Recruiter salary in Ann Arbor, MI
Ann Arbor is the most expensive place in Michigan to hire a recruiter. The median is $77,770 a year1, 11.9% above the Michigan statewide median of $69,520 and 2.4% above the US median of $75,940. That is in the top quarter of US areas (#63 of 521). BLS counts about 1,110 people in this job here, 4% of the Michigan total.
BLS occupation 13-1071, area Ann Arbor, MI. Data from the May 2025 release, checked 2026-10-15.
Pay in Ann Arbor against Michigan and the US
| Range | 10th | Median | 90th | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ann Arbor, MI | $48,150 | $77,770 | $123,170 | |
| Michigan | $46,580 | $69,520 | $110,710 | |
| United States | $47,180 | $75,940 | $128,720 |
Recruiters at the 90th percentile earn $123,170, 2.6 times the 10th percentile; the US ratio is 2.7. The middle half of recruiters in Ann Arbor earns $59,990–$100,450. From the 25th to the 75th percentile, the local range is $40,460 wide, between the figure for Michigan ($33,710) 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 | $48,150 | $4,012 | $23.15 | $62,129 |
| 25th percentile | $59,990 | $4,999 | $28.84 | $77,406 |
| Median | $77,770 | $6,481 | $37.39 | $100,348 |
| 75th percentile | $100,450 | $8,371 | $48.29 | $129,613 |
| 90th percentile | $123,170 | $10,264 | $59.22 | $158,929 |
The step from the 25th percentile to the median is $17,780 a year; from the median to the 75th it is $22,680, or about $29,265 once benefits are added. 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 25th percentile and the median in Ann Arbor, and the Michigan statewide median of $69,520 falls there too.
What a hire really costs in Ann Arbor
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 $22,578 to the $77,770 median and brings it to $100,348 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 Ann Arbor
Of the 17 roles we track in Ann Arbor, this one ranks #3 by median pay, between accountants ($80,040) and sales development representatives ($75,310). Project Coordinator is the highest at $103,690.
| Role | Median | vs recruiter | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Project Coordinator | +33.3% | 1,430 | |
| Accountant | +2.9% | 1,580 | |
| Recruiter | this role | 1,110 | |
| Sales Development Representative | -3.2% | 1,060 | |
| Executive Assistant | -4.0% | 430 |
Measured against the US median, recruiters rank #6 of the 17 roles we track in Ann Arbor (+2.4%), between payroll specialists (+2.6%) and medical administrative assistants (+1.8%). The typical role here is at +1.2%, so this job follows the area's general pay level. Recruiters hold 5.7% of the jobs in these 17 roles in Ann Arbor, 6.3% across Michigan and 5.8% nationally. That is close to the national mix.
Other areas in Michigan
Across the 19 areas of Michigan with data for this job, the median runs from $60,280 in the Northern Michigan nonmetro area to $77,770 in Ann Arbor, a gap of $17,490 a year. All 3 areas in Michigan with more recruiters than Ann Arbor pay less, among them Detroit-Warren, MI ($75,830) and Grand Rapids-Wyoming, MI ($65,760).
| Area | Median | vs Ann Arbor | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ann Arbor, MI | this area | 1,110 | |
| Detroit-Warren, MI | -2.5% | 11,480 | |
| Midland, MI | -6.6% | 240 | |
| Lansing-East Lansing, MI | -6.8% | 1,520 | |
| Monroe, MI | -7.4% | 210 | |
| Jackson, MI | -11.0% | 270 | |
| Muskegon-Norton Shores, MI | -13.3% | 230 |
Ann Arbor against other US metro areas
By number of jobs, Ann Arbor is #114 of 521 US areas for this job. It is one of the larger markets for this job and one of the better-paying ones. Outside Michigan, Kiryas Joel-Poughkeepsie and Wenatchee-East Wenatchee pay just above Ann Arbor and Fairbanks-College and Springfield just below. All four are within $150 a year of the median in Ann Arbor. Of the three markets with about as many recruiters, none pays as much.
| Metro area | Median | vs Ann Arbor | Jobs | Close in |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wenatchee-East Wenatchee, WA | +0.2% | 240 | pay | |
| Kiryas Joel-Poughkeepsie, NY | +0.1% | 1,040 | pay | |
| Ann Arbor, MI | this area | 1,110 | ||
| Fairbanks-College, AK | -0.0% | 140 | pay | |
| Springfield, MA | -0.0% | 1,030 | pay | |
| Fort Wayne, IN | -15.8% | 1,150 | jobs | |
| Scranton-Wilkes-Barre, PA | -16.0% | 1,130 | jobs | |
| Lincoln, NE | -18.6% | 1,130 | jobs |
Questions
How much does it cost to hire a recruiter in Ann Arbor, MI?
About $100,348 a year at the median, or $8,362 a month: $77,770 in pay plus about $22,578 in benefits and payroll taxes. Recruiting, equipment and office space are extra.
What do recruiters earn in Ann Arbor?
Pay here is higher than in three quarters of US areas. The median was $77,770 a year in the May 2025 BLS survey. The 10th percentile was $48,150, the 90th $123,170, and the middle half earned $59,990 to $100,450.
Is Ann Arbor the most expensive area in Michigan for recruiters?
Yes. Its median of $77,770 is the highest of 19 areas in Michigan. Detroit-Warren comes next at $75,830.
How many recruiters work in Ann Arbor?
BLS counts about 1,110 in the May 2025 survey. That is 4% of the Michigan total of 25,520. 3 areas in Michigan have more; the closest in size is Lansing-East Lansing, with about 1,520.
Does a recruiter cost more than a sales development representative in Ann Arbor?
Yes: $2,460 a year more at the median. The medians are $77,770 and $75,310.
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.