Cost of hiring a recruiter in Chicago-Naperville, IL-IN
Budget above the national rate here. The median recruiter in Chicago-Naperville earned $78,210 a year in May 2025[1], 1.8% above the Illinois statewide median of $76,820 and 3.0% above the US median of $75,940. That is in the top quarter of US areas (#55 of 521). It is the largest market for the job in Illinois: about 26,470 people.
BLS occupation 13-1071, area Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN. Data from the May 2025 release, checked 2026-10-15.
Pay in Chicago-Naperville against Illinois and the US
| Range | 10th | Median | 90th | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chicago-Naperville, IL-IN | $49,580 | $78,210 | $125,220 | |
| Illinois | $48,980 | $76,820 | $123,940 | |
| United States | $47,180 | $75,940 | $128,720 |
The middle half of recruiters in Chicago-Naperville earns $61,470–$100,550. The top tenth earns $125,220 or more, 2.5 times the bottom tenth, close to the US pattern of 2.7 times.
What to budget for a recruiter here
| Point in the local range | Per year | Per month | Per hour | Employer cost per year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $49,580 | $4,132 | $23.84 | $70,829 |
| 25th percentile | $61,470 | $5,122 | $29.55 | $87,814 |
| Median | $78,210 | $6,518 | $37.60 | $111,729 |
| 75th percentile | $100,550 | $8,379 | $48.34 | $143,643 |
| 90th percentile | $125,220 | $10,435 | $60.20 | $178,886 |
An offer at the 75th percentile instead of the median adds $22,340 a year in pay and about $31,914 in employer cost. Going down to the 25th percentile saves $16,740 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.
What a hire really costs in Chicago-Naperville
Pay is only part of it. Benefits and payroll taxes are 30.0% of total compensation in US private industry[2], which adds about $33,519 to the $78,210 median and brings it to $111,729 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 fee[3]; Deel's contractor plan is the default payroll tool[4].
Other roles in Chicago-Naperville
Of the 17 roles we track in Chicago-Naperville, this one ranks #4 by median pay. Project Coordinator is the highest at $105,320 and Virtual Receptionist the lowest at $38,060.
| Role | Median | vs recruiter | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Project Coordinator | +34.7% | 21,040 | |
| Accountant | +5.3% | 41,360 | |
| Marketing Specialist | +2.8% | 30,970 | |
| Recruiter | this role | 26,470 | |
| Executive Assistant | -0.6% | 10,620 | |
| Office Manager | -8.3% | 33,180 | |
| Sales Development Representative | -9.6% | 55,730 | |
| Paralegal | -9.8% | 11,590 | |
| Payroll Specialist | -19.5% | 4,170 | |
| Bookkeeper | -34.2% | 35,660 | |
| Administrative Assistant | -35.5% | 50,190 | |
| HR Assistant | -36.6% | 2,920 | |
| E-commerce Order Specialist | -38.8% | 2,970 | |
| Medical Administrative Assistant | -39.0% | 20,020 | |
| Customer Support Specialist | -39.8% | 75,240 | |
| Data Entry Specialist | -42.9% | 4,270 | |
| Virtual Receptionist | -51.3% | 30,540 |
Other areas in Illinois
Across the 12 areas of Illinois with data for this job, the median runs from $63,380 in the South Illinois nonmetro area to $78,840 in Springfield, a gap of $15,460 a year.
| Area | Median | vs Chicago-Naperville | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Springfield, IL | +0.8% | 950 | |
| Chicago-Naperville, IL-IN | this area | 26,470 | |
| Bloomington, IL | -5.1% | 510 | |
| Peoria, IL | -5.4% | 890 | |
| Northwest Illinois (Nonmetro) | -10.3% | 390 | |
| Champaign-Urbana, IL | -13.9% | 540 | |
| East Central Illinois (Nonmetro) | -13.9% | 500 |
Questions
How much does it cost to hire a recruiter in Chicago-Naperville, IL-IN?
About $111,729 a year at the median, or $9,311 a month: $78,210 in pay plus benefits and payroll taxes at the 30% share of total compensation in US private industry (June 2026). Recruiting, equipment and office space are extra.
What is the pay range for recruiters in Chicago-Naperville?
The median was $78,210 a year in the May 2025 BLS survey. The 10th percentile was $49,580, the 90th $125,220, and the middle half earned $61,470 to $100,550.
Is Chicago-Naperville cheaper than the rest of Illinois for recruiters?
No, it costs more: a median of $78,210 against $76,820 statewide. Springfield pays the most ($78,840) and the South Illinois nonmetro area the least ($63,380).
How many recruiters work in Chicago-Naperville?
BLS counts about 26,470 in the May 2025 survey.
Does a recruiter cost more than an executive assistant in Chicago-Naperville?
Yes: $440 a year more at the median. The medians are $78,210 and $77,770.
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. Last updated 2026-11-06.