Recruiter salary in the Hawaii-Kauai nonmetro area
Of the 3 areas in Hawaii with BLS pay data for this job, the Hawaii-Kauai nonmetro area has the lowest median: $66,150 a year1. That is 10.3% below the Hawaii statewide median of $73,750, and 12.9% below the US median of $75,940. Among US areas it comes in at #262 of 521. BLS counts about 320 people in this job here, 12% of the Hawaii total.
BLS occupation 13-1071, area Hawaii / Kauai nonmetropolitan area. Data from the May 2025 release, checked 2026-10-15.
Pay in the Hawaii-Kauai nonmetro area against Hawaii and the US
| Range | 10th | Median | 90th | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hawaii-Kauai (Nonmetro) | $45,590 | $66,150 | $98,570 | |
| Hawaii | $49,110 | $73,750 | $113,320 | |
| United States | $47,180 | $75,940 | $128,720 |
The middle half of recruiters in the Hawaii-Kauai nonmetro area earns $58,030–$81,090. Pay is tightly grouped: the top tenth starts at $98,570, 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 $23,060 wide, against $32,470 across Hawaii and $40,770 nationally: employers in the Hawaii-Kauai nonmetro area 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 | $45,590 | $3,799 | $21.92 | $58,826 |
| 25th percentile | $58,030 | $4,836 | $27.90 | $74,877 |
| Median | $66,150 | $5,512 | $31.80 | $85,355 |
| 75th percentile | $81,090 | $6,758 | $38.99 | $104,632 |
| 90th percentile | $98,570 | $8,214 | $47.39 | $127,187 |
Pay climbs faster above the median than below it here: the 75th percentile is $14,940 over the median, the 25th only $8,120 under it. An offer at the 75th percentile adds about $19,277 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 the Hawaii-Kauai nonmetro area, and the Hawaii statewide median of $73,750 falls there too.
What a hire really costs in the Hawaii-Kauai nonmetro area
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 $19,205 to the $66,150 median and brings it to $85,355 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 the Hawaii-Kauai nonmetro area
Of the 15 roles we track in the Hawaii-Kauai nonmetro area, this one ranks #4 by median pay, between accountants ($69,430) and paralegals ($63,270). Project Coordinator is the highest at $75,440.
| Role | Median | vs recruiter | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Executive Assistant | +13.3% | 210 | |
| Accountant | +5.0% | 590 | |
| Recruiter | this role | 320 | |
| Paralegal | -4.4% | 190 | |
| Payroll Specialist | -6.0% | 70 |
Measured against the US median, recruiters rank #11 of the 15 roles we track in the Hawaii-Kauai nonmetro area (-12.9%), between office managers (-11.1%) and accountants (-17.0%). The typical role here is at -2.8%, so, measured against the US, recruiters cost less in the Hawaii-Kauai nonmetro area than the area's general pay level would suggest. Recruiters hold 4.1% of the jobs in these 15 roles in the Hawaii-Kauai nonmetro area, 4.8% across Hawaii and 5.8% nationally. The job is a smaller part of the local workforce in these roles than it is nationally.
Other areas in Hawaii
Across the 3 areas of Hawaii with data for this job, the median runs from $66,150 in the Hawaii-Kauai nonmetro area to $75,490 in Honolulu, a gap of $9,340 a year. The one area in Hawaii with more recruiters, Honolulu, HI ($75,490), also pays more.
| Area | Median | vs the Hawaii-Kauai nonmetro area | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Honolulu, HI | +14.1% | 1,990 | |
| Kahului-Wailuku, HI | +7.9% | 240 | |
| Hawaii-Kauai (Nonmetro) | this area | 320 |
the Hawaii-Kauai nonmetro area against other US metro areas
By number of jobs, the Hawaii-Kauai nonmetro area is #346 of 521 US areas for this job. Both its size and its pay sit in the middle half of US areas. Outside Hawaii, Wildwood-The Villages and Greenville pay just above the Hawaii-Kauai nonmetro area and Anniston-Oxford and Boise City just below. All four are within $90 a year of the median in the Hawaii-Kauai nonmetro area. Of the three markets with about as many recruiters, one pays more.
| Metro area | Median | vs the Hawaii-Kauai nonmetro area | Jobs | Close in |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bloomington, IN | +0.9% | 320 | jobs | |
| Greenville, NC | +0.1% | 430 | pay | |
| Wildwood-The Villages, FL | +0.1% | 170 | pay | |
| Hawaii-Kauai (Nonmetro) | this area | 320 | ||
| Anniston-Oxford, AL | -0.1% | 190 | pay | |
| Boise City, ID | -0.1% | 2,180 | pay | |
| Bozeman, MT | -3.1% | 320 | jobs | |
| Abilene, TX | -8.7% | 320 | jobs |
Questions
How much does it cost to hire a recruiter in Hawaii-Kauai (Nonmetro)?
About $85,355 a year at the median, or $7,113 a month: $66,150 in pay plus about $19,205 in benefits and payroll taxes. Recruiting, equipment and office space are extra.
What do recruiters earn in the Hawaii-Kauai nonmetro area?
The median was $66,150 a year in the May 2025 BLS survey. The 10th percentile was $45,590, the 90th $98,570, and the middle half earned $58,030 to $81,090.
Is the Hawaii-Kauai nonmetro area the cheapest area in Hawaii for recruiters?
Yes. Its median of $66,150 is the lowest of 3 areas in Hawaii. Kahului-Wailuku is next at $71,370.
How many recruiters work in the Hawaii-Kauai nonmetro area?
BLS counts about 320 in the May 2025 survey. That is 12% of the Hawaii total of 2,570. Only Honolulu has more in Hawaii.
Does a recruiter cost more than a paralegal in the Hawaii-Kauai nonmetro area?
Yes: $2,880 a year more at the median. The medians are $66,150 and $63,270.
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.