Recruiter salary in Davenport-Moline, IA-IL
Davenport-Moline is the most expensive place in Iowa to hire a recruiter. The median is $79,670 a year1, 19.4% above the Iowa statewide median of $66,710 and 4.9% above the US median of $75,940. Nationally that is #38 of 521 areas, in the top tenth. BLS counts about 1,420 people in this job here.
BLS occupation 13-1071, area Davenport-Moline-Rock Island, IA-IL. Data from the May 2025 release, checked 2026-10-15.
Pay in Davenport-Moline against Iowa and the US
| Range | 10th | Median | 90th | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Davenport-Moline, IA-IL | $49,920 | $79,670 | $124,900 | |
| Iowa | $45,400 | $66,710 | $110,640 | |
| United States | $47,180 | $75,940 | $128,720 |
The middle half of recruiters in Davenport-Moline earns $61,410–$99,730. The top tenth earns $124,900 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 $38,320 wide, between the figure for Iowa ($31,880) 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 | $49,920 | $4,160 | $24.00 | $64,413 |
| 25th percentile | $61,410 | $5,118 | $29.52 | $79,239 |
| Median | $79,670 | $6,639 | $38.30 | $102,800 |
| 75th percentile | $99,730 | $8,311 | $47.95 | $128,684 |
| 90th percentile | $124,900 | $10,408 | $60.05 | $161,161 |
An offer at the 75th percentile instead of the median adds $20,060 a year in pay and about $25,884 in employer cost. Going down to the 25th percentile saves $18,260 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 25th percentile and the median in Davenport-Moline, and the Iowa statewide median of $66,710 falls there too.
What a hire really costs in Davenport-Moline
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 $23,130 to the $79,670 median and brings it to $102,800 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 Davenport-Moline
Of the 17 roles we track in Davenport-Moline, this one ranks #2 by median pay, after project coordinators ($102,880); accountants come next at $77,600.
| Role | Median | vs recruiter | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Project Coordinator | +29.1% | 650 | |
| Recruiter | this role | 1,420 | |
| Accountant | -2.6% | 1,560 | |
| Marketing Specialist | -10.1% | 1,080 | |
| Office Manager | -20.9% | 1,160 |
Measured against the US median, this job is the best paid of the 17 roles we track in Davenport-Moline (+4.9%); executive assistants come last (-21.1%). The typical role here is at -7.3%, so, measured against the US, recruiters cost more in Davenport-Moline than the area's general pay level would suggest. Recruiters hold 8.8% of the jobs in these 17 roles in Davenport-Moline, 5.8% across Iowa and 5.8% nationally. The job is a bigger part of the local workforce in these roles than it is nationally.
Other areas in Iowa
Across the 12 areas of Iowa with data for this job, the median runs from $61,900 in Waterloo-Cedar Falls to $79,670 in Davenport-Moline, a gap of $17,770 a year. The one area in Iowa with more recruiters, Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA ($71,600), pays less: a bigger pool at a lower median.
| Area | Median | vs Davenport-Moline | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Davenport-Moline, IA-IL | this area | 1,420 | |
| Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA | -10.1% | 2,450 | |
| Iowa City, IA | -10.7% | 480 | |
| Ames, IA | -12.1% | 260 | |
| Southeast Iowa (Nonmetro) | -17.8% | 930 | |
| Dubuque, IA | -19.2% | 380 | |
| Northwest Iowa (Nonmetro) | -20.6% | 590 |
Davenport-Moline against other US metro areas
By number of jobs, Davenport-Moline is #91 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 Iowa, Waterbury-Shelton and Salinas pay just above Davenport-Moline and Richmond and Winchester just below. All four are within $630 a year of the median in Davenport-Moline. Of the three markets with about as many recruiters, one pays more.
| Metro area | Median | vs Davenport-Moline | Jobs | Close in |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Olympia-Lacey, WA | +8.8% | 1,410 | jobs | |
| Salinas, CA | +0.5% | 630 | pay | |
| Waterbury-Shelton, CT | +0.2% | 710 | pay | |
| Davenport-Moline, IA-IL | this area | 1,420 | ||
| Richmond, VA | -0.4% | 4,540 | pay | |
| Winchester, VA-WV | -0.8% | 460 | pay | |
| Ogden, UT | -10.5% | 1,430 | jobs | |
| North Port-Bradenton, FL | -15.8% | 1,430 | jobs |
Questions
How much does it cost to hire a recruiter in Davenport-Moline, IA-IL?
About $102,800 a year at the median, or $8,567 a month: $79,670 in pay plus about $23,130 in benefits and payroll taxes. Recruiting, equipment and office space are extra.
What do recruiters earn in Davenport-Moline?
Pay here is higher than in three quarters of US areas. The median was $79,670 a year in the May 2025 BLS survey. The 10th percentile was $49,920, the 90th $124,900, and the middle half earned $61,410 to $99,730.
Is Davenport-Moline the most expensive area in Iowa for recruiters?
Yes. Its median of $79,670 is the highest of 12 areas in Iowa. Des Moines-West Des Moines comes next at $71,600.
How many recruiters work in Davenport-Moline?
BLS counts about 1,420 in the May 2025 survey. Only Des Moines-West Des Moines has more in Iowa.
Does a recruiter cost more than an accountant in Davenport-Moline?
Yes: $2,070 a year more at the median. The medians are $79,670 and $77,600.
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.