Recruiter salary in Jefferson City, MO
Hiring a recruiter costs less in Jefferson City than in Missouri or the country as a whole. The median is $62,420 a year1: 6.8% below the Missouri statewide median of $66,990 and 17.8% below the US median of $75,940. Among US areas it comes in at #388 of 521. BLS counts about 530 people in this job here, 3% of the Missouri total.
BLS occupation 13-1071, area Jefferson City, MO. Data from the May 2025 release, checked 2026-10-15.
Pay in Jefferson City against Missouri and the US
| Range | 10th | Median | 90th | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jefferson City, MO | $46,180 | $62,420 | $96,260 | |
| Missouri | $44,730 | $66,990 | $110,660 | |
| United States | $47,180 | $75,940 | $128,720 |
The middle half of recruiters in Jefferson City earns $51,710–$77,430. Pay is tightly grouped: the top tenth starts at $96,260, only 2.1 times the bottom tenth, against 2.7 times across the US, so the going rate is easier to read. The mean ($68,290) is 9% over the median, so a group of high earners pulls the average up; price a typical hire from the median. From the 25th to the 75th percentile, the local range is only $25,720 wide, against $38,150 across Missouri and $40,770 nationally: employers in Jefferson City 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 | $46,180 | $3,848 | $22.20 | $59,587 |
| 25th percentile | $51,710 | $4,309 | $24.86 | $66,723 |
| Median | $62,420 | $5,202 | $30.01 | $80,542 |
| 75th percentile | $77,430 | $6,452 | $37.23 | $99,910 |
| 90th percentile | $96,260 | $8,022 | $46.28 | $124,206 |
An offer at the 75th percentile instead of the median adds $15,010 a year in pay and about $19,368 in employer cost. Going down to the 25th percentile saves $10,710 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 median and the 75th percentile in Jefferson City, and the Missouri statewide median of $66,990 falls there too.
What a hire really costs in Jefferson City
At the $62,420 median, a local hire costs about $80,542 a year: benefits and payroll taxes other than paid leave are 22.5% of total compensation in US private industry2, about $18,122 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 Jefferson City
Of the 16 roles we track in Jefferson City, this one ranks #4 by median pay, between marketing specialists ($62,460) and sales development representatives ($61,860). Project Coordinator is the highest at $79,980.
| Role | Median | vs recruiter | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Accountant | +2.6% | 1,120 | |
| Marketing Specialist | +0.1% | 270 | |
| Recruiter | this role | 530 | |
| Sales Development Representative | -0.9% | 220 | |
| Executive Assistant | -10.7% | 250 |
Measured against the US median, recruiters rank #10 of the 16 roles we track in Jefferson City (-17.8%), between medical administrative assistants (-15.3%) and office managers (-20.1%). The typical role here is at -14.5%, so, measured against the US, recruiters cost less in Jefferson City than the area's general pay level would suggest. Recruiters hold 6.4% of the jobs in these 16 roles in Jefferson City, 6.4% across Missouri and 5.8% nationally. That is close to the national mix.
Other areas in Missouri
Across the 12 areas of Missouri with data for this job, the median runs from $56,140 in the Southwest Missouri nonmetro area to $75,190 in Kansas City, a gap of $19,050 a year. Of the 6 areas in Missouri with more recruiters than Jefferson City, 1 pays less: the Southeast Missouri nonmetