Recruiter salary in Auburn-Opelika, AL
Auburn-Opelika is a lower-cost market for recruiters: the median of $63,030 a year1 is 2.9% below the Alabama statewide median of $64,940, and 17.0% below the US median of $75,940. Nationally it ranks #361 of 521 areas. About 350 recruiters work here, 3% of the Alabama total.
BLS occupation 13-1071, area Auburn-Opelika, AL. Data from the May 2025 release, checked 2026-10-15.
Pay in Auburn-Opelika against Alabama and the US
| Range | 10th | Median | 90th | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Auburn-Opelika, AL | $39,300 | $63,030 | $107,800 | |
| Alabama | $41,890 | $64,940 | $112,880 | |
| United States | $47,180 | $75,940 | $128,720 |
Recruiters at the 90th percentile earn $107,800, 2.7 times the 10th percentile; the US ratio is 2.7. The middle half of recruiters in Auburn-Opelika earns $49,250–$78,860. From the 25th to the 75th percentile, the local range is only $29,610 wide, against $34,100 across Alabama and $40,770 nationally: employers in Auburn-Opelika 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 | $39,300 | $3,275 | $18.89 | $50,710 |
| 25th percentile | $49,250 | $4,104 | $23.68 | $63,548 |
| Median | $63,030 | $5,252 | $30.30 | $81,329 |
| 75th percentile | $78,860 | $6,572 | $37.91 | $101,755 |
| 90th percentile | $107,800 | $8,983 | $51.83 | $139,097 |
The step from the 25th percentile to the median is $13,780 a year; from the median to the 75th it is $15,830, or about $20,426 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 median and the 75th percentile in Auburn-Opelika, and the Alabama statewide median of $64,940 falls there too.
What a hire really costs in Auburn-Opelika
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 $18,299 to the $63,030 median and brings it to $81,329 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 Auburn-Opelika
Of the 15 roles we track in Auburn-Opelika, this one ranks #3 by median pay, between accountants ($72,570) and executive assistants ($62,870). Project Coordinator is the highest at $77,690.
| Role | Median | vs recruiter | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Project Coordinator | +23.3% | 60 | |
| Accountant | +15.1% | 680 | |
| Recruiter | this role | 350 | |
| Executive Assistant | -0.3% | 110 | |
| Marketing Specialist | -5.4% | 280 |
Measured against the US median, recruiters rank #7 of the 15 roles we track in Auburn-Opelika (-17.0%), between virtual receptionists (-16.9%) and data entry specialists (-17.2%). The typical role here is at -17.2%, so this job follows the area's general pay level. Recruiters hold 5.3% of the jobs in these 15 roles in Auburn-Opelika, 5.1% across Alabama and 5.8% nationally. That is close to the national mix.
Other areas in Alabama
Across the 16 areas of Alabama with data for this job, the median runs from $55,720 in Gadsden to $78,780 in Huntsville, a gap of $23,060 a year. Of the 8 areas in Alabama with more recruiters than Auburn-Opelika, 2 pay less: the Northeast Alabama nonmetro area ($59,190) and Daphne-Fairhope, AL ($62,570).
| Area | Median | vs Auburn-Opelika | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Montgomery, AL | +1.8% | 970 | |
| Southeast Alabama (Nonmetro) | +1.0% | 400 | |
| Tuscaloosa, AL | +0.3% | 520 | |
| Auburn-Opelika, AL | this area | 350 | |
| Decatur, AL | +0.0% | 260 | |
| Daphne-Fairhope, AL | -0.7% | 380 | |
| Southwest Alabama (Nonmetro) | -3.8% | 270 |
Auburn-Opelika against other US metro areas
By number of jobs, Auburn-Opelika is #326 of 521 US areas for this job. Both its size and its pay sit in the middle half of US areas. Outside Alabama, Sioux City and Cedar Rapids pay just above Auburn-Opelika and Sherman-Denison and Lakeland-Winter Haven just below. All four are within $60 a year of the median in Auburn-Opelika. Of the three markets with about as many recruiters, two pay more.
| Metro area | Median | vs Auburn-Opelika | Jobs | Close in |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Blacksburg-Christiansburg, VA | +10.9% | 360 | jobs | |
| Bangor, ME | +1.4% | 350 | jobs | |
| Cedar Rapids, IA | +0.1% | 670 | pay | |
| Sioux City, IA-NE | +0.0% | 280 | pay | |
| Auburn-Opelika, AL | this area | 350 | ||
| Sherman-Denison, TX | -0.0% | 220 | pay | |
| Lakeland-Winter Haven, FL | -0.1% | 1,370 | pay | |
| Bowling Green, KY | -1.9% | 360 | jobs |
Questions
How much does it cost to hire a recruiter in Auburn-Opelika, AL?
About $81,329 a year at the median, or $6,777 a month: $63,030 in pay plus about $18,299 in benefits and payroll taxes. Recruiting, equipment and office space are extra.
What do recruiters earn in Auburn-Opelika?
The median was $63,030 a year in the May 2025 BLS survey. The 10th percentile was $39,300, the 90th $107,800, and the middle half earned $49,250 to $78,860.
Is Auburn-Opelika cheaper than the rest of Alabama for recruiters?
Yes, it costs less: a median of $63,030 against $64,940 statewide. The next area up in Alabama is Tuscaloosa at $63,220, the next down Decatur at $63,030.
How many recruiters work in Auburn-Opelika?
BLS counts about 350 in the May 2025 survey. That is 3% of the Alabama total of 11,080. 8 areas in Alabama have more; the closest in size is Daphne-Fairhope, with about 380.
Does a recruiter cost more than an executive assistant in Auburn-Opelika?
Yes: $160 a year more at the median. The medians are $63,030 and $62,870.
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.