Recruiter salary and cost of hiring in California
The median recruiter in California earned $83,500 a year in May 2025[1], 10.0% above the US median of $75,940. That puts California at #6 of 51 states for this job.
BLS occupation 13-1071. Data from the May 2025 release, checked 2026-10-16.
Salary range
| Range | 10th | Median | 90th | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| California | $52,770 | $83,500 | $151,410 | |
| United States | $47,180 | $75,940 | $128,720 |
The middle half of recruiters in California earns $66,060–$117,430; the top tenth earns $151,410 or more, 2.9 times the bottom tenth.
What a hire really costs
Benefits and payroll taxes are 30.0% of total compensation in US private industry[2]. At the California median that makes about $119,286 a year before recruiting, equipment and office space. 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 fee[3]; Deel's contractor plan is the default payroll tool[4].
Pay by metro area in California
| Area | Median | 75th percentile | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $153,460 | 7,970 | |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $136,040 | 16,420 | |
| Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA | $106,710 | 450 | |
| Napa, CA | $105,020 | 310 | |
| Vallejo, CA | $104,690 | 650 | |
| Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA | $103,200 | 920 | |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | $107,800 | 9,110 | |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | $104,650 | 5,360 | |
| Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA | $107,880 | 1,710 | |
| Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA | $105,630 | 870 | |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $105,560 | 36,850 | |
| Salinas, CA | $102,220 | 630 | |
| San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles, CA | $95,990 | 610 | |
| Modesto, CA | $97,570 | 730 | |
| Merced, CA | $98,590 | 280 | |
| Bakersfield-Delano, CA | $98,640 | 1,240 | |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | $99,700 | 7,210 | |
| Stockton-Lodi, CA | $99,270 | 1,160 | |
| Hanford-Corcoran, CA | $94,690 | 110 | |
| Eastern Sierra-Mother Lode Region of California nonmetropolitan area | $96,390 | 210 | |
| North Coast Region of California nonmetropolitan area | $94,110 | 410 | |
| Yuba City, CA | $84,930 | 180 | |
| Fresno, CA | $92,310 | 1,770 | |
| North Valley-Northern Mountains Region of California nonmetropolitan area | $96,140 | 380 | |
| Visalia, CA | $96,980 | 580 | |
| Chico, CA | $93,280 | 310 | |
| El Centro, CA | $87,880 | 220 | |
| Redding, CA | $92,440 | 250 |
San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA pays the most ($112,140) and Redding, CA the least ($70,830): $41,310 a year apart for the same job.
What a recruiter does
A recruiter finds and attracts candidates, screens them, manages the interview process and closes offers for the hiring managers.
Neighbours in the ranking
Questions
How much does a recruiter earn in California?
The median was $83,500 a year in the May 2025 BLS survey; the middle half earned $66,060 to $117,430.
What does it cost to employ a recruiter in California?
About $119,286 a year at the median wage once benefits are added, using the 30% benefits share of US private industry (June 2026).
Where in California do recruiters earn the most?
San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA, with a median of $112,140 a year.
Sources
- BLS OEWS May 2025, 13-1071: https://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes131071.htm
- BLS Employer Costs for Employee Compensation, private industry, June 2026: https://www.bls.gov/news.release/ecec.nr0.htm
- Silkstaff pricing: https://silkstaff.com/#pricing
- Deel pricing, contractor management: https://www.deel.com/pricing/
How these pages are built: methodology and data sources. Data checked 2026-10-16.