Recruiter salary in Albuquerque, NM
For this job Albuquerque sits between the state and national figures, with a median of $73,290 a year1. That is 7.7% above the New Mexico statewide median of $68,050, and 3.5% below the US median of $75,940. Among US areas it comes in at #149 of 521. It is the largest market for the job in New Mexico: about 2,250 people, 55% of the New Mexico total.
BLS occupation 13-1071, area Albuquerque, NM. Data from the May 2025 release, checked 2026-10-15.
Pay in Albuquerque against New Mexico and the US
| Range | 10th | Median | 90th | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Albuquerque, NM | $48,000 | $73,290 | $121,660 | |
| New Mexico | $46,620 | $68,050 | $117,170 | |
| United States | $47,180 | $75,940 | $128,720 |
The middle half of recruiters in Albuquerque earns $59,840–$95,560. The top tenth earns $121,660 or more, 2.5 times the bottom tenth, close to the US pattern of 2.7 times. From the 25th to the 75th percentile, the local range is $35,720 wide, between the figure for New Mexico ($33,340) and the US figure ($40,770).
What to budget for a recruiter here
| Point in the local range | Per year | Per month | Per hour | Employer cost per year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $48,000 | $4,000 | $23.08 | $61,935 |
| 25th percentile | $59,840 | $4,987 | $28.77 | $77,213 |
| Median | $73,290 | $6,108 | $35.24 | $94,568 |
| 75th percentile | $95,560 | $7,963 | $45.94 | $123,303 |
| 90th percentile | $121,660 | $10,138 | $58.49 | $156,981 |
Pay climbs faster above the median than below it here: the 75th percentile is $22,270 over the median, the 25th only $13,450 under it. An offer at the 75th percentile adds about $28,735 a year in employer cost. These percentiles describe what people in the job earn locally, not experience levels, so place your offer by the tasks and seniority you need.
For scale, the US median of $75,940 falls between the median and the 75th percentile in Albuquerque, and the New Mexico statewide median of $68,050 falls between the 25th percentile and the median.
What a hire really costs in Albuquerque
Pay is only part of it. Benefits and payroll taxes other than paid leave are 22.5% of total compensation in US private industry2, which adds about $21,278 to the $73,290 median and brings it to $94,568 a year. Recruiting, equipment and office space come on top. Benefit levels vary by employer, so treat this as an estimate.
We place executive assistants, customer support and e-commerce staff today; for recruiters we answer within one business day whether we can help. Enter the monthly pay you have in mind to compare it with a local hire. The fee field shows our standard fee3; Deel's contractor plan is the default payroll tool4.
Other roles in Albuquerque
Of the 17 roles we track in Albuquerque, this one ranks #3 by median pay, between accountants ($79,880) and executive assistants ($73,160). Project Coordinator is the highest at $106,730.
| Role | Median | vs recruiter | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Project Coordinator | +45.6% | 2,300 | |
| Accountant | +9.0% | 3,260 | |
| Recruiter | this role | 2,250 | |
| Executive Assistant | -0.2% | 1,160 | |
| Office Manager | -11.5% | 4,080 |
Measured against the US median, recruiters rank #7 of the 17 roles we track in Albuquerque (-3.5%), between bookkeepers (-2.0%) and executive assistants (-4.5%). The typical role here is at -4.5%, so this job follows the area's general pay level. Recruiters hold 4.7% of the jobs in these 17 roles in Albuquerque, 4.3% across New Mexico and 5.8% nationally. The job is a smaller part of the local workforce in these roles than it is nationally.
Other areas in New Mexico
Across the 6 areas of New Mexico with data for this job, the median runs from $57,150 in Las Cruces to $76,170 in the Northern New Mexico nonmetro area, a gap of $19,020 a year. No other area in New Mexico has as many recruiters, and 4 of the other 5 pay less.
| Area | Median | vs Albuquerque | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Northern New Mexico (Nonmetro) | +3.9% | 470 | |
| Albuquerque, NM | this area | 2,250 | |
| Santa Fe, NM | -2.7% | 320 | |
| Farmington, NM | -12.4% | 160 | |
| Eastern New Mexico (Nonmetro) | -18.6% | 480 | |
| Las Cruces, NM | -22.0% | 290 |
Albuquerque against other US metro areas
By number of jobs, Albuquerque is #64 of 521 US areas for this job. It is one of the larger markets for this job, with pay near the middle of the US range. Outside New Mexico, Grand Forks and Provo-Orem pay just above Albuquerque and Cincinnati and San Antonio-New Braunfels just below. All four are within $360 a year of the median in Albuquerque. Of the three markets with about as many recruiters, none pays as much.
| Metro area | Median | vs Albuquerque | Jobs | Close in |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Provo-Orem, UT | +0.1% | 2,000 | pay | |
| Grand Forks, ND-MN | +0.0% | 190 | pay | |
| Albuquerque, NM | this area | 2,250 | ||
| Cincinnati, OH-KY | -0.4% | 7,110 | pay | |
| San Antonio-New Braunfels, TX | -0.5% | 7,570 | pay | |
| Charleston-North Charleston, SC | -3.7% | 2,190 | jobs | |
| Columbia, SC | -7.2% | 2,270 | jobs | |
| Boise City, ID | -9.9% | 2,180 | jobs |
Questions
How much does it cost to hire a recruiter in Albuquerque, NM?
About $94,568 a year at the median, or $7,881 a month: $73,290 in pay plus about $21,278 in benefits and payroll taxes. Recruiting, equipment and office space are extra.
What is the pay range for recruiters in Albuquerque?
The median was $73,290 a year in the May 2025 BLS survey. The 10th percentile was $48,000, the 90th $121,660, and the middle half earned $59,840 to $95,560.
Is Albuquerque cheaper than the rest of New Mexico for recruiters?
No, it costs more: a median of $73,290 against $68,050 statewide. The next area up in New Mexico is the Northern New Mexico nonmetro area at $76,170, the next down Santa Fe at $71,300.
How many recruiters work in Albuquerque?
BLS counts about 2,250 in the May 2025 survey. That is 55% of the New Mexico total of 4,090. No other area in New Mexico has as many.
Does a recruiter cost more than an executive assistant in Albuquerque?
Yes: $130 a year more at the median. The medians are $73,290 and $73,160.
Sources
4 sources, with links
- BLS OEWS May 2025, 13-1071: bls.gov
- BLS Employer Costs for Employee Compensation, private industry, June 2026: bls.gov
- Stafka pricing: stafka.com
- Deel pricing, contractor management: deel.com
How these pages are built: methodology and data sources. Last updated 2026-11-12.