Recruiter salary in Bismarck, ND
The median recruiter in Bismarck earned $75,980 a year in May 20251. That is about level with the North Dakota statewide median of $75,630 and about level with the US median of $75,940. That is in the top quarter of US areas (#100 of 521). BLS counts about 340 people in this job here, 20% of the North Dakota total.
BLS occupation 13-1071, area Bismarck, ND. Data from the May 2025 release, checked 2026-10-15.
Pay in Bismarck against North Dakota and the US
| Range | 10th | Median | 90th | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bismarck, ND | $51,230 | $75,980 | $112,510 | |
| North Dakota | $50,520 | $75,630 | $116,990 | |
| United States | $47,180 | $75,940 | $128,720 |
The middle half of recruiters in Bismarck earns $60,230–$88,240. Pay is tightly grouped: the top tenth starts at $112,510, only 2.2 times the bottom tenth, against 2.7 times across the US, so the going rate is easier to read. From the 25th to the 75th percentile, the local range is only $28,010 wide, against $29,430 across North Dakota and $40,770 nationally: employers in Bismarck 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 | $51,230 | $4,269 | $24.63 | $66,103 |
| 25th percentile | $60,230 | $5,019 | $28.96 | $77,716 |
| Median | $75,980 | $6,332 | $36.53 | $98,039 |
| 75th percentile | $88,240 | $7,353 | $42.42 | $113,858 |
| 90th percentile | $112,510 | $9,376 | $54.09 | $145,174 |
An offer at the 75th percentile instead of the median adds $12,260 a year in pay and about $15,819 in employer cost. Going down to the 25th percentile saves $15,750 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 25th percentile and the median in Bismarck, and the North Dakota statewide median of $75,630 falls there too.
What a hire really costs in Bismarck
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 $22,059 to the $75,980 median and brings it to $98,039 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 Bismarck
Of the 15 roles we track in Bismarck, this one ranks #3 by median pay, between accountants ($76,910) and office managers ($74,270). Project Coordinator is the highest at $88,650.
| Role | Median | vs recruiter | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Project Coordinator | +16.7% | 390 | |
| Accountant | +1.2% | 780 | |
| Recruiter | this role | 340 | |
| Office Manager | -2.3% | 310 | |
| Marketing Specialist | -17.9% | 230 |
Measured against the US median, recruiters rank #8 of the 15 roles we track in Bismarck (+0.1%), between administrative assistants (+0.1%) and bookkeepers (-2.7%). The typical role here is at +0.1%, so this job follows the area's general pay level. Recruiters hold 5.6% of the jobs in these 15 roles in Bismarck, 5.1% across North Dakota and 5.8% nationally. That is close to the national mix.
Other areas in North Dakota
Across the 6 areas of North Dakota with data for this job, the median runs from $71,150 in the East North Dakota nonmetro area to $78,220 in Minot, a gap of $7,070 a year. The one area in North Dakota with more recruiters, Fargo, ND-MN ($76,550), also pays more.
| Area | Median | vs Bismarck | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minot, ND | +2.9% | 110 | |
| West North Dakota (Nonmetro) | +1.3% | 250 | |
| Fargo, ND-MN | +0.8% | 720 | |
| Bismarck, ND | this area | 340 | |
| Grand Forks, ND-MN | -3.5% | 190 | |
| East North Dakota (Nonmetro) | -6.4% | 190 |
Bismarck against other US metro areas
By number of jobs, Bismarck is #330 of 521 US areas for this job. It is a mid-sized market, and its pay is in the top quarter of US areas. Outside North Dakota, Reno and Barnstable Town pay just above Bismarck and Austin-Round Rock and Anchorage just below. All four are within $130 a year of the median in Bismarck. Of the three markets with about as many recruiters, none pays as much.
| Metro area | Median | vs Bismarck | Jobs | Close in |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Barnstable Town, MA | +0.1% | 400 | pay | |
| Reno, NV | +0.0% | 1,320 | pay | |
| Bismarck, ND | this area | 340 | ||
| Austin-Round Rock, TX | -0.2% | 8,940 | pay | |
| Anchorage, AK | -0.2% | 820 | pay | |
| Bangor, ME | -15.9% | 350 | jobs | |
| Auburn-Opelika, AL | -17.0% | 350 | jobs | |
| Columbus, IN | -18.0% | 340 | jobs |
Questions
How much does it cost to hire a recruiter in Bismarck, ND?
About $98,039 a year at the median, or $8,170 a month: $75,980 in pay plus about $22,059 in benefits and payroll taxes. Recruiting, equipment and office space are extra.
What do recruiters earn in Bismarck?
Pay here is higher than in three quarters of US areas. The median was $75,980 a year in the May 2025 BLS survey. The 10th percentile was $51,230, the 90th $112,510, and the middle half earned $60,230 to $88,240.
Is Bismarck cheaper than the rest of North Dakota for recruiters?
About the same: a median of $75,980 against $75,630 statewide. The next area up in North Dakota is Fargo at $76,550, the next down Grand Forks at $73,300.
How many recruiters work in Bismarck?
BLS counts about 340 in the May 2025 survey. That is 20% of the North Dakota total of 1,710. Only Fargo has more in North Dakota.
Does a recruiter cost more than an office manager in Bismarck?
Yes: $1,710 a year more at the median. The medians are $75,980 and $74,270.
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.