Recruiter salary in Columbus, GA-AL
Hiring a recruiter costs less in Columbus than in Georgia or the country as a whole. The median is $65,550 a year1: 7.1% below the Georgia statewide median of $70,570 and 13.7% below the US median of $75,940. Nationally it ranks #272 of 521 areas. BLS counts about 700 people in this job here.
BLS occupation 13-1071, area Columbus, GA-AL. Data from the May 2025 release, checked 2026-10-15.
Pay in Columbus against Georgia and the US
| Range | 10th | Median | 90th | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Columbus, GA-AL | $41,980 | $65,550 | $109,320 | |
| Georgia (US state) | $44,580 | $70,570 | $125,540 | |
| United States | $47,180 | $75,940 | $128,720 |
Recruiters at the 90th percentile earn $109,320, 2.6 times the 10th percentile; the US ratio is 2.7. The middle half of recruiters in Columbus earns $49,940–$87,090. The mean ($72,210) is 10% 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 $37,150 wide, against $41,930 across Georgia and $40,770 nationally: employers in Columbus 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 | $41,980 | $3,498 | $20.18 | $54,168 |
| 25th percentile | $49,940 | $4,162 | $24.01 | $64,439 |
| Median | $65,550 | $5,462 | $31.51 | $84,581 |
| 75th percentile | $87,090 | $7,258 | $41.87 | $112,374 |
| 90th percentile | $109,320 | $9,110 | $52.56 | $141,058 |
The step from the 25th percentile to the median is $15,610 a year; from the median to the 75th it is $21,540, or about $27,794 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 Columbus, and the Georgia statewide median of $70,570 falls there too.
What a hire really costs in Columbus
At the $65,550 median, a local hire costs about $84,581 a year: benefits and payroll taxes other than paid leave are 22.5% of total compensation in US private industry2, about $19,031 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 Columbus
Of the 17 roles we track in Columbus, this one ranks #4 by median pay, between marketing specialists ($68,080) and executive assistants ($63,000). Project Coordinator is the highest at $98,470.
| Role | Median | vs recruiter | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Accountant | +12.3% | 840 | |
| Marketing Specialist | +3.9% | 470 | |
| Recruiter | this role | 700 | |
| Executive Assistant | -3.9% | 240 | |
| Sales Development Representative | -7.6% | 660 |
Measured against the US median, recruiters rank #8 of the 17 roles we track in Columbus (-13.7%), between marketing specialists (-13.6%) and office managers (-14.7%). The typical role here is at -14.7%, so this job follows the area's general pay level. Recruiters hold 6.2% of the jobs in these 17 roles in Columbus, 6.3% across Georgia and 5.8% nationally. That is close to the national mix.
Other areas in Georgia
Across the 18 areas of Georgia with data for this job, the median runs from $55,260 in Valdosta to $77,920 in Warner Robins, a gap of $22,660 a year. Of the 4 areas in Georgia with more recruiters than Columbus, 2 pay less: Savannah, GA ($62,690) and the South Georgia nonmetro area ($60,970).
| Area | Median | vs Columbus | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hinesville, GA | +15.1% | 110 | |
| Atlanta-Sandy Springs, GA | +15.0% | 20,920 | |
| Augusta-Richmond County, GA-SC | +2.4% | 1,210 | |
| Columbus, GA-AL | this area | 700 | |
| Gainesville, GA | -3.4% | 460 | |
| North Georgia (Nonmetro) | -3.6% | 700 | |
| Brunswick-St. Simons, GA | -4.1% | 190 |
Columbus against other US metro areas
By number of jobs, Columbus is #172 of 521 US areas for this job. Both its size and its pay sit in the middle half of US areas. Outside Georgia, Tampa-St. Petersburg and Clarksville pay just above Columbus and Staunton-Stuarts Draft and Grants Pass just below. All four are within $130 a year of the median in Columbus. Of the three markets with about as many recruiters, two pay more.
| Metro area | Median | vs Columbus | Jobs | Close in |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bremerton-Silverdale, WA | +37.7% | 710 | jobs | |
| Waterbury-Shelton, CT | +21.8% | 710 | jobs | |
| Clarksville, TN-KY | +0.2% | 540 | pay | |
| Tampa-St. Petersburg, FL | +0.0% | 10,410 | pay | |
| Columbus, GA-AL | this area | 700 | ||
| Staunton-Stuarts Draft, VA | -0.0% | 220 | pay | |
| Grants Pass, OR | -0.0% | 100 | pay | |
| Kalamazoo-Portage, MI | -1.5% | 690 | jobs |
Questions
How much does it cost to hire a recruiter in Columbus, GA-AL?
About $84,581 a year at the median, or $7,048 a month: $65,550 in pay plus about $19,031 in benefits and payroll taxes. Recruiting, equipment and office space are extra.
What do recruiters earn in Columbus?
The median was $65,550 a year in the May 2025 BLS survey. The 10th percentile was $41,980, the 90th $109,320, and the middle half earned $49,940 to $87,090.
Is Columbus cheaper than the rest of Georgia for recruiters?
Yes, it costs less: a median of $65,550 against $70,570 statewide. The next area up in Georgia is Augusta-Richmond County at $67,120, the next down Gainesville at $63,330.
How many recruiters work in Columbus?
BLS counts about 700 in the May 2025 survey. 4 areas in Georgia have more; the closest in size is the South Georgia nonmetro area, with about 720.
Does a recruiter cost more than an executive assistant in Columbus?
Yes: $2,550 a year more at the median. The medians are $65,550 and $63,000.
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.