Recruiter salary in Allentown-Bethlehem, PA-NJ
For this job Allentown-Bethlehem sits right at the Pennsylvania figure, with a median of $70,040 a year1. That is about level with the Pennsylvania statewide median of $70,450, and 7.8% below the US median of $75,940. Among US areas it comes in at #190 of 521. About 1,720 recruiters work here.
BLS occupation 13-1071, area Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton, PA-NJ. Data from the May 2025 release, checked 2026-10-15.
Pay in Allentown-Bethlehem against Pennsylvania and the US
| Range | 10th | Median | 90th | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Allentown-Bethlehem, PA-NJ | $47,160 | $70,040 | $117,240 | |
| Pennsylvania | $46,610 | $70,450 | $119,850 | |
| United States | $47,180 | $75,940 | $128,720 |
Recruiters at the 90th percentile earn $117,240, 2.5 times the 10th percentile; the US ratio is 2.7. The middle half of recruiters in Allentown-Bethlehem earns $57,060–$84,890. From the 25th to the 75th percentile, the local range is only $27,830 wide, against $34,870 across Pennsylvania and $40,770 nationally: employers in Allentown-Bethlehem pay within a narrower band.
What to budget for a recruiter here
| Point in the local range | Per year | Per month | Per hour | Employer cost per year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $47,160 | $3,930 | $22.67 | $60,852 |
| 25th percentile | $57,060 | $4,755 | $27.43 | $73,626 |
| Median | $70,040 | $5,837 | $33.67 | $90,374 |
| 75th percentile | $84,890 | $7,074 | $40.81 | $109,535 |
| 90th percentile | $117,240 | $9,770 | $56.37 | $151,277 |
An offer at the 75th percentile instead of the median adds $14,850 a year in pay and about $19,161 in employer cost. Going down to the 25th percentile saves $12,980 in pay. 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 Allentown-Bethlehem, and the Pennsylvania statewide median of $70,450 falls there too.
What a hire really costs in Allentown-Bethlehem
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 $20,334 to the $70,040 median and brings it to $90,374 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 Allentown-Bethlehem
Of the 17 roles we track in Allentown-Bethlehem, this one ranks #3 by median pay, between accountants ($78,430) and executive assistants ($68,290). Project Coordinator is the highest at $100,050.
| Role | Median | vs recruiter | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Project Coordinator | +42.8% | 1,850 | |
| Accountant | +12.0% | 2,500 | |
| Recruiter | this role | 1,720 | |
| Executive Assistant | -2.5% | 590 | |
| Marketing Specialist | -3.3% | 1,400 |
Measured against the US median, recruiters rank #14 of the 17 roles we track in Allentown-Bethlehem (-7.8%), between accountants (-6.3%) and executive assistants (-10.8%). The typical role here is at -3.0%, so, measured against the US, recruiters cost less in Allentown-Bethlehem than the area's general pay level would suggest. Recruiters hold 5.3% of the jobs in these 17 roles in Allentown-Bethlehem, 6.5% across Pennsylvania and 5.8% nationally. That is close to the national mix.
Other areas in Pennsylvania
Across the 20 areas of Pennsylvania with data for this job, the median runs from $59,120 in Johnstown to $76,700 in Philadelphia-Camden, a gap of $17,580 a year. Of the 3 areas in Pennsylvania with more recruiters than Allentown-Bethlehem, 1 pays less: Pittsburgh, PA ($65,260).
| Area | Median | vs Allentown-Bethlehem | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| York-Hanover, PA | +6.2% | 980 | |
| Chambersburg, PA | +2.5% | 260 | |
| Harrisburg-Carlisle, PA | +0.1% | 2,640 | |
| Allentown-Bethlehem, PA-NJ | this area | 1,720 | |
| Reading, PA | -0.9% | 940 | |
| Northeastern Pennsylvania (Nonmetro) | -4.7% | 440 | |
| Lancaster, PA | -5.3% | 1,200 |
Allentown-Bethlehem against other US metro areas
By number of jobs, Allentown-Bethlehem is #78 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 Pennsylvania, Ames and Killeen-Temple pay just above Allentown-Bethlehem and Lexington-Fayette and Sumter just below. All four are within $130 a year of the median in Allentown-Bethlehem. Of the three markets with about as many recruiters, two pay more.
| Metro area | Median | vs Allentown-Bethlehem | Jobs | Close in |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oxnard-Thousand Oaks, CA | +15.0% | 1,710 | jobs | |
| Fresno, CA | +5.9% | 1,770 | jobs | |
| Killeen-Temple, TX | +0.2% | 720 | pay | |
| Ames, IA | +0.0% | 260 | pay | |
| Allentown-Bethlehem, PA-NJ | this area | 1,720 | ||
| Lexington-Fayette, KY | -0.1% | 1,320 | pay | |
| Sumter, SC | -0.1% | 160 | pay | |
| Akron, OH | -0.2% | 1,800 | jobs |
Questions
How much does it cost to hire a recruiter in Allentown-Bethlehem, PA-NJ?
About $90,374 a year at the median, or $7,531 a month: $70,040 in pay plus about $20,334 in benefits and payroll taxes. Recruiting, equipment and office space are extra.
What is the pay range for recruiters in Allentown-Bethlehem?
The median was $70,040 a year in the May 2025 BLS survey. The 10th percentile was $47,160, the 90th $117,240, and the middle half earned $57,060 to $84,890.
Is Allentown-Bethlehem cheaper than the rest of Pennsylvania for recruiters?
About the same: a median of $70,040 against $70,450 statewide. The next area up in Pennsylvania is Harrisburg-Carlisle at $70,140, the next down Reading at $69,410.
How many recruiters work in Allentown-Bethlehem?
BLS counts about 1,720 in the May 2025 survey. 3 areas in Pennsylvania have more; the closest in size is Harrisburg-Carlisle, with about 2,640.
Does a recruiter cost more than an executive assistant in Allentown-Bethlehem?
Yes: $1,750 a year more at the median. The medians are $70,040 and $68,290.
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.