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Best states for a recruiter
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Tonya Courtois
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Are you thinking of becoming a recruiter and really want to work at United States Army Corps of Engineers? Turns out, your chances to become a recruiter are better in some states than others.In fact, our research shows that Washington is the best state for recruiters in America. The best city in America for recruiters with the highest pay is Richmond, CA.
Washington is the best state for jobs for recruiters, and Indiana is the worst. The most common pay in Washington is $63,943, while the median pay in Indiana is $40,575.We found that the Midwest is best for recruiters, and the Northeast is the worst. Richmond, CA is the best city in the country for recruiter jobs, where as Washington is the best state in the country.
10 best states for recruiters in 2025
1. Washington
Total recruiter jobs: 496 Average annual salary: $63,943 Lowest 10 percent earn: $40,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $100,000 Location Quotient: 1.41
2. Rhode Island
Total recruiter jobs: 72 Average annual salary: $62,038 Lowest 10 percent earn: $41,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $91,000 Location Quotient: 1.23
3. Massachusetts
Total recruiter jobs: 502 Average annual salary: $66,136 Lowest 10 percent earn: $44,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $97,000 Location Quotient: 1.14
4. District of Columbia
Total recruiter jobs: 147 Average annual salary: $65,792 Lowest 10 percent earn: $44,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $97,000 Location Quotient: 1.82
5. New York
Total recruiter jobs: 766 Average annual salary: $62,624 Lowest 10 percent earn: $42,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $92,000 Location Quotient: 1.24
6. Oregon
Total recruiter jobs: 334 Average annual salary: $59,266 Lowest 10 percent earn: $37,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $93,000 Location Quotient: 1.68
7. California
Total recruiter jobs: 1,676 Average annual salary: $65,166 Lowest 10 percent earn: $41,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $101,000 Location Quotient: 1.19
8. Alaska
Total recruiter jobs: 47 Average annual salary: $60,762 Lowest 10 percent earn: $45,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $80,000 Location Quotient: 1.17
9. New Jersey
Total recruiter jobs: 364 Average annual salary: $63,659 Lowest 10 percent earn: $42,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $94,000 Location Quotient: 0.95
10. Vermont
Total recruiter jobs: 43 Average annual salary: $55,344 Lowest 10 percent earn: $37,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $81,000 Location Quotient: 1.17
Recruiter jobsNear Columbus, OH
How Zippia determines the best states to be a recruiter
You can read about how the best state rankings are calculated here.
Detailed list of the best states for a recruiter
| Rank | State | Average salary | Lowest 10% earn | Population | Job count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Washington | $63,943 | $40,000 | 7,405,743 | 496 |
| 2 | Rhode Island | $62,038 | $41,000 | 1,059,639 | 72 |
| 3 | Massachusetts | $66,136 | $44,000 | 6,859,819 | 502 |
| 4 | District of Columbia | $65,792 | $44,000 | 693,972 | 147 |
| 5 | New York | $62,624 | $42,000 | 19,849,399 | 766 |
| 6 | Oregon | $59,266 | $37,000 | 4,142,776 | 334 |
| 7 | California | $65,166 | $41,000 | 39,536,653 | 1,676 |
| 8 | Alaska | $60,762 | $45,000 | 739,795 | 47 |
| 9 | New Jersey | $63,659 | $42,000 | 9,005,644 | 364 |
| 10 | Vermont | $55,344 | $37,000 | 623,657 | 43 |
| 11 | Delaware | $55,855 | $37,000 | 961,939 | 68 |
| 12 | New Hampshire | $54,015 | $36,000 | 1,342,795 | 95 |
| 13 | Nevada | $51,500 | $33,000 | 2,998,039 | 118 |
