Recruiter salary in Cincinnati, OH-KY
For this job Cincinnati sits between the state and national figures, with a median of $73,010 a year1. That is 4.0% above the Ohio statewide median of $70,180, and 3.9% below the US median of $75,940. Nationally it ranks #150 of 521 areas. About 7,110 recruiters work here.
BLS occupation 13-1071, area Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN. Data from the May 2025 release, checked 2026-10-15.
Pay in Cincinnati against Ohio and the US
| Range | 10th | Median | 90th | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cincinnati, OH-KY | $45,910 | $73,010 | $121,750 | |
| Ohio | $45,950 | $70,180 | $118,340 | |
| United States | $47,180 | $75,940 | $128,720 |
Recruiters at the 90th percentile earn $121,750, 2.7 times the 10th percentile; the US ratio is 2.7. The middle half of recruiters in Cincinnati earns $56,300–$95,960. From the 25th to the 75th percentile, the local range is $39,660 wide, between the figure for Ohio ($37,890) and the US figure ($40,770).
What to budget for a recruiter here
| Point in the local range | Per year | Per month | Per hour | Employer cost per year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $45,910 | $3,826 | $22.07 | $59,239 |
| 25th percentile | $56,300 | $4,692 | $27.07 | $72,645 |
| Median | $73,010 | $6,084 | $35.10 | $94,206 |
| 75th percentile | $95,960 | $7,997 | $46.13 | $123,819 |
| 90th percentile | $121,750 | $10,146 | $58.53 | $157,097 |
An offer at the 75th percentile instead of the median adds $22,950 a year in pay and about $29,613 in employer cost. Going down to the 25th percentile saves $16,710 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 median and the 75th percentile in Cincinnati, and the Ohio statewide median of $70,180 falls between the 25th percentile and the median.
What a hire really costs in Cincinnati
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 $21,196 to the $73,010 median and brings it to $94,206 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 Cincinnati
Of the 17 roles we track in Cincinnati, this one ranks #4 by median pay, between marketing specialists ($75,750) and executive assistants ($70,980). Project Coordinator is the highest at $95,380.
| Role | Median | vs recruiter | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Accountant | +10.5% | 10,050 | |
| Marketing Specialist | +3.8% | 7,080 | |
| Recruiter | this role | 7,110 | |
| Executive Assistant | -2.8% | 1,830 | |
| Office Manager | -4.3% | 9,420 |
Measured against the US median, recruiters rank #13 of the 17 roles we track in Cincinnati (-3.9%), between marketing specialists (-3.8%) and project coordinators (-6.8%). The typical role here is at -1.3%, so this job follows the area's general pay level. Recruiters hold 6.6% of the jobs in these 17 roles in Cincinnati, 6.5% across Ohio and 5.8% nationally. The job is a bigger part of the local workforce in these roles than it is nationally.
Other areas in Ohio
Across the 16 areas of Ohio with data for this job, the median runs from $60,430 in the Southern Ohio nonmetro area to $75,440 in Columbus, a gap of $15,010 a year. The one area in Ohio with more recruiters, Columbus, OH ($75,440), also pays more.
| Area | Median | vs Cincinnati | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Columbus, OH | +3.3% | 7,740 | |
| Cincinnati, OH-KY | this area | 7,110 | |
| Cleveland, OH | -2.9% | 6,330 | |
| Akron, OH | -4.3% | 1,800 | |
| West Northwestern Ohio (Nonmetro) | -4.8% | 1,100 | |
| Dayton-Kettering, OH | -5.5% | 2,160 | |
| Toledo, OH | -8.0% | 1,500 |
Cincinnati against other US metro areas
By number of jobs, Cincinnati is #31 of 521 US areas for this job. It is one of the larger markets for this job, with pay near the middle of the US range. Outside Ohio, Albuquerque and Grand Forks pay just above Cincinnati and San Antonio-New Braunfels and Midland just below. All four are within $380 a year of the median in Cincinnati. Of the three markets with about as many recruiters, two pay more.
| Metro area | Median | vs Cincinnati | Jobs | Close in |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Riverside-San Bernardino, CA | +4.9% | 7,210 | jobs | |
| Kansas City, MO-KS | +3.0% | 6,950 | jobs | |
| Grand Forks, ND-MN | +0.4% | 190 | pay | |
| Albuquerque, NM | +0.4% | 2,250 | pay | |
| Cincinnati, OH-KY | this area | 7,110 | ||
| San Antonio-New Braunfels, TX | -0.1% | 7,570 | pay | |
| Midland, MI | -0.5% | 240 | pay | |
| Indianapolis-Carmel, IN | -7.8% | 7,150 | jobs |
Questions
How much does it cost to hire a recruiter in Cincinnati, OH-KY?
About $94,206 a year at the median, or $7,851 a month: $73,010 in pay plus about $21,196 in benefits and payroll taxes. Recruiting, equipment and office space are extra.
What is the pay range for recruiters in Cincinnati?
The median was $73,010 a year in the May 2025 BLS survey. The 10th percentile was $45,910, the 90th $121,750, and the middle half earned $56,300 to $95,960.
Is Cincinnati cheaper than the rest of Ohio for recruiters?
No, it costs more: a median of $73,010 against $70,180 statewide. The next area up in Ohio is Columbus at $75,440, the next down Cleveland at $70,900.
How many recruiters work in Cincinnati?
BLS counts about 7,110 in the May 2025 survey. Only Columbus has more in Ohio.
Does a recruiter cost more than an executive assistant in Cincinnati?
Yes: $2,030 a year more at the median. The medians are $73,010 and $70,980.
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.