Recruiting pay in 2026, from entry level to VP, in the highest-paying US markets.
Modeled estimate · Updated October 2026Median base salary, Senior Recruiter, top-tier markets
From entry level to VP, medians run from $75k to $297k.
Median base salary in the San Francisco Bay Area, New York, and Seattle.
| Title | Median base |
|---|---|
| Associate RecruiterIC1 Associate / Entry | $75k |
| RecruiterIC2 Mid-level | $103k |
| Senior RecruiterIC3 Senior | $135k |
| Lead RecruiterIC4 Staff / Lead | $165k |
| Principal RecruiterIC5 Senior Staff / Principal | $192k |
| Senior Principal RecruiterIC6 Distinguished | $223k |
| Title | Median base |
|---|---|
| Associate Manager, RecruitingM2 Associate Manager | $142k |
| Manager, RecruitingM3 Manager | $165k |
| Senior Manager, RecruitingM4 Senior Manager | $192k |
| Director, RecruitingM5 Director | $227k |
| Senior Director, RecruitingM6 Senior Director | $257k |
| VP, RecruitingE1 Vice President | $297k |
Every market, the 10th to 90th percentiles, bonus, equity, and new hire grants, adjusted for your industry and company size.
Included with Pro, along with ranges for all 100 roles and the pay coach.
See the full rangePick your level and city, enter your salary, and get your percentile in seconds. Free, and nothing you type is stored.
Check my payThey are modeled estimates built by compensation practitioners from publicly discussed pay and from how companies typically structure salary ranges by level and location. They are not survey results and not any company's actual ranges. Use them to get oriented before a pay conversation, not as an exact offer number.