Recruiter salary in Duluth, MN-WI
Duluth is the least expensive place in Minnesota to hire a recruiter. The median is $67,040 a year1, 14.9% below the Minnesota statewide median of $78,760 and 11.7% below the US median of $75,940. Nationally it ranks #244 of 521 areas. About 560 recruiters work here.
BLS occupation 13-1071, area Duluth, MN-WI. Data from the May 2025 release, checked 2026-10-15.
Pay in Duluth against Minnesota and the US
| Range | 10th | Median | 90th | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Duluth, MN-WI | $49,050 | $67,040 | $101,310 | |
| Minnesota | $50,330 | $78,760 | $127,060 | |
| United States | $47,180 | $75,940 | $128,720 |
The middle half of recruiters in Duluth earns $57,390–$81,640. Pay is tightly grouped: the top tenth starts at $101,310, only 2.1 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 $24,250 wide, against $39,070 across Minnesota and $40,770 nationally: employers in Duluth 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 | $49,050 | $4,088 | $23.58 | $63,290 |
| 25th percentile | $57,390 | $4,782 | $27.59 | $74,052 |
| Median | $67,040 | $5,587 | $32.23 | $86,503 |
| 75th percentile | $81,640 | $6,803 | $39.25 | $105,342 |
| 90th percentile | $101,310 | $8,442 | $48.71 | $130,723 |
Pay climbs faster above the median than below it here: the 75th percentile is $14,600 over the median, the 25th only $9,650 under it. An offer at the 75th percentile adds about $18,839 a year in employer cost. 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 Duluth, and the Minnesota statewide median of $78,760 falls there too.
What a hire really costs in Duluth
At the $67,040 median, a local hire costs about $86,503 a year: benefits and payroll taxes other than paid leave are 22.5% of total compensation in US private industry2, about $19,463 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 Duluth
Of the 15 roles we track in Duluth, this one ranks #4 by median pay, between executive assistants ($73,260) and office managers ($65,880). Project Coordinator is the highest at $96,550.
| Role | Median | vs recruiter | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Accountant | +15.5% | 940 | |
| Executive Assistant | +9.3% | 200 | |
| Recruiter | this role | 560 | |
| Office Manager | -1.7% | 810 | |
| Marketing Specialist | -5.5% | 330 |
Measured against the US median, recruiters rank #13 of the 15 roles we track in Duluth (-11.7%), between paralegals (-8.1%) and sales development representatives (-11.8%). The typical role here is at -5.2%, so, measured against the US, recruiters cost less in Duluth than the area's general pay level would suggest. Recruiters hold 6.0% of the jobs in these 15 roles in Duluth, 5.9% across Minnesota and 5.8% nationally. That is close to the national mix.
Other areas in Minnesota
Across the 9 areas of Minnesota with data for this job, the median runs from $67,040 in Duluth to $83,810 in Rochester, a gap of $16,770 a year. All 3 areas in Minnesota with more recruiters than Duluth also pay more, among them Minneapolis-St. Paul, MN-WI ($80,330) and the Northwest Minnesota nonmetro area ($72,750).
| Area | Median | vs Duluth | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Southeast Minnesota (Nonmetro) | +11.6% | 630 | |
| St. Cloud, MN | +11.4% | 480 | |
| Northeast Minnesota (Nonmetro) | +10.3% | 150 | |
| Southwest Minnesota (Nonmetro) | +9.8% | 410 | |
| Northwest Minnesota (Nonmetro) | +8.5% | 630 | |
| Mankato, MN | +8.0% | 260 | |
| Duluth, MN-WI | this area | 560 |
Duluth against other US metro areas
By number of jobs, Duluth is #221 of 521 US areas for this job. Both its size and its pay sit in the middle half of US areas. Outside Minnesota, North Port-Bradenton and Augusta-Richmond County pay just above Duluth and Dover and Greenville-Anderson just below. All four are within $170 a year of the median in Duluth. Of the three markets with about as many recruiters, one pays more.
| Metro area | Median | vs Duluth | Jobs | Close in |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Greeley, CO | +13.6% | 580 | jobs | |
| Augusta-Richmond County, GA-SC | +0.1% | 1,210 | pay | |
| North Port-Bradenton, FL | +0.1% | 1,430 | pay | |
| Duluth, MN-WI | this area | 560 | ||
| Dover, DE | -0.2% | 450 | pay | |
| Greenville-Anderson, SC | -0.3% | 2,430 | pay | |
| College Station-Bryan, TX | -6.8% | 570 | jobs | |
| Myrtle Beach-Conway, SC | -8.2% | 560 | jobs |
Questions
How much does it cost to hire a recruiter in Duluth, MN-WI?
About $86,503 a year at the median, or $7,209 a month: $67,040 in pay plus about $19,463 in benefits and payroll taxes. Recruiting, equipment and office space are extra.
What is the pay range for recruiters in Duluth?
The median was $67,040 a year in the May 2025 BLS survey. The 10th percentile was $49,050, the 90th $101,310, and the middle half earned $57,390 to $81,640.
Is Duluth the cheapest area in Minnesota for recruiters?
Yes. Its median of $67,040 is the lowest of 9 areas in Minnesota. Mankato is next at $72,410.
How many recruiters work in Duluth?
BLS counts about 560 in the May 2025 survey. 3 areas in Minnesota have more; the closest in size is the Southeast Minnesota nonmetro area, with about 630.
Does a recruiter cost more than an office manager in Duluth?
Yes: $1,160 a year more at the median. The medians are $67,040 and $65,880.
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.