Recruiter salary in Columbus, OH
Recruiters earn more in Columbus than anywhere else in Ohio. Expect a median of $75,440 a year1, 7.5% above the Ohio statewide median of $70,180 and about level with the US median of $75,940. That is in the top quarter of US areas (#109 of 521). It is the largest market for the job in Ohio: about 7,740 people, 23% of the Ohio total.
BLS occupation 13-1071, area Columbus, OH. Data from the May 2025 release, checked 2026-10-15.
Pay in Columbus against Ohio and the US
| Range | 10th | Median | 90th | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Columbus, OH | $47,380 | $75,440 | $124,500 | |
| Ohio | $45,950 | $70,180 | $118,340 | |
| United States | $47,180 | $75,940 | $128,720 |
Recruiters at the 90th percentile earn $124,500, 2.6 times the 10th percentile; the US ratio is 2.7. The middle half of recruiters in Columbus earns $58,140–$97,460. From the 25th to the 75th percentile, the local range is $39,320 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 | $47,380 | $3,948 | $22.78 | $61,135 |
| 25th percentile | $58,140 | $4,845 | $27.95 | $75,019 |
| Median | $75,440 | $6,287 | $36.27 | $97,342 |
| 75th percentile | $97,460 | $8,122 | $46.86 | $125,755 |
| 90th percentile | $124,500 | $10,375 | $59.86 | $160,645 |
The step from the 25th percentile to the median is $17,300 a year; from the median to the 75th it is $22,020, or about $28,413 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 Ohio statewide median of $70,180 falls between the 25th percentile and the median.
What a hire really costs in Columbus
At the $75,440 median, a local hire costs about $97,342 a year: benefits and payroll taxes other than paid leave are 22.5% of total compensation in US private industry2, about $21,902 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 #5 by median pay, between executive assistants ($75,880) and office managers ($66,970). Project Coordinator is the highest at $98,660.
| Role | Median | vs recruiter | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Marketing Specialist | +2.1% | 5,880 | |
| Executive Assistant | +0.6% | 3,250 | |
| Recruiter | this role | 7,740 | |
| Office Manager | -11.2% | 9,480 | |
| Paralegal | -19.9% | 2,260 |
Measured against the US median, recruiters rank #9 of the 17 roles we track in Columbus (-0.7%), between HR assistants (+0.2%) and executive assistants (-0.9%). The typical role here is at -0.7%, so this job follows the area's general pay level. Recruiters hold 7.2% of the jobs in these 17 roles in Columbus, 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. No other area in Ohio has as many recruiters, and all 15 others pay less.
| Area | Median | vs Columbus | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Columbus, OH | this area | 7,740 | |
| Cincinnati, OH-KY | -3.2% | 7,110 | |
| Cleveland, OH | -6.0% | 6,330 | |
| Akron, OH | -7.3% | 1,800 | |
| West Northwestern Ohio (Nonmetro) | -7.8% | 1,100 | |
| Dayton-Kettering, OH | -8.5% | 2,160 | |
| Toledo, OH | -10.9% | 1,500 |
Columbus against other US metro areas
By number of jobs, Columbus is #26 of 521 US areas for this job. It is one of the larger markets for this job and one of the better-paying ones. Outside Ohio, Hinesville and Honolulu pay just above Columbus and Fayetteville and Atlanta-Sandy Springs just below. All four are within $50 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Baltimore-Columbia, MD | +9.2% | 7,930 | jobs | |
| Portland-Vancouver, OR-WA | +6.2% | 7,610 | jobs | |
| Honolulu, HI | +0.1% | 1,990 | pay | |
| Hinesville, GA | +0.0% | 110 | pay | |
| Columbus, OH | this area | 7,740 | ||
| Fayetteville, NC | +0.0% | 870 | pay | |
| Atlanta-Sandy Springs, GA | -0.0% | 20,920 | pay | |
| San Antonio-New Braunfels, TX | -3.3% | 7,570 | jobs |
Questions
How much does it cost to hire a recruiter in Columbus, OH?
About $97,342 a year at the median, or $8,112 a month: $75,440 in pay plus about $21,902 in benefits and payroll taxes. Recruiting, equipment and office space are extra.
What is the pay range for recruiters in Columbus?
Pay here is higher than in three quarters of US areas. The median was $75,440 a year in the May 2025 BLS survey. The 10th percentile was $47,380, the 90th $124,500, and the middle half earned $58,140 to $97,460.
Is Columbus the most expensive area in Ohio for recruiters?
Yes. Its median of $75,440 is the highest of 16 areas in Ohio. Cincinnati comes next at $73,010.
How many recruiters work in Columbus?
BLS counts about 7,740 in the May 2025 survey. That is 23% of the Ohio total of 33,500. No other area in Ohio has as many.
Does a recruiter cost more than an office manager in Columbus?
Yes: $8,470 a year more at the median. The medians are $75,440 and $66,970.
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.