Recruiter salary in Birmingham, AL
For this job Birmingham sits between the state and national figures, with a median of $67,880 a year1. That is 4.5% above the Alabama statewide median of $64,940, and 10.6% below the US median of $75,940. Nationally it ranks #223 of 521 areas. It is the largest market for the job in Alabama: about 3,060 people, 28% of the Alabama total.
BLS occupation 13-1071, area Birmingham, AL. Data from the May 2025 release, checked 2026-10-15.
Pay in Birmingham against Alabama and the US
| Range | 10th | Median | 90th | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Birmingham, AL | $45,590 | $67,880 | $112,420 | |
| Alabama | $41,890 | $64,940 | $112,880 | |
| United States | $47,180 | $75,940 | $128,720 |
Recruiters at the 90th percentile earn $112,420, 2.5 times the 10th percentile; the US ratio is 2.7. The middle half of recruiters in Birmingham earns $55,550–$86,810. The mean ($74,640) is 10% 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 $31,260 wide, against $34,100 across Alabama and $40,770 nationally: employers in Birmingham 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 | $45,590 | $3,799 | $21.92 | $58,826 |
| 25th percentile | $55,550 | $4,629 | $26.71 | $71,677 |
| Median | $67,880 | $5,657 | $32.63 | $87,587 |
| 75th percentile | $86,810 | $7,234 | $41.74 | $112,013 |
| 90th percentile | $112,420 | $9,368 | $54.05 | $145,058 |
Pay climbs faster above the median than below it here: the 75th percentile is $18,930 over the median, the 25th only $12,330 under it. An offer at the 75th percentile adds about $24,426 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 Birmingham, and the Alabama statewide median of $64,940 falls between the 25th percentile and the median.
What a hire really costs in Birmingham
At the $67,880 median, a local hire costs about $87,587 a year: benefits and payroll taxes other than paid leave are 22.5% of total compensation in US private industry2, about $19,707 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 Birmingham
Of the 16 roles we track in Birmingham, this one ranks #4 by median pay, between executive assistants ($76,330) and office managers ($64,170). Project Coordinator is the highest at $100,820.
| Role | Median | vs recruiter | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Accountant | +15.9% | 7,790 | |
| Executive Assistant | +12.4% | 900 | |
| Recruiter | this role | 3,060 | |
| Office Manager | -5.5% | 5,820 | |
| Marketing Specialist | -8.4% | 2,660 |
Measured against the US median, recruiters rank #11 of the 16 roles we track in Birmingham (-10.6%), between HR assistants (-10.1%) and sales development representatives (-14.2%). The typical role here is at -8.6%, so this job follows the area's general pay level. Recruiters hold 5.3% of the jobs in the 15 of these roles with a job count in Birmingham, 5.5% across Alabama and 6.2% nationally. The job is a smaller part of the local workforce in these roles than it is nationally.
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. No other area in Alabama has as many recruiters, and 14 of the other 15 pay less.
| Area | Median | vs Birmingham | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Huntsville, AL | +16.1% | 1,630 | |
| Birmingham, AL | this area | 3,060 | |
| Anniston-Oxford, AL | -2.7% | 190 | |
| Mobile, AL | -5.3% | 800 | |
| Montgomery, AL | -5.5% | 970 | |
| Southeast Alabama (Nonmetro) | -6.2% | 400 | |
| Tuscaloosa, AL | -6.9% | 520 |
Birmingham against other US metro areas
By number of jobs, Birmingham is #50 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 Alabama, Columbia and Ocala pay just above Birmingham and Michigan City-La Porte and Greensboro-High Point just below. All four are within $220 a year of the median in Birmingham. Of the three markets with about as many recruiters, two pay more.
| Metro area | Median | vs Birmingham | Jobs | Close in |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Albany-Schenectady, NY | +13.4% | 2,970 | jobs | |
| Madison, WI | +12.9% | 2,810 | jobs | |
| Ocala, FL | +0.3% | 450 | pay | |
| Columbia, SC | +0.2% | 2,270 | pay | |
| Birmingham, AL | this area | 3,060 | ||
| Michigan City-La Porte, IN | -0.3% | 160 | pay | |
| Greensboro-High Point, NC | -0.3% | 2,630 | pay | |
| Knoxville, TN | -0.8% | 2,980 | jobs |
Questions
How much does it cost to hire a recruiter in Birmingham, AL?
About $87,587 a year at the median, or $7,299 a month: $67,880 in pay plus about $19,707 in benefits and payroll taxes. Recruiting, equipment and office space are extra.
What is the pay range for recruiters in Birmingham?
The median was $67,880 a year in the May 2025 BLS survey. The 10th percentile was $45,590, the 90th $112,420, and the middle half earned $55,550 to $86,810.
Is Birmingham cheaper than the rest of Alabama for recruiters?
No, it costs more: a median of $67,880 against $64,940 statewide. The next area up in Alabama is Huntsville at $78,780, the next down Anniston-Oxford at $66,060.
How many recruiters work in Birmingham?
BLS counts about 3,060 in the May 2025 survey. That is 28% of the Alabama total of 11,080. No other area in Alabama has as many.
Does a recruiter cost more than an office manager in Birmingham?
Yes: $3,710 a year more at the median. The medians are $67,880 and $64,170.
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.