Recruiter salary in Appleton, WI
Appleton is a lower-cost market for recruiters: the median of $63,650 a year1 is 9.8% below the Wisconsin statewide median of $70,540, and 16.2% below the US median of $75,940. Nationally it ranks #335 of 521 areas. About 720 recruiters work here, 4% of the Wisconsin total.
BLS occupation 13-1071, area Appleton, WI. Data from the May 2025 release, checked 2026-10-15.
Pay in Appleton against Wisconsin and the US
| Range | 10th | Median | 90th | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Appleton, WI | $48,190 | $63,650 | $100,280 | |
| Wisconsin | $47,860 | $70,540 | $105,270 | |
| United States | $47,180 | $75,940 | $128,720 |
The middle half of recruiters in Appleton earns $56,860–$80,260. Pay is tightly grouped: the top tenth starts at $100,280, only 2.1 times the bottom tenth, against 2.7 times across the US, so the going rate is easier to read. The mean ($70,730) is 11% over the median, so a group of high earners pulls the average up; price a typical hire from the median. From the 25th to the 75th percentile, the local range is only $23,400 wide, against $27,560 across Wisconsin and $40,770 nationally: employers in Appleton 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 | $48,190 | $4,016 | $23.17 | $62,181 |
| 25th percentile | $56,860 | $4,738 | $27.34 | $73,368 |
| Median | $63,650 | $5,304 | $30.60 | $82,129 |
| 75th percentile | $80,260 | $6,688 | $38.59 | $103,561 |
| 90th percentile | $100,280 | $8,357 | $48.21 | $129,394 |
Pay climbs faster above the median than below it here: the 75th percentile is $16,610 over the median, the 25th only $6,790 under it. An offer at the 75th percentile adds about $21,432 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 Appleton, and the Wisconsin statewide median of $70,540 falls there too.
What a hire really costs in Appleton
At the $63,650 median, a local hire costs about $82,129 a year: benefits and payroll taxes other than paid leave are 22.5% of total compensation in US private industry2, about $18,479 here. 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 Appleton
Of the 17 roles we track in Appleton, this one ranks #6 by median pay, between marketing specialists ($65,110) and sales development representatives ($62,840). Project Coordinator is the highest at $98,290.
| Role | Median | vs recruiter | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Executive Assistant | +3.1% | 130 | |
| Marketing Specialist | +2.3% | 690 | |
| Recruiter | this role | 720 | |
| Sales Development Representative | -1.3% | 1,010 | |
| Payroll Specialist | -5.4% | 100 |
Measured against the US median, recruiters rank #16 of the 17 roles we track in Appleton (-16.2%), between executive assistants (-14.3%) and marketing specialists (-17.3%). The typical role here is at -1.1%, so, measured against the US, recruiters cost less in Appleton than the area's general pay level would suggest. Recruiters hold 6.0% of the jobs in these 17 roles in Appleton, 6.2% across Wisconsin and 5.8% nationally. That is close to the national mix.
Other areas in Wisconsin
Across the 17 areas of Wisconsin with data for this job, the median runs from $63,270 in Janesville-Beloit to $76,660 in Madison, a gap of $13,390 a year. All 5 areas in Wisconsin with more recruiters than Appleton also pay more, among them Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI ($74,970) and Madison, WI ($76,660).
| Area | Median | vs Appleton | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| La Crosse-Onalaska, WI-MN | +2.7% | 390 | |
| Eau Claire, WI | +2.0% | 390 | |
| Kenosha, WI | +0.7% | 470 | |
| Northwestern Wisconsin (Nonmetro) | +0.6% | 170 | |
| Northeastern Wisconsin (Nonmetro) | +0.2% | 900 | |
| Appleton, WI | this area | 720 | |
| Janesville-Beloit, WI | -0.6% | 500 |
Appleton against other US metro areas
By number of jobs, Appleton is #162 of 521 US areas for this job. Both its size and its pay sit in the middle half of US areas. Outside Wisconsin, South Bend-Mishawaka and Decatur pay just above Appleton and Evansville and Lima just below. All four are within $140 a year of the median in Appleton. Of the three markets with about as many recruiters, two pay more.
| Metro area | Median | vs Appleton | Jobs | Close in |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fargo, ND-MN | +20.3% | 720 | jobs | |
| Killeen-Temple, TX | +10.2% | 720 | jobs | |
| Decatur, IL | +0.1% | 140 | pay | |
| South Bend-Mishawaka, IN-MI | +0.1% | 670 | pay | |
| Appleton, WI | this area | 720 | ||
| Evansville, IN | -0.2% | 660 | pay | |
| Lima, OH | -0.2% | 230 | pay | |
| Corpus Christi, TX | -5.7% | 720 | jobs |
Questions
How much does it cost to hire a recruiter in Appleton, WI?
About $82,129 a year at the median, or $6,844 a month: $63,650 in pay plus about $18,479 in benefits and payroll taxes. Recruiting, equipment and office space are extra.
What is the pay range for recruiters in Appleton?
The median was $63,650 a year in the May 2025 BLS survey. The 10th percentile was $48,190, the 90th $100,280, and the middle half earned $56,860 to $80,260.
Is Appleton cheaper than the rest of Wisconsin for recruiters?
Yes, it costs less: a median of $63,650 against $70,540 statewide. The next area up in Wisconsin is the Northeastern Wisconsin nonmetro area at $63,800, the next down Janesville-Beloit at $63,270.
How many recruiters work in Appleton?
BLS counts about 720 in the May 2025 survey. That is 4% of the Wisconsin total of 17,360. 5 areas in Wisconsin have more; the closest in size is the Northeastern Wisconsin nonmetro area, with about 900.
Does a recruiter cost more than a sales development representative in Appleton?
Yes: $810 a year more at the median. The medians are $63,650 and $62,840.
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.