Recruiter Salary By State: Highest-Paid Recruiters by State [2026]
Research Summary. After comprehensive research by the Zippia data science team, we present the latest insights on recruiter salaries across the United States for 2026:
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Massachusetts stands out with the highest average recruiter salary of $66,136
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South Dakota has the lowest average recruiter salary at $36,965
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The national average salary for recruiters is $51,374
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The national hourly wage for recruiters is $24.7
You can learn more about our specific methodology.
Background
In the current job market, salary remains a critical factor for job seekers, consistently ranking as the top priority in surveys across various demographics. Many individuals ask, “How much do recruiters earn in my area?” Understanding salary trends can help you navigate your career path effectively.
While regional differences may affect specific figures, our detailed analysis provides a clear overview of average recruiter salaries by state, categorized by seniority level. Thus, even if your city’s wages vary slightly from state averages, this data offers a reliable benchmark for salary expectations.
Massachusetts leads the pack as the state offering the best compensation for recruiters.
Here’s a quick overview of the top ten states for recruiter salaries:
Now, let’s delve deeper into our findings with a complete ranking of all states.
Highest-Paid Recruiters By State
| Rank | State | Average Recruiter Salary | 10th Percentile | 90th Percentile |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Massachusetts | $66,136 | $44,000 | $97,000 |
| 2 | California | $65,166 | $41,000 | $101,000 |
| 3 | Washington | $63,943 | $40,000 | $100,000 |
| 4 | New Jersey | $63,659 | $42,000 | $94,000 |
| 5 | New York | $62,624 | $42,000 | $92,000 |
| 6 | Rhode Island | $62,038 | $41,000 | $91,000 |
| 7 | Alaska | $60,762 | $45,000 | $80,000 |
| 8 | Oregon | $59,266 | $37,000 | $93,000 |
| 9 | Connecticut | $58,433 | $39,000 | $86,000 |
| 10 | Virginia | $57,312 | $38,000 | $84,000 |
| 11 | Maine | $56,653 | $38,000 | $82,000 |
| 12 | Delaware | $55,855 | $37,000 | $83,000 |
| 13 | Maryland | $55,799 | $37,000 | $82,000 |
| 14 | Colorado | $55,585 | $37,000 | $82,000 |
| 15 | Vermont | $55,344 | $37,000 | $81,000 |
| 16 | New Hampshire | $54,015 | $36,000 | $79,000 |
| 17 | Pennsylvania | $52,709 | $35,000 | $78,000 |
| 18 | Nevada | $51,500 | $33,000 | $79,000 |
| 19 | Texas | $50,487 | $33,000 | $75,000 |
| 20 | Arizona | $50,398 | $33,000 | $75,000 |
| 21 | New Mexico | $50,344 | $33,000 | $74,000 |
| 22 | Idaho | $49,118 | $31,000 | $76,000 |
| 23 | Utah | $48,979 | $32,000 | $74,000 |
| 24 | Illinois | $48,504 | $33,000 | $70,000 |
| 25 | Minnesota | $48,018 | $33,000 | $69,000 |
| 26 | North Carolina | $47,638 | $32,000 | $69,000 |
| 27 | Georgia | $46,426 | $31,000 | $68,000 |
| 28 | Oklahoma | $46,289 | $31,000 | $67,000 |
| 29 | West Virginia | $46,177 | $31,000 | $67,000 |
| 30 | Louisiana | $46,030 | $30,000 | $68,000 |
| 31 | Michigan | $45,699 | $30,000 | $67,000 |
| 32 | Missouri | $45,374 | $31,000 | $65,000 |
| 33 | Ohio | $45,125 | $30,000 | $66,000 |
| 34 | Alabama | $44,907 | $30,000 | $65,000 |
| 35 | Wyoming | $44,884 | $30,000 | $66,000 |
| 36 | Kansas | $44,760 | $30,000 | $64,000 |
| 37 | Montana | $44,621 | $29,000 | $67,000 |
| 38 | Wisconsin | $44,227 | $30,000 | $64,000 |
| 39 | Florida | $43,823 | $29,000 | $66,000 |
| 40 | Hawaii | $42,888 | $30,000 | $60,000 |
| 41 | Nebraska | $42,814 | $29,000 | $61,000 |
| 42 | North Dakota | $42,741 | $29,000 | $61,000 |
| 43 | South Carolina | $42,101 | $28,000 | $61,000 |
| 44 | Kentucky | $41,894 | $28,000 | $60,000 |
| 45 | Tennessee | $41,765 | $28,000 | $60,000 |
| 46 | Arkansas | $41,613 | $28,000 | $60,000 |
| 47 | Iowa | $41,507 | $28,000 | $59,000 |
| 48 | Indiana | $40,575 | $27,000 | $59,000 |
| 49 | Mississippi | $40,451 | $27,000 | $59,000 |
| 50 | South Dakota | $36,965 | $25,000 | $53,000 |
Methodology: Recruiter Salary By State
To analyze recruiter compensation by state, Zippia has compiled data from various reliable sources, including the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the Federal Labor Commission (FLC), and the Office of Personnel Management (OPM). We complemented this data with actual salary information from job postings. Our data science team then calculated a weighted average to determine the average pay for recruiters by state.
We ranked every state based on these average annual salaries, identifying the state with the highest salary as having the best compensation for recruiters.
Recruiter Salary By State FAQs
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What is the highest-paid state for recruiters?
The highest-paid state for recruiters is Massachusetts with an average salary of $66,136 per year.
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What city pays recruiters the most?
Richmond, CA offers the highest salaries for recruiters, averaging $71,994 per year.
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What is the lowest-paying state for recruiters?
The lowest-paying state for recruiters is South Dakota with an average salary of $36,965 per year.
Author
Chris Kolmar is a co-founder of Zippia and the editor-in-chief of the Zippia career advice blog. He has hired over 50 people in his career, been hired five times, and wants to help you land your next job. His research has been featured on the New York Times, Thrillist, VOX, The Atlantic, and a host of local news. More recently, he's been quoted on USA Today, BusinessInsider, and CNBC.
