Recruiter salary and cost of hiring in District of Columbia
The median recruiter in District of Columbia earned $110,970 a year in May 2025[1], 46.1% above the US median of $75,940. That puts District of Columbia at #1 of 51 states for this job.
BLS occupation 13-1071. Data from the May 2025 release, checked 2026-10-15.
Salary range
| Range | 10th | Median | 90th | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| District of Columbia | $65,280 | $110,970 | $170,330 | |
| United States | $47,180 | $75,940 | $128,720 |
The middle half of recruiters in District of Columbia earns $82,270–$148,700; the top tenth earns $170,330 or more, 2.6 times the bottom tenth.
What a hire really costs
Benefits and payroll taxes are 30.0% of total compensation in US private industry[2]. At the District of Columbia median that makes about $158,529 a year before recruiting, equipment and office space. 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 fee[3]; Deel's contractor plan is the default payroll tool[4].
Pay by metro area in District of Columbia
| Area | Median | 75th percentile | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | $131,510 | 24,450 |
What a recruiter does
A recruiter finds and attracts candidates, screens them, manages the interview process and closes offers for the hiring managers.
Neighbours in the ranking
| State | Median | vs District of Columbia |
|---|---|---|
| District of Columbia | +0.0% | |
| Massachusetts | -22.8% | |
| Washington | -23.8% |
Questions
How much does a recruiter earn in District of Columbia?
The median was $110,970 a year in the May 2025 BLS survey; the middle half earned $82,270 to $148,700.
What does it cost to employ a recruiter in District of Columbia?
About $158,529 a year at the median wage once benefits are added, using the 30% benefits share of US private industry (June 2026).
Where in District of Columbia do recruiters earn the most?
Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV, with a median of $100,830 a year.
Sources
- BLS OEWS May 2025, 13-1071: https://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes131071.htm
- BLS Employer Costs for Employee Compensation, private industry, June 2026: https://www.bls.gov/news.release/ecec.nr0.htm
- Silkstaff pricing: https://silkstaff.com/#pricing
- Deel pricing, contractor management: https://www.deel.com/pricing/
How these pages are built: methodology and data sources. Last updated 2026-11-05.