Recruiter Salary
The median annual wage for recruiters in the United States is $75,940, about $36.51 an hour (BLS, May 2025). The middle half earns $58,610 to $99,380. In the Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ metro area the median is $74,640.
Data as of May 2025.
Recruiter pay by percentile
| Percentile | United States | Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $47,180 | $48,510 |
| 25th percentile | $58,610 | $58,720 |
| Median (50th) | $75,940 | $74,640 |
| 75th percentile | $99,380 | $95,970 |
| 90th percentile | $128,720 | $116,000 |
| Mean (average) | $81,990 | $78,340 |
| Workers employed | 912,430 | 15,430 |
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025. Hourly equivalent of the U.S. median: $36.51.
U.S. Range
10th to 90th percentile, annual wage
The shaded band is the middle half of workers: $58,610 to $99,380.
BLS counted 912,430 workers in "Human Resources Specialists" in May 2025. Their median annual wage was $75,940, so half earned less and half earned more. The mean was $81,990, pulled above the median by a smaller group of high earners. The lowest-paid tenth earned $47,180 or less and the highest-paid tenth earned $128,720 or more, about 2.7 times as much.
In the Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ metro area BLS counted 15,430 workers, about 1.7% of the national total. The metro median of $74,640 is 2% below the national median.
BLS reports this occupation as "Human Resources Specialists" across every industry. Recruiters are included in this group alongside other HR specialists, so the figures are broader than automotive recruiting.
Recruiter salary by state
District of Columbia has the highest state median at $110,970 and Arkansas the lowest at $55,010, a gap of $55,960. 17 of 51 state medians are above the national figure. Arizona ranks 24th at $71,390, 6% below the national median. State medians ignore cost of living.
Ten Highest State Medians
Median annual wage, BLS
Median Pay by State
All 51 state medians. Hover or tap a state for the annual and hourly figures.
What affects recruiter pay
- Many recruiters work in-house at a dealership group or manufacturer, while others work at staffing and search firms. Pay plans differ, and agency recruiters may earn placement-based incentives that a salary alone does not show.
- Volume and difficulty matter. Hiring for hard-to-fill technician roles takes more sourcing work than hiring for roles with many applicants, and employers that struggle to fill them may value recruiters who can.
- Seniority and scope raise pay. Leading hiring for a whole group, building a talent pipeline or managing other recruiters sits above handling requisitions for a single store.
- Because the BLS category spans all industries, use these figures as a general reference range and compare with the details of a specific offer.
Career Path and Pay
Recruiters often start as recruiting coordinators or sourcers, scheduling interviews and finding candidates, then move into owning requisitions end to end. Technician and other hard-to-fill roles reward recruiters who build relationships with schools and local talent.
Senior recruiters lead hiring for a group or region, become talent acquisition managers, or move into broader human resources roles. Agency recruiters may instead earn placement-based incentives on top of a base salary.
What a Recruiter does
- Source candidates for technician, sales, service and management roles.
- Screen applicants, schedule interviews and coordinate with hiring managers.
- Manage job postings and keep candidates informed through the hiring process.
Recruiter salary: common questions
How much does a recruiter make?
The median is $75,940 a year, about $36.51 an hour (BLS, May 2025). The middle half earns $58,610 to $99,380.
How much does a recruiter make in Phoenix, Arizona?
The Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ median is $74,640, about $35.88 an hour, and the middle half earns $58,720 to $95,970.
What do the highest- and lowest-paid recruiters earn?
Nationally, the top tenth earn $128,720 or more and the bottom tenth earn $47,180 or less. BLS does not report pay by years of experience, so these are not formal entry-level or senior figures.
Which state pays recruiters the most?
District of Columbia ($110,970), then Massachusetts ($85,630) and Washington ($84,550).
What education does a recruiter need?
BLS lists a bachelor's degree as typical for human resources specialists, but many recruiters enter through sales, staffing or coordinator roles. Employers value a record of filling roles quickly with candidates who stay.
Do recruiters work in-house or for agencies?
Both. In-house recruiters work for one employer such as a dealership group or manufacturer. Agency recruiters fill roles for client companies and are often paid with placement-based incentives.
Where do recruiters find automotive technicians?
Common sources are employee referrals, trade schools and community college programs, manufacturer training programs, and job boards. Because skilled technicians are often hard to find, recruiters who keep long-term relationships with schools and local shops tend to fill roles faster. Practice varies by employer and region.
Does this salary data cover automotive dealerships only?
No. BLS reports this occupation as "Human Resources Specialists" across every industry. Recruiters are included in this group alongside other HR specialists, so the figures are broader than automotive recruiting.
How these numbers are calculated
Wages are BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) estimates for May 2025. They cover wage and salary workers, count commissions and production bonuses, and leave out the self-employed, overtime and benefits. Hourly figures are the annual wage divided by 2,080 hours, a conversion AutoHire adds. A dash means BLS did not publish a figure.
BLS publishes May 2026 estimates in spring 2027. This page updates when they are released.
Sources
- BLS OEWS, Human Resources Specialists (13-1071), national, state and metropolitan estimates (data as of May 2025)
- BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics program overview and methods (data as of May 2025)
Data as of May 2025.
Related
Looking for a Recruiter job?
Create a free AutoHire profile and apply to automotive jobs, or post an opening if you are hiring.