| 14 | Colorado | $55,585 | $37,000 | 5,607,154 | 317 |
| 15 | Connecticut | $58,433 | $39,000 | 3,588,184 | 142 |
| 16 | Virginia | $57,312 | $38,000 | 8,470,020 | 409 |
| 17 | Arizona | $50,398 | $33,000 | 7,016,270 | 346 |
| 18 | Maine | $56,653 | $38,000 | 1,335,907 | 44 |
| 19 | Pennsylvania | $52,709 | $35,000 | 12,805,537 | 505 |
| 20 | Texas | $50,487 | $33,000 | 28,304,596 | 1,052 |
| 21 | Utah | $48,979 | $32,000 | 3,101,833 | 169 |
| 22 | Maryland | $55,799 | $37,000 | 6,052,177 | 261 |
| 23 | Idaho | $49,118 | $31,000 | 1,716,943 | 85 |
| 24 | Wyoming | $44,884 | $30,000 | 579,315 | 36 |
| 25 | Illinois | $48,504 | $33,000 | 12,802,023 | 605 |
| 26 | Minnesota | $48,018 | $33,000 | 5,576,606 | 307 |
| 27 | New Mexico | $50,344 | $33,000 | 2,088,070 | 75 |
| 28 | North Carolina | $47,638 | $32,000 | 10,273,419 | 427 |
| 29 | Georgia | $46,426 | $31,000 | 10,429,379 | 434 |
| 30 | West Virginia | $46,177 | $31,000 | 1,815,857 | 44 |
| 31 | Michigan | $45,699 | $30,000 | 9,962,311 | 312 |
| 32 | North Dakota | $42,741 | $29,000 | 755,393 | 55 |
| 33 | Ohio | $45,125 | $30,000 | 11,658,609 | 414 |
| 34 | Louisiana | $46,030 | $30,000 | 4,684,333 | 128 |
| 35 | Oklahoma | $46,289 | $31,000 | 3,930,864 | 93 |
| 36 | Nebraska | $42,814 | $29,000 | 1,920,076 | 130 |
| 37 | Montana | $44,621 | $29,000 | 1,050,493 | 58 |
| 38 | Kansas | $44,760 | $30,000 | 2,913,123 | 127 |
| 39 | Hawaii | $42,888 | $30,000 | 1,427,538 | 46 |
| 40 | Wisconsin | $44,227 | $30,000 | 5,795,483 | 221 |
| 41 | Missouri | $45,374 | $31,000 | 6,113,532 | 208 |
| 42 | Alabama | $44,907 | $30,000 | 4,874,747 | 132 |
| 43 | Tennessee | $41,765 | $28,000 | 6,715,984 | 265 |
| 44 | Florida | $43,823 | $29,000 | 20,984,400 | 677 |
| 45 | Kentucky | $41,894 | $28,000 | 4,454,189 | 152 |
| 46 | Arkansas | $41,613 | $28,000 | 3,004,279 | 96 |
| 47 | South Dakota | $36,965 | $25,000 | 869,666 | 51 |
| 48 | Iowa | $41,507 | $28,000 | 3,145,711 | 145 |
| 49 | South Carolina | $42,101 | $28,000 | 5,024,369 | 137 |
| 50 | Mississippi | $40,451 | $27,000 | 2,984,100 | 73 |
| 51 | Indiana | $40,575 | $27,000 | 6,666,818 | 215 |
Highest paying states for recruiters
| Rank | State | Avg. Recruiter Salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Washington | $63,943 |
| 2 | Rhode Island | $62,038 |
| 3 | Massachusetts | $66,136 |
| 4 | District of Columbia | $65,792 |
| 5 | New York | $62,624 |
| 6 | Oregon | $59,266 |
| 7 | California | $65,166 |
| 8 | Alaska | $60,762 |
| 9 | New Jersey | $63,659 |
| 10 | Vermont | $55,344 |
| 11 | Delaware | $55,855 |
| 12 | New Hampshire | $54,015 |
| 13 | Nevada | $51,500 |
| 14 | Colorado | $55,585 |
| 15 | Connecticut | $58,433 |
| 16 | Virginia | $57,312 |
| 17 | Arizona | $50,398 |
| 18 | Maine | $56,653 |
| 19 | Pennsylvania | $52,709 |
| 20 | Texas | $50,487 |
| 21 | Utah | $48,979 |
| 22 | Maryland | $55,799 |
| 23 | Idaho | $49,118 |
| 24 | Wyoming | $44,884 |
| 25 | Illinois | $48,504 |
| 26 | Minnesota | $48,018 |
| 27 | New Mexico | $50,344 |
| 28 | North Carolina | $47,638 |
| 29 | Georgia | $46,426 |
| 30 | West Virginia | $46,177 |
| 31 | Michigan | $45,699 |
| 32 | North Dakota | $42,741 |
| 33 | Ohio | $45,125 |
| 34 | Louisiana | $46,030 |
| 35 | Oklahoma | $46,289 |
| 36 | Nebraska | $42,814 |
| 37 | Montana | $44,621 |
| 38 | Kansas | $44,760 |
| 39 | Hawaii | $42,888 |
| 40 | Wisconsin | $44,227 |
| 41 | Missouri | $45,374 |
| 42 | Alabama | $44,907 |
| 43 | Tennessee | $41,765 |
| 44 | Florida | $43,823 |
| 45 | Kentucky | $41,894 |
| 46 | Arkansas | $41,613 |
| 47 | South Dakota | $36,965 |
| 48 | Iowa | $41,507 |
| 49 | South Carolina | $42,101 |
| 50 | Mississippi | $40,451 |
| 51 | Indiana | $40,575 |
Expert opinions on the best states for recruiters
Are there any particularly good places in the United States for 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