence capable of informing policy and organisational decisions. “For years, HR professionals have shared concerns about being underpaid and undervalued.
We believed it was time to move beyond conversations and generate credible evidence that employers, professional bodies, policymakers, and HR leaders can use to drive meaningful change. Our goal is not simply to highlight a problem but to inspire practical solutions that strengthen the recognition, reward, and future of the HR profession in Ghana,” she explained. She described the findings as a wake-up call for organisations to align compensation with the increasingly strategic responsibilities assigned to HR professionals.
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