Recruiter salary in Dover, DE
Of the 2 areas in Delaware with BLS pay data for this job, Dover has the lowest median: $66,920 a year1. That is 13.9% below the Delaware statewide median of $77,700, and 11.9% below the US median of $75,940. Nationally it ranks #245 of 521 areas. It is the largest market for the job in Delaware: about 450 people, 17% of the Delaware total.
BLS occupation 13-1071, area Dover, DE. Data from the May 2025 release, checked 2026-10-15.
Pay in Dover against Delaware and the US
| Range | 10th | Median | 90th | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dover, DE | $45,610 | $66,920 | $100,760 | |
| Delaware | $50,960 | $77,700 | $132,030 | |
| United States | $47,180 | $75,940 | $128,720 |
The middle half of recruiters in Dover earns $53,410–$80,480. Pay is tightly grouped: the top tenth starts at $100,760, only 2.2 times the bottom tenth, against 2.7 times across the US, so the going rate is easier to read. From the 25th to the 75th percentile, the local range is only $27,070 wide, against $39,140 across Delaware and $40,770 nationally: employers in Dover 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 | $45,610 | $3,801 | $21.93 | $58,852 |
| 25th percentile | $53,410 | $4,451 | $25.68 | $68,916 |
| Median | $66,920 | $5,577 | $32.17 | $86,348 |
| 75th percentile | $80,480 | $6,707 | $38.69 | $103,845 |
| 90th percentile | $100,760 | $8,397 | $48.44 | $130,013 |
The step from the 25th percentile to the median is $13,510 a year; from the median to the 75th it is $13,560, or about $17,497 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 Dover, and the Delaware statewide median of $77,700 falls there too.
What a hire really costs in Dover
At the $66,920 median, a local hire costs about $86,348 a year: benefits and payroll taxes other than paid leave are 22.5% of total compensation in US private industry2, about $19,428 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 Dover
Of the 16 roles we track in Dover, this one ranks #5 by median pay, between office managers ($67,210) and marketing specialists ($65,520). Project Coordinator is the highest at $109,940.
| Role | Median | vs recruiter | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Executive Assistant | +2.2% | 170 | |
| Office Manager | +0.4% | 750 | |
| Recruiter | this role | 450 | |
| Marketing Specialist | -2.1% | 180 | |
| Sales Development Representative | -4.5% | 240 |
Measured against the US median, recruiters rank #12 of the 16 roles we track in Dover (-11.9%), between executive assistants (-10.7%) and payroll specialists (-12.0%). The typical role here is at -8.9%, so, measured against the US, recruiters cost less in Dover than the area's general pay level would suggest. Recruiters hold 6.6% of the jobs in these 16 roles in Dover, 5.1% across Delaware and 5.8% nationally. That is close to the national mix.
Other areas in Delaware
Across the 2 areas of Delaware with data for this job, the median runs from $66,920 in Dover to $76,210 in the Sussex Delaware nonmetro area, a gap of $9,290 a year. No other area in Delaware has as many recruiters, and none of the others pays less.
| Area | Median | vs Dover | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sussex Delaware (Nonmetro) | +13.9% | 330 | |
| Dover, DE | this area | 450 |
Dover against other US metro areas
By number of jobs, Dover is #271 of 521 US areas for this job. Both its size and its pay sit in the middle half of US areas. Outside Delaware, Duluth and North Port-Bradenton pay just above Dover and Greenville-Anderson and Bloomington just below. All four are within $180 a year of the median in Dover. Of the three markets with about as many recruiters, two pay more.
| Metro area | Median | vs Dover | Jobs | Close in |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA | +26.6% | 450 | jobs | |
| Ocala, FL | +1.7% | 450 | jobs | |
| North Port-Bradenton, FL | +0.3% | 1,430 | pay | |
| Duluth, MN-WI | +0.2% | 560 | pay | |
| Dover, DE | this area | 450 | ||
| Greenville-Anderson, SC | -0.1% | 2,430 | pay | |
| Bloomington, IN | -0.3% | 320 | pay | |
| Gainesville, GA | -5.4% | 460 | jobs |
Questions
How much does it cost to hire a recruiter in Dover, DE?
About $86,348 a year at the median, or $7,196 a month: $66,920 in pay plus about $19,428 in benefits and payroll taxes. Recruiting, equipment and office space are extra.
What is the pay range for recruiters in Dover?
The median was $66,920 a year in the May 2025 BLS survey. The 10th percentile was $45,610, the 90th $100,760, and the middle half earned $53,410 to $80,480.
Is Dover the cheapest area in Delaware for recruiters?
Yes. Its median of $66,920 is the lowest of 2 areas in Delaware. The Sussex Delaware nonmetro area is next at $76,210.
How many recruiters work in Dover?
BLS counts about 450 in the May 2025 survey. That is 17% of the Delaware total of 2,720. No other area in Delaware has as many.
Does a recruiter cost more than a marketing specialist in Dover?
Yes: $1,400 a year more at the median. The medians are $66,920 and $65,520.
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.