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Job outlook for contract recruiter/sourcers in the United States
Contract recruiter/sourcer job growth summary. After extensive research, interviews, and analysis, Zippia's data science team found that:
The projected contract recruiter/sourcer job growth rate is 8% from 2018-2028.
About 58,800 new jobs for contract recruiter/sourcers are projected over the next decade.
Contract recruiter/sourcer salaries have increased 7% for contract recruiter/sourcers in the last 5 years.
There are over 6,871 contract recruiter/sourcers currently employed in the United States.
There are 39,192 active contract recruiter/sourcer job openings in the US.
The average contract recruiter/sourcer salary is $80,489.
Are contract recruiter/sourcer jobs in demand?
Contract recruiter/sourcer job and salary trends over time
Contract recruiter/sourcer jobs over time
Contract recruiter/sourcer job growth rate over time
| Year | # of jobs | % of population |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 6,871 | 0.00% |
| 2020 | 6,008 | 0.00% |
| 2019 | 5,871 | 0.00% |
| 2018 | 5,507 | 0.00% |
| 2017 | 5,138 | 0.00% |
Average contract recruiter/sourcer salary over time
Contract recruiter/sourcer salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $80,489 | $38.70 | +2.5% |
| 2024 | $78,498 | $37.74 | +1.7% |
| 2023 | $77,180 | $37.11 | +0.9% |
| 2022 | $76,508 | $36.78 | +2.0% |
| 2021 | $75,025 | $36.07 | +1.4% |
Contract recruiter/sourcer jobs by state
Most common states for contract recruiter/sourcers
| Rank | State | Population | # of jobs | Employment/ 1000ppl |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | District of Columbia | 693,972 | 142 | 20% |
| 2 | Oregon | 4,142,776 | 278 | 7% |
| 3 | Massachusetts | 6,859,819 | 439 | 6% |
| 4 | New Hampshire | 1,342,795 | 86 | 6% |
| 5 | Delaware | 961,939 | 56 | 6% |
| 6 | Alaska | 739,795 | 45 | 6% |
| 7 | North Dakota | 755,393 | 44 | 6% |
| 8 | Illinois | 12,802,023 | 578 | 5% |
| 9 | Virginia | 8,470,020 | 401 | 5% |
| 10 | Washington | 7,405,743 | 380 | 5% |
| 11 | Colorado | 5,607,154 | 307 | 5% |
| 12 | Minnesota | 5,576,606 | 296 | 5% |
| 13 | Maryland | 6,052,177 | 280 | 5% |
| 14 | Utah | 3,101,833 | 164 | 5% |
| 15 | Nebraska | 1,920,076 | 99 | 5% |
| 16 | Rhode Island | 1,059,639 | 57 | 5% |
| 17 | Montana | 1,050,493 | 50 | 5% |
| 18 | South Dakota | 869,666 | 41 | 5% |
| 19 | Vermont | 623,657 | 33 | 5% |
| 20 | Wyoming | 579,315 | 30 | 5% |
Most common cities for contract recruiter/sourcers
| Rank | City | # of jobs | Employment/ 1000ppl | Avg. salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Redmond | 2 | 3% | $112,298 |
| 2 | Newark | 1 | 3% | $73,978 |
| 3 | New Brunswick | 1 | 2% | $87,266 |
| 4 | Alameda | 1 | 1% | $117,019 |
| 5 | Carlsbad | 1 | 1% | $99,540 |
| 6 | Orange | 1 | 1% | $101,002 |
| 7 | Tempe | 1 | 1% | $70,879 |
| 8 | Boston | 1 | 0% | $90,304 |
| 9 | Denver | 1 | 0% | $81,764 |
| 10 | San Francisco | 1 | 0% | $117,237 |
Contract Recruiter/Sourcer job outlook: Expert opinions
Our panel of contract recruiter/sourcer experts
Muhlenberg College
The Pennsylvania State University
Emmaus Homes
East Tennessee State University
Ryan Smolko
Associate Director, Career CenterMuhlenberg College
The Career Center at Muhlenberg College
What technical skills for a Contract Recruiter/Sourcer stand out to employers?
Ryan Smolko: Technical skills vary by industry and the technical skills needed today are not those that will be needed five or even one year from now. Adaptability is key to staying relevant in their career both now and in the future. O*Net is a great resource for students to see technical skills commonly used in their jobs of interest.
The technical skills everyone should be continually working on are Excel/Tableau and Canva/PowerPoint. Working with large amounts of data is almost universal in today's economy regardless of industry or position. You can also have the best data in the world but if you can't present it in a dynamic way it won't be seen which is why being well versed in presentation and design tools can be a big advantage.
What skills stand out on Contract Recruiter/Sourcer resumes?
Elaine Farndale Ph.D.: An ability to be flexible and adaptable has to be a number one priority for most positions, particularly HR. This might be related to geographic flexibility, i.e., being willing to go where skills are needed, or flexibility of working hours or place of work (in an office or working from home). We have learned a lot about the advantages (e.g., reduced office space, meeting, and travel costs) and disadvantages (e.g., losing connections with co-workers, more complex people management, and productivity challenges) of remote working so businesses will be trying to continue to keep the advantages while removing the disadvantages once people can work on-site as well as remotely. HR professionals who can advise businesses through this balancing act will be invaluable.
Are there any particularly good places in the United States for Contract Recruiter/Sourcers to find work opportunities?
Elaine Farndale Ph.D.: The answer will lie in which states can recover from the pandemic the quickest, which is still very much unknown.
What are the biggest trends we'll see in the Contract Recruiter/Sourcer job market given the pandemic?
Tonya Courtois: Covid 19 has forced many to rethink and reevaluate the status quo. Remote work has always been a topic of consideration for many but the pandemic pushed it into high gear for both employers and potential employees. More employers are going to be looking for individuals who are open to remote work. This brings its own set of new considerations. As an employer you are looking for individuals who are able to manage themselves and their time. Are they tech-savvy, adaptable, innovative, organized and self-aware? How will we manage accountability and production? For potential employees, they want to know how they will learn the role, how personal will it feel, will there be any disconnect, and how to balance work and home life.
Recruiters will have to think outside of the box to hire and onboard individuals. However, it doesn't stop there. Recruiters now have to be more accommodating, educated on the culture of the organization, and find that personal touch that allows the candidate to feel connected to the mission of the organization. They have to paint that picture of the company as a whole. They will have to be the expert, the coach, the teacher, the face of the organization.
What general advice would you give to a Contract Recruiter/Sourcer?
Dr. James Lampley: Be willing to go where the jobs are. Many of our graduates are "place-bound". Their family obligations or spouses make it difficult to relocate.
What Contract Recruiter/Sourcer skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Dr. James Lampley: I would encourage a graduate or graduate student to use the gap year experience to learn a new marketable skill or to work with under-served groups. Learn how to do something that not a lot of people can do.
What are the biggest trends we'll see in the Contract Recruiter/Sourcer job market given the pandemic?
Dr. James Lampley: Online delivery. Before the pandemic, we were already seeing a trend to more online programs. After we return to "normal" we will see online courses and online programs expand exponentially.