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Best states for a professional recruiter
Quoted expert
Tonya Courtois
- Rank 1 - 10
- 11 - 20
- 21 - 30
- 31 - 40
- 41 - 51
Are you wondering which place in the United States is the best state for professional recruiters? Knowing how challenging it is to figure out where to start your career or where to move to advance your career, we decided to bring you a list of best states for professional recruiter jobs.Turns out, the median salary for the highest 10% of professional recruiters in America is $74,000.
To do that, we looked at the most recent data we have available for the following criteria -- average annual wages, and availability of jobs for professional recruiters.We found that New York is the best state for professional recruiter jobs, whereas Florida is the worst.
10 best states for professional recruiters in 2025
1. New York
Total professional recruiter jobs: 1,710 Average annual salary: $70,134 Lowest 10 percent earn: $51,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $95,000 Location Quotient: 1.37
2. District of Columbia
Total professional recruiter jobs: 209 Average annual salary: $71,236 Lowest 10 percent earn: $51,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $97,000 Location Quotient: 1.28
3. Maine
Total professional recruiter jobs: 190 Average annual salary: $57,931 Lowest 10 percent earn: $43,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $77,000 Location Quotient: 1.47
4. Pennsylvania
Total professional recruiter jobs: 1,179 Average annual salary: $61,768 Lowest 10 percent earn: $45,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $84,000 Location Quotient: 1.04
5. Rhode Island
Total professional recruiter jobs: 132 Average annual salary: $61,065 Lowest 10 percent earn: $45,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $82,000 Location Quotient: 1.11
6. North Dakota
Total professional recruiter jobs: 165 Average annual salary: $56,556 Lowest 10 percent earn: $42,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $74,000 Location Quotient: 1.82
7. New Jersey
Total professional recruiter jobs: 786 Average annual salary: $66,361 Lowest 10 percent earn: $48,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $90,000 Location Quotient: 1.02
8. Massachusetts
Total professional recruiter jobs: 1,179 Average annual salary: $59,532 Lowest 10 percent earn: $43,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $80,000 Location Quotient: 1.32
9. Washington
Total professional recruiter jobs: 702 Average annual salary: $63,969 Lowest 10 percent earn: $46,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $87,000 Location Quotient: 0.99
10. Alaska
Total professional recruiter jobs: 103 Average annual salary: $61,601 Lowest 10 percent earn: $53,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $71,000 Location Quotient: 1.27
Professional recruiter jobsNear Columbus, OH
How Zippia determines the best states to be a professional recruiter
You can read about how the best state rankings are calculated here.
Detailed list of the best states for a professional recruiter
| Rank | State | Average salary | Lowest 10% earn | Population | Job count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | New York | $70,134 | $51,000 | 19,849,399 | 1,710 |
| 2 | District of Columbia | $71,236 | $51,000 | 693,972 | 209 |
| 3 | Maine | $57,931 | $43,000 | 1,335,907 | 190 |
| 4 | Pennsylvania | $61,768 | $45,000 | 12,805,537 | 1,179 |
| 5 | Rhode Island | $61,065 | $45,000 | 1,059,639 | 132 |
| 6 | North Dakota | $56,556 | $42,000 | 755,393 | 165 |
| 7 | New Jersey | $66,361 | $48,000 | 9,005,644 | 786 |
| 8 | Massachusetts | $59,532 | $43,000 | 6,859,819 | 1,179 |
| 9 | Washington | $63,969 | $46,000 | 7,405,743 | 702 |
| 10 | Alaska | $61,601 | $53,000 | 739,795 | 103 |
| 11 | Vermont | $57,826 | $43,000 | 623,657 | 88 |
| 12 | Oregon | $57,830 | $41,000 | 4,142,776 | 468 |
| 13 | Kentucky | $55,384 | $40,000 | 4,454,189 | 332 |
