Recruiter / Talent Acquisition Salary.
Across 81 U.S. cities.
$73,000
national median salary
$56,000 to $97,000. Last updated August 2026.
Government benchmark for this occupation
The US Bureau of Labor Statistics reports a median annual wage of $75,940 for Human Resources Specialists (SOC 13-1071) across the United States, based on 912,430 employed workers (May 2025 release).
10th percentile
$47,180
25th percentile
$58,610
Median
$75,940
75th percentile
$99,380
90th percentile
$128,720
Workers surveyed
912,430
What BLS published in each release
May 2024 release
$72,910
May 2025 release
$75,940
These are two separate published estimates, not a time series. The Bureau of Labor Statistics does not encourage the use of OEWS data for time-series analysis. Differences between releases reflect changes in occupational classification, survey methodology, and the three-year pooled sample as well as any change in pay, so the two figures should not be read as a rate of wage growth.
BLS publishes wages by occupation code, not by job title, so this figure covers every role mapped to Human Resources Specialists (SOC 13-1071) rather than Recruiter / Talent Acquisitionspecifically. The national range at the top of this page is Orbyt’s role-level estimate, which is a different thing and is labelled as such.
View the BLS source for SOC 13-1071Highest Paying
$102,000
San Jose, CA
Best Purchasing Power
$76,000
Portland, OR
Lowest Paying
$56,000
Jackson, MS
The salary figures on this page are computed estimates, not observed wages. Each one is a national role baseline scaled by a Bureau of Economic Analysis Regional Price Parity cost-of-living multiplier (2025 index) and rounded to the nearest $1,000. No published wage percentile is consulted and no wage survey response enters the calculation, so an Orbyt estimate must not be cited as a Bureau of Labor Statistics figure or as measured pay. The published wage data Orbyt holds is Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, and Department of Labor H-1B Labor Condition Application filings, which record a filed minimum visa base wage rather than market pay. Where BLS publishes a wage for the occupation a role maps to, it is shown on that role's page as a separate benchmark, labelled with its occupation code, metro area and the number of employed workers it covers. Last updated August 2026. This role maps to BLS occupation code 13-1071. Full methodology.
Orbyt estimates the average Recruiter / Talent Acquisition salary in the United States at $73,000 in 2026, within a range of $56,000 to $97,000. These figures are Orbyt estimates, computed rather than measured, and must not be cited as Bureau of Labor Statistics figures; the published BLS wage for the occupation this role maps to is shown separately on this page. San Jose is the highest of the 81 cities at $102,000, while Portland offers the best purchasing power after cost-of-living adjustments. Specialization drives recruiter pay more than tenure.
Recruiter / Talent Acquisition salary by city.
Skills that increase Recruiter / Talent Acquisition pay.
The skills below command measurable salary premiums for Recruiter / Talent Acquisitions based on job posting data. Learning the top skill here could add $10,220 to your annual compensation.
≈ +$10,220 per year
≈ +$9,490 per year
≈ +$8,760 per year
≈ +$8,030 per year
≈ +$8,030 per year
≈ +$7,300 per year
≈ +$7,300 per year
≈ +$6,570 per year
What you should know.
Specialization drives recruiter pay more than tenure. Technical recruiters filling engineering and data science roles earn 20 to 35% more than generalist recruiters. Agency recruiters have higher upside through commissions, while corporate recruiters benefit from more stable base salaries and better benefits packages.
Recruiting coordinators start at $42,000 to $52,000. Full-cycle recruiters earn $60,000 to $80,000, while senior technical recruiters reach $85,000 to $110,000. Talent acquisition managers and directors earn $110,000 to $160,000, overseeing hiring strategy and team performance.
Commission structures vary widely. Agency recruiters can earn 15 to 25% of placed candidates' first-year salary as commission. Corporate recruiters receive 5 to 15% annual bonuses, with some firms offering per-hire bonuses of $500 to $2,000.
Total compensation breakdown.
Salary by company size
Remote salary adjustment
Remote Recruiter / Talent Acquisitions typically earn $64,000 (12% less than on-site). This reflects location-adjusted pay policies at companies using geographic salary bands. Some companies pay flat national rates regardless of location.
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Common questions about Recruiter / Talent Acquisition pay.
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