Recruiter salary in the Central Pennsylvania nonmetro area
The Central Pennsylvania nonmetro area is a lower-cost market for recruiters: the median of $62,990 a year1 is 10.6% below the Pennsylvania statewide median of $70,450, and 17.1% below the US median of $75,940. Among US areas it comes in at #364 of 521. BLS counts about 730 people in this job here, 2% of the Pennsylvania total.
BLS occupation 13-1071, area Central Pennsylvania nonmetropolitan area. Data from the May 2025 release, checked 2026-10-15.
Pay in the Central Pennsylvania nonmetro area against Pennsylvania and the US
| Range | 10th | Median | 90th | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Central Pennsylvania (Nonmetro) | $44,880 | $62,990 | $100,960 | |
| Pennsylvania | $46,610 | $70,450 | $119,850 | |
| United States | $47,180 | $75,940 | $128,720 |
The middle half of recruiters in the Central Pennsylvania nonmetro area earns $51,370–$79,880. Pay is tightly grouped: the top tenth starts at $100,960, only 2.2 times the bottom tenth, against 2.7 times across the US, so the going rate is easier to read. The mean ($68,520) is 9% 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 $28,510 wide, against $34,870 across Pennsylvania and $40,770 nationally: employers in the Central Pennsylvania nonmetro area 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 | $44,880 | $3,740 | $21.58 | $57,910 |
| 25th percentile | $51,370 | $4,281 | $24.70 | $66,284 |
| Median | $62,990 | $5,249 | $30.28 | $81,277 |
| 75th percentile | $79,880 | $6,657 | $38.40 | $103,071 |
| 90th percentile | $100,960 | $8,413 | $48.54 | $130,271 |
The step from the 25th percentile to the median is $11,620 a year; from the median to the 75th it is $16,890, or about $21,794 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 the Central Pennsylvania nonmetro area, and the Pennsylvania statewide median of $70,450 falls there too.
What a hire really costs in the Central Pennsylvania nonmetro area
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 $18,287 to the $62,990 median and brings it to $81,277 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 the Central Pennsylvania nonmetro area
Of the 17 roles we track in the Central Pennsylvania nonmetro area, this one ranks #3 by median pay, between accountants ($65,850) and executive assistants ($62,350). Project Coordinator is the highest at $87,860.
| Role | Median | vs recruiter | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Project Coordinator | +39.5% | 530 | |
| Accountant | +4.5% | 1,020 | |
| Recruiter | this role | 730 | |
| Executive Assistant | -1.0% | 210 | |
| Office Manager | -2.9% | 1,560 |
Measured against the US median, recruiters rank #12 of the 17 roles we track in the Central Pennsylvania nonmetro area (-17.1%), between project coordinators (-14.1%) and executive assistants (-18.6%). The typical role here is at -12.0%, so, measured against the US, recruiters cost less in the Central Pennsylvania nonmetro area than the area's general pay level would suggest. Recruiters hold 5.4% of the jobs in these 17 roles in the Central Pennsylvania nonmetro area, 6.5% across Pennsylvania and 5.8% nationally. That is close to the national mix.
Other areas in Pennsylvania
Across the 20 areas of Pennsylvania with data for this job, the median runs from $59,120 in Johnstown to $76,700 in Philadelphia-Camden, a gap of $17,580 a year. All 8 areas in Pennsylvania with more recruiters than the Central Pennsylvania nonmetro area also pay more, among them Philadelphia-Camden, PA-NJ ($76,700) and Pittsburgh, PA ($65,260).
| Area | Median | vs the Central Pennsylvania nonmetro area | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| State College, PA | +2.0% | 260 | |
| Altoona, PA | +1.5% | 310 | |
| Northwestern Pennsylvania (Nonmetro) | +1.0% | 610 | |
| Central Pennsylvania (Nonmetro) | this area | 730 | |
| Gettysburg, PA | -0.6% | 120 | |
| Williamsport, PA | -1.7% | 220 | |
| Erie, PA | -3.4% | 540 |
the Central Pennsylvania nonmetro area against other US metro areas
By number of jobs, the Central Pennsylvania nonmetro area is #161 of 521 US areas for this job. Both its size and its pay sit in the middle half of US areas. Outside Pennsylvania, Sherman-Denison and Decatur pay just above the Central Pennsylvania nonmetro area and Lakeland-Winter Haven and Beaumont-Port Arthur just below. All four are within $90 a year of the median in the Central Pennsylvania nonmetro area. Of the three markets with about as many recruiters, all three pay more.
| Metro area | Median | vs the Central Pennsylvania nonmetro area | Jobs | Close in |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Modesto, CA | +22.4% | 730 | jobs | |
| Eugene-Springfield, OR | +10.2% | 730 | jobs | |
| Naples-Marco Island, FL | +8.6% | 730 | jobs | |
| Decatur, AL | +0.1% | 260 | pay | |
| Sherman-Denison, TX | +0.0% | 220 | pay | |
| Central Pennsylvania (Nonmetro) | this area | 730 | ||
| Lakeland-Winter Haven, FL | -0.0% | 1,370 | pay | |
| Beaumont-Port Arthur, TX | -0.1% | 680 | pay |
Questions
How much does it cost to hire a recruiter in Central Pennsylvania (Nonmetro)?
About $81,277 a year at the median, or $6,773 a month: $62,990 in pay plus about $18,287 in benefits and payroll taxes. Recruiting, equipment and office space are extra.
What do recruiters earn in the Central Pennsylvania nonmetro area?
The median was $62,990 a year in the May 2025 BLS survey. The 10th percentile was $44,880, the 90th $100,960, and the middle half earned $51,370 to $79,880.
Is the Central Pennsylvania nonmetro area cheaper than the rest of Pennsylvania for recruiters?
Yes, it costs less: a median of $62,990 against $70,450 statewide. The next area up in Pennsylvania is the Northwestern Pennsylvania nonmetro area at $63,610, the next down Gettysburg at $62,600.
How many recruiters work in the Central Pennsylvania nonmetro area?
BLS counts about 730 in the May 2025 survey. That is 2% of the Pennsylvania total of 36,960. 8 areas in Pennsylvania have more; the closest in size is Reading, with about 940.
Does a recruiter cost more than an executive assistant in the Central Pennsylvania nonmetro area?
Yes: $640 a year more at the median. The medians are $62,990 and $62,350.
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.