| 14 | Minnesota | $53,277 | $39,000 | 5,576,606 | 1,102 |
| 15 | California | $61,958 | $43,000 | 39,536,653 | 2,782 |
| 16 | Alabama | $58,314 | $42,000 | 4,874,747 | 273 |
| 17 | Montana | $53,827 | $40,000 | 1,050,493 | 125 |
| 18 | North Carolina | $56,409 | $41,000 | 10,273,419 | 806 |
| 19 | Colorado | $55,333 | $40,000 | 5,607,154 | 757 |
| 20 | West Virginia | $51,232 | $37,000 | 1,815,857 | 175 |
| 21 | Texas | $55,414 | $39,000 | 28,304,596 | 1,619 |
| 22 | Delaware | $52,369 | $38,000 | 961,939 | 209 |
| 23 | Maryland | $58,355 | $42,000 | 6,052,177 | 597 |
| 24 | Hawaii | $55,648 | $45,000 | 1,427,538 | 109 |
| 25 | South Dakota | $50,204 | $37,000 | 869,666 | 115 |
| 26 | Illinois | $53,490 | $39,000 | 12,802,023 | 1,100 |
| 27 | Arizona | $52,213 | $36,000 | 7,016,270 | 583 |
| 28 | Kansas | $51,642 | $37,000 | 2,913,123 | 287 |
| 29 | Indiana | $49,506 | $36,000 | 6,666,818 | 748 |
| 30 | Connecticut | $53,510 | $39,000 | 3,588,184 | 329 |
| 31 | Missouri | $53,170 | $38,000 | 6,113,532 | 493 |
| 32 | Idaho | $51,758 | $37,000 | 1,716,943 | 153 |
| 33 | New Hampshire | $53,095 | $39,000 | 1,342,795 | 144 |
| 34 | Iowa | $47,988 | $35,000 | 3,145,711 | 416 |
| 35 | Wisconsin | $48,095 | $35,000 | 5,795,483 | 647 |
| 36 | Wyoming | $47,221 | $34,000 | 579,315 | 92 |
| 37 | South Carolina | $49,701 | $36,000 | 5,024,369 | 389 |
| 38 | Arkansas | $48,481 | $35,000 | 3,004,279 | 205 |
| 39 | New Mexico | $50,331 | $35,000 | 2,088,070 | 153 |
| 40 | Michigan | $48,858 | $35,000 | 9,962,311 | 668 |
| 41 | Oklahoma | $48,689 | $35,000 | 3,930,864 | 193 |
| 42 | Virginia | $51,770 | $37,000 | 8,470,020 | 677 |
| 43 | Mississippi | $47,544 | $34,000 | 2,984,100 | 188 |
| 44 | Nevada | $46,481 | $32,000 | 2,998,039 | 200 |
| 45 | Louisiana | $47,792 | $34,000 | 4,684,333 | 264 |
| 46 | Ohio | $46,594 | $33,000 | 11,658,609 | 833 |
| 47 | Utah | $41,146 | $29,000 | 3,101,833 | 310 |
| 48 | Nebraska | $43,100 | $31,000 | 1,920,076 | 201 |
| 49 | Tennessee | $42,675 | $30,000 | 6,715,984 | 513 |
| 50 | Georgia | $47,083 | $34,000 | 10,429,379 | 792 |
| 51 | Florida | $41,677 | $30,000 | 20,984,400 | 1,347 |
Highest paying states for professional recruiters
| Rank | State | Avg. Professional Recruiter Salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | New York | $70,134 |
| 2 | District of Columbia | $71,236 |
| 3 | Maine | $57,931 |
| 4 | Pennsylvania | $61,768 |
| 5 | Rhode Island | $61,065 |
| 6 | North Dakota | $56,556 |
| 7 | New Jersey | $66,361 |
| 8 | Massachusetts | $59,532 |
| 9 | Washington | $63,969 |
| 10 | Alaska | $61,601 |
| 11 | Vermont | $57,826 |
| 12 | Oregon | $57,830 |
| 13 | Kentucky | $55,384 |
| 14 | Minnesota | $53,277 |
| 15 | California | $61,958 |
| 16 | Alabama | $58,314 |
| 17 | Montana | $53,827 |
| 18 | North Carolina | $56,409 |
| 19 | Colorado | $55,333 |
| 20 | West Virginia | $51,232 |
| 21 | Texas | $55,414 |
| 22 | Delaware | $52,369 |
| 23 | Maryland | $58,355 |
| 24 | Hawaii | $55,648 |
| 25 | South Dakota | $50,204 |
| 26 | Illinois | $53,490 |
| 27 | Arizona | $52,213 |
| 28 | Kansas | $51,642 |
| 29 | Indiana | $49,506 |
| 30 | Connecticut | $53,510 |
| 31 | Missouri | $53,170 |
| 32 | Idaho | $51,758 |
| 33 | New Hampshire | $53,095 |
| 34 | Iowa | $47,988 |
| 35 | Wisconsin | $48,095 |
| 36 | Wyoming | $47,221 |
| 37 | South Carolina | $49,701 |
| 38 | Arkansas | $48,481 |
| 39 | New Mexico | $50,331 |
| 40 | Michigan | $48,858 |
| 41 | Oklahoma | $48,689 |
| 42 | Virginia | $51,770 |
| 43 | Mississippi | $47,544 |
| 44 | Nevada | $46,481 |
| 45 | Louisiana | $47,792 |
| 46 | Ohio | $46,594 |
| 47 | Utah | $41,146 |
| 48 | Nebraska | $43,100 |
| 49 | Tennessee | $42,675 |
| 50 | Georgia | $47,083 |
| 51 | Florida | $41,677 |
Expert opinions on the best states for professional recruiters
Are there any particularly good places in the United States for professional 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