Recruiter salary in Chico, CA
Chico is a lower-cost market for recruiters: the median of $73,910 a year1 is 11.5% below the California statewide median of $83,500, and 2.7% below the US median of $75,940. Nationally it ranks #140 of 521 areas. About 310 recruiters work here.
BLS occupation 13-1071, area Chico, CA. Data from the May 2025 release, checked 2026-10-15.
Pay in Chico against California and the US
| Range | 10th | Median | 90th | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chico, CA | $47,820 | $73,910 | $120,770 | |
| California | $52,770 | $83,500 | $151,410 | |
| United States | $47,180 | $75,940 | $128,720 |
The middle half of recruiters in Chico earns $58,450–$93,280. The top tenth earns $120,770 or more, 2.5 times the bottom tenth, close to the US pattern of 2.7 times. From the 25th to the 75th percentile, the local range is only $34,830 wide, against $51,370 across California and $40,770 nationally: employers in Chico 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 | $47,820 | $3,985 | $22.99 | $61,703 |
| 25th percentile | $58,450 | $4,871 | $28.10 | $75,419 |
| Median | $73,910 | $6,159 | $35.53 | $95,368 |
| 75th percentile | $93,280 | $7,773 | $44.85 | $120,361 |
| 90th percentile | $120,770 | $10,064 | $58.06 | $155,832 |
The step from the 25th percentile to the median is $15,460 a year; from the median to the 75th it is $19,370, or about $24,994 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 Chico, and the California statewide median of $83,500 falls there too.
What a hire really costs in Chico
At the $73,910 median, a local hire costs about $95,368 a year: benefits and payroll taxes other than paid leave are 22.5% of total compensation in US private industry2, about $21,458 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 Chico
Of the 17 roles we track in Chico, this one ranks #4 by median pay, between executive assistants ($75,770) and marketing specialists ($70,820). Project Coordinator is the highest at $103,320.
| Role | Median | vs recruiter | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Accountant | +5.1% | 420 | |
| Executive Assistant | +2.5% | 170 | |
| Recruiter | this role | 310 | |
| Marketing Specialist | -4.2% | 320 | |
| Office Manager | -4.7% | 660 |
Measured against the US median, recruiters rank #13 of the 17 roles we track in Chico (-2.7%), between executive assistants (-1.1%) and accountants (-7.2%). The typical role here is at +0.9%, so, measured against the US, recruiters cost less in Chico than the area's general pay level would suggest. Recruiters hold 5.2% of the jobs in these 17 roles in Chico, 6.2% across California and 5.8% nationally. That is close to the national mix.
Other areas in California
Across the 28 areas of California with data for this job, the median runs from $70,830 in Redding to $112,140 in San Jose-Sunnyvale, a gap of $41,310 a year. All 20 areas in California with more recruiters than Chico also pay more, among them Los Angeles-Long Beach, CA ($80,220) and San Francisco-Oakland, CA ($103,140).
| Area | Median | vs Chico | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Yuba City, CA | +1.0% | 180 | |
| Fresno, CA | +0.4% | 1,770 | |
| North Valley-Northern Mountains Region of California (Nonmetro) | +0.3% | 380 | |
| Visalia, CA | +0.2% | 580 | |
| Chico, CA | this area | 310 | |
| El Centro, CA | -2.6% | 220 | |
| Redding, CA | -4.2% | 250 |
Chico against other US metro areas
By number of jobs, Chico is #349 of 521 US areas for this job. Both its size and its pay sit in the middle half of US areas. Outside California, Watertown-Fort Drum and Peoria pay just above Chico and Albany and Sheboygan just below. All four are within $500 a year of the median in Chico. Of the three markets with about as many recruiters, one pays more.
| Metro area | Median | vs Chico | Jobs | Close in |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Amherst Town-Northampton, MA | +9.3% | 310 | jobs | |
| Peoria, IL | +0.1% | 890 | pay | |
| Watertown-Fort Drum, NY | +0.0% | 180 | pay | |
| Chico, CA | this area | 310 | ||
| Albany, OR | -0.1% | 210 | pay | |
| Sheboygan, WI | -0.7% | 290 | pay | |
| Altoona, PA | -13.5% | 310 | jobs | |
| Flagstaff, AZ | -14.2% | 310 | jobs |
Questions
How much does it cost to hire a recruiter in Chico, CA?
About $95,368 a year at the median, or $7,947 a month: $73,910 in pay plus about $21,458 in benefits and payroll taxes. Recruiting, equipment and office space are extra.
What is the pay range for recruiters in Chico?
The median was $73,910 a year in the May 2025 BLS survey. The 10th percentile was $47,820, the 90th $120,770, and the middle half earned $58,450 to $93,280.
Is Chico cheaper than the rest of California for recruiters?
Yes, it costs less: a median of $73,910 against $83,500 statewide. The next area up in California is Visalia at $74,050, the next down El Centro at $71,970.
How many recruiters work in Chico?
BLS counts about 310 in the May 2025 survey. 20 areas in California have more; the closest in size is the North Valley-Northern Mountains Region of California nonmetro area, with about 380.
Does a recruiter cost more than a marketing specialist in Chico?
Yes: $3,090 a year more at the median. The medians are $73,910 and $70,820.
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.