How Much Do Recruiters Make In 2024?
How Much Do Recruiters Make? There are two different types of skill recruiters: internal and external recruiters. And they’re paid completely differently, with only one being able to realistically and reliably earn six figures and above. Recruiters play an essential role in nearly every industry. However, their impact is even more significant in demanding fields where having the best talent is crucial to a company’s success.
In the United States, the average recruiter can make anywhere from $35,000 a year to $200,000. That’s a broad annual earning spectrum, and you’ll likely see different numbers from different sources. In the UK, the average salary for a recruiter is £26,471 per year.
What are Recruiters?
Recruiters are experts at sourcing the best possible talent for a role and ensuring their candidates get a fair deal. Recruiting is not a one-size-fits-all career choice. In addition to the combination of place and position, there are different types of recruiters, which can affect average recruiter salary. For instance, an internal senior recruiter at a company can expect to earn an average salary of around $56,000, whereas an experienced recruiter at a staffing agency may earn upwards of $200,000.
What Type of Recruiter Makes the Most Money?
The following recruiters can earn the most money, especially in the second and third years.
Agency Recruiter or External Recruiter
You’ll only earn commissions and get paid for each job placement you make if you’re working as an external recruiter/agency recruiter. So if you don’t mind a more challenging role and some fluctuations in pay, you’ll be able to earn more over time with this type of recruiting role.
Technical Recruiter in a Specialized Field
How much do recruiters make in commission? In the first year, you’ll likely be given a base salary of around $50,000 to $60,000, and then your commissions will replace that salary over time. The employer typically removes the base salary when it’s more lucrative for you.
It doesn’t take long to learn a specialized field of recruitment and you don’t need to have the technical background of the candidates you’re recruiting. After choosing a technical field to work in, I recommend finding a high-end staffing agency that focuses on positions paying $100,000 and up.
How Much Do Technical Recruiters Make?
A good agency recruiter could make two or three “placements” (i.e. getting a candidate hired for a job) per month on average. So in terms of how much money IT recruiters make, they can potentially earn $200,000 per year and above. This won’t happen in the first year, but over time, it’s possible.
For example, a team members can place a candidate into a job paying $190,000 per year, the 20% contingency fee would be $38,000. Split that with the agency and you’re still taking home $19,000 as the recruiter who placed the candidate into the job.
How much do Agency recruiters make?
Agency recruiters or headhunters, work for a staffing firm that helps multiple companies find people to hire and fill their job openings. Agency recruiters aren’t paid a flat salary, typically. Instead, they earn commissions when they place candidates into jobs. Due to this, the average recruiter salary will vary widely based on the success of the individual but could go upwards of $200,000 for an experienced agency recruiter.
When working for a staffing agency, a recruiter typically earns what’s called a contingency fee, which is often 15-20% of the candidate’s first-year starting base salary. The candidate does not lose this money; it’s simply an additional fee that the employer pays the staffing firm.
Other Factors That Impact How Much Recruiters Make
1. Physical Location of Recruiter
A recruiter’s location also determines their average salary. Are they working from New York City or Des Moines, Iowa? In Silicon Valley and the startup scene? That will determine their cost of living and, for internal recruiters in particular, their base salary. For example, if you’re an entry-level recruiter working internally in Des Moines, and you’re recruiting for administrative positions, it’s probably not realistic to ask for a six-figure salary.
However, if you’re an experienced, internal recruiter in New York City, where the cost of living is exponentially higher than in many other cities in the country, don’t take an offer any less than $60,000. External recruiters’ location may also affect the number of candidates they receive as well in terms of commissions.
Job Sector of Recruiters
What industries are hiring recruiters? These days, it may be better to ask which industries are not. The industry you recruit for makes a difference, too. Operating in sectors with high-paying jobs means recruiters can make more. For example, tech companies often have more high-paying jobs. The same goes for medical, law, and engineering companies. Skilled individuals who understand the hiring process can bolster almost any industry, which also gives recruiters more leverage when seeking a job for themselves.T
Alternative to a recruiter Jobs
1. Human resources manager
A human resources manager plays a key role in the function of any company. Aside from recruiting new staff, a human resources manager also supports the creation of conflict management strategies in the workplace. The role sometimes involves enforcing company policies, especially in disciplinary cases.
2. Recruiting coordinator
The role of a recruiting coordinator differs from that of a recruiter, as a coordinator plays a much wider and more strategic role in the hiring of new members of staff. A recruiting coordinator determines the roles that require filling and the sort of candidates that the company is looking for.
3. Staffing coordinator
A staffing coordinator resolves issues that exist within the current staff at the company. These include ensuring that every member of staff receives their contracted hours, timetabling to ensure that the workplace is operational at all times and engaging in the company’s recruitment strategy. You usually work as part of the HR department in this role.
How to earn more money as a recruiter.
- Take on more responsibilities: More responsibilities also provide a chance to develop your skills further and make more contacts. When you’re working within a company, there are set responsibilities that you perform to fulfill your role. By offering to take on more responsibility, you demonstrate that you want to take a greater role within the company in the future.
- Look around for alternatives: In the same way that companies have a choice over which applicant they choose, you have a choice of the company you work for. As an effective recruiter with a wide set of skills, you’re a highly sought after commodity in a market of limited employees.
- Expand your network: One of the most important tools in any recruiter’s arsenal is their professional network. By expanding your range of contacts, you can ensure that you’re able to find the best candidate possible for any vacancy and significantly improve the quality of your service. You can expand your network by using social platforms like LinkedIn.
- Negotiate your contract: A significant proportion of your work as a recruiter is discussing people’s employment, payment and the terms of their working within a company. This is a skill that you can apply to your own employment at a recruitment agency.
- Improve your skill set: There are many skills in recruitment that you can develop to offer the best possible service. By working to hone these skills, you can demonstrate your ability in the role to prospective companies and show hiring companies that you’re willing to go the extra mile to boost your career prospects. Consider taking an online course to gain accreditation and improve your abilities.
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