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Best states for an executive recruiter
Quoted expert
Tonya Courtois
- Rank 1 - 10
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- 41 - 51
We decided to bring you a list of the best states for jobs for executive recruiters in the United States. Executive recruiter positions are available in every state, but not all states are the same. Some states do not offer the same wages, benefits, time off, etc for executive recruiters.Our research found that Washington is the best state for executive recruiters, while Washington and California are ranked highest in terms of median salary. Washington has a median salary of $116,372 and Washington has the highest median salary among all 50 states for executive recruiters.
We figured that the best places for executive recruiter jobs has three things everyone would agree on. There would be high annual wages, good career prospects (no matter what phase of the career you are in), and a lot of job opportunities.Washington is the best state, and Bellingham is the city with the highest pay for executive recruiters.
10 best states for executive recruiters in 2025
1. Washington
Total executive recruiter jobs: 1,234 Average annual salary: $116,372 Lowest 10 percent earn: $76,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $177,000 Location Quotient: 1.382. Illinois
Total executive recruiter jobs: 2,067 Average annual salary: $83,789 Lowest 10 percent earn: $55,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $127,000 Location Quotient: 1.413. Minnesota
Total executive recruiter jobs: 953 Average annual salary: $89,793 Lowest 10 percent earn: $60,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $133,000 Location Quotient: 1.174. North Dakota
Total executive recruiter jobs: 146 Average annual salary: $85,721 Lowest 10 percent earn: $58,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $126,000 Location Quotient: 1.285. Nevada
Total executive recruiter jobs: 335 Average annual salary: $79,635 Lowest 10 percent earn: $49,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $128,000 Location Quotient: 1.316. Alaska
Total executive recruiter jobs: 94 Average annual salary: $102,184 Lowest 10 percent earn: $73,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $142,000 Location Quotient: 0.927. Utah
Total executive recruiter jobs: 540 Average annual salary: $77,588 Lowest 10 percent earn: $49,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $121,000 Location Quotient: 1.388. Texas
Total executive recruiter jobs: 3,266 Average annual salary: $78,902 Lowest 10 percent earn: $47,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $131,000 Location Quotient: 1.329. Rhode Island
Total executive recruiter jobs: 204 Average annual salary: $79,136 Lowest 10 percent earn: $52,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $118,000 Location Quotient: 1.3710. Colorado
Total executive recruiter jobs: 974 Average annual salary: $80,489 Lowest 10 percent earn: $51,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $125,000 Location Quotient: 1.34
Executive recruiter jobsNear Columbus, OH
How Zippia determines the best states to be an executive recruiter
You can read about how the best state rankings are calculated here.
Detailed list of the best states for an executive recruiter
| Rank | State | Average salary | Lowest 10% earn | Population | Job count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Washington | $116,372 | $76,000 | 7,405,743 | 1,234 |
| 2 | Illinois | $83,789 | $55,000 | 12,802,023 | 2,067 |
| 3 | Minnesota | $89,793 | $60,000 | 5,576,606 | 953 |
| 4 | North Dakota | $85,721 | $58,000 | 755,393 | 146 |
| 5 | Nevada | $79,635 | $49,000 | 2,998,039 | 335 |
| 6 | Alaska | $102,184 | $73,000 | 739,795 | 94 |
| 7 | Utah | $77,588 | $49,000 | 3,101,833 | 540 |
| 8 | Texas | $78,902 | $47,000 | 28,304,596 | 3,266 |
| 9 | Rhode Island | $79,136 | $52,000 | 1,059,639 | 204 |
| 10 | Colorado | $80,489 | $51,000 | 5,607,154 | 974 |
| 11 | Oregon | $102,603 | $66,000 | 4,142,776 | 259 |
| 12 | Vermont | $76,782 | $52,000 | 623,657 | 125 |
| 13 | California | $105,563 | $65,000 | 39,536,653 | 1,323 |
| 14 | Missouri | $78,216 | $50,000 | 6,113,532 | 797 |
| 15 | Idaho | $75,898 | $49,000 | 1,716,943 | 233 |
| 16 | Maryland | $83,739 | $54,000 | 6,052,177 | 818 |
| 17 | North Carolina | $76,255 | $47,000 | 10,273,419 | 1,267 |
| 18 | Wyoming | $71,861 | $46,000 | 579,315 | 86 |
| 19 | Ohio | $72,602 | $47,000 | 11,658,609 | 1,236 |
| 20 | Maine | $77,304 | $52,000 | 1,335,907 | 134 |
| 21 | Massachusetts | $72,408 | $48,000 | 6,859,819 | 1,596 |
| 22 | District of Columbia | $89,152 | $57,000 | 693,972 | 126 |
| 23 | Virginia | $74,689 | $47,000 | 8,470,020 | 1,432 |
| 24 | Georgia | $72,818 | $44,000 | 10,429,379 | 1,379 |
| 25 | Pennsylvania | $72,584 | $47,000 | 12,805,537 | 1,486 |
| 26 | South Dakota | $73,188 | $48,000 | 869,666 | 105 |
| 27 | Wisconsin | $72,265 | $48,000 | 5,795,483 | 676 |
| 28 | Montana | $68,335 | $44,000 | 1,050,493 | 195 |
| 29 | Alabama | $72,778 | $44,000 | 4,874,747 | 424 |
| 30 | New Mexico | $71,892 | $44,000 | 2,088,070 | 208 |
| 31 | New Hampshire | $69,819 | $47,000 | 1,342,795 | 228 |
| 32 | Nebraska | $68,026 | $44,000 | 1,920,076 | 301 |
| 33 | Arizona | $66,847 | $40,000 | 7,016,270 | 917 |
| 34 | Connecticut | $69,855 | $46,000 | 3,588,184 | 464 |
| 35 | Delaware | $68,501 | $44,000 | 961,939 | 177 |
| 36 | New Jersey | $67,717 | $44,000 | 9,005,644 | 1,253 |
| 37 | Michigan | $67,472 | $44,000 | 9,962,311 | 857 |
| 38 | Iowa | $67,235 | $44,000 | 3,145,711 | 383 |
| 39 | Arkansas | $64,718 | $40,000 | 3,004,279 | 301 |
| 40 | Kansas | $65,111 | $41,000 | 2,913,123 | 395 |
| 41 | Tennessee | $62,548 | $38,000 | 6,715,984 | 755 |
| 42 | New York | $71,114 | $46,000 | 19,849,399 | 586 |
| 43 | South Carolina | $64,211 | $39,000 | 5,024,369 | 490 |
| 44 | Indiana | $65,426 | $42,000 | 6,666,818 | 664 |
| 45 | Hawaii | $62,851 | $44,000 | 1,427,538 | 104 |
| 46 | Mississippi | $63,326 | $38,000 | 2,984,100 | 191 |
| 47 | Louisiana | $61,101 | $36,000 | 4,684,333 | 375 |
| 48 | Kentucky | $62,031 | $39,000 | 4,454,189 | 389 |
| 49 | West Virginia | $61,998 | $39,000 | 1,815,857 | 139 |
| 50 | Oklahoma | $62,235 | $38,000 | 3,930,864 | 313 |
| 51 | Florida | $55,164 | $33,000 | 20,984,400 | 2,009 |
Highest paying states for executive recruiters
| Rank | State | Avg. Executive Recruiter Salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Washington | $116,372 |
| 2 | Illinois | $83,789 |
| 3 | Minnesota | $89,793 |
| 4 | North Dakota | $85,721 |
| 5 | Nevada | $79,635 |
| 6 | Alaska | $102,184 |
| 7 | Utah | $77,588 |
| 8 | Texas | $78,902 |
| 9 | Rhode Island | $79,136 |
| 10 | Colorado | $80,489 |
| 11 | Oregon | $102,603 |
| 12 | Vermont | $76,782 |
| 13 | California | $105,563 |
| 14 | Missouri | $78,216 |
| 15 | Idaho | $75,898 |
| 16 | Maryland | $83,739 |
| 17 | North Carolina | $76,255 |
| 18 | Wyoming | $71,861 |
| 19 | Ohio | $72,602 |
| 20 | Maine | $77,304 |
| 21 | Massachusetts | $72,408 |
| 22 | District of Columbia | $89,152 |
| 23 | Virginia | $74,689 |
| 24 | Georgia | $72,818 |
| 25 | Pennsylvania | $72,584 |
| 26 | South Dakota | $73,188 |
| 27 | Wisconsin | $72,265 |
| 28 | Montana | $68,335 |
| 29 | Alabama | $72,778 |
| 30 | New Mexico | $71,892 |
| 31 | New Hampshire | $69,819 |
| 32 | Nebraska | $68,026 |
| 33 | Arizona | $66,847 |
| 34 | Connecticut | $69,855 |
| 35 | Delaware | $68,501 |
| 36 | New Jersey | $67,717 |
| 37 | Michigan | $67,472 |
| 38 | Iowa | $67,235 |
| 39 | Arkansas | $64,718 |
| 40 | Kansas | $65,111 |
| 41 | Tennessee | $62,548 |
| 42 | New York | $71,114 |
| 43 | South Carolina | $64,211 |
| 44 | Indiana | $65,426 |
| 45 | Hawaii | $62,851 |
| 46 | Mississippi | $63,326 |
| 47 | Louisiana | $61,101 |
| 48 | Kentucky | $62,031 |
| 49 | West Virginia | $61,998 |
| 50 | Oklahoma | $62,235 |
| 51 | Florida | $55,164 |
Expert opinions on the best states for executive recruiters
Are there any particularly good places in the United States for executive recruiters to find work opportunities?
Tonya Courtois
Recruiting Manager, Emmaus Homes
Our industry provides support staff to adults who have developmental disabilities. Our entry-level employees are called Direct Support Professionals (DSPS). We, like many others in our industry, are experiencing a significant staffing crisis. This crisis has gained national attention. To close the gap we continue to encourage our state legislatures to standardize rates and pay rates that will allow us to outpace minimum wage and be competitive with other high-volume employers. My recommendation to students and recent graduates is to research mission-driven, caregiving roles in their area, specifically those for individuals with disabilities. Learn about disabilities and understand the need. Reach out to a couple of different organizations in your area and connect with them to learn more about their mission. Find a good fit and pick up some part-time hours while finishing school. At Emmaus we are very intentional in creating career paths for individuals who have a mission heart and want to do work that matters. It's not just a job but a defined career path!
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Updated January 8, 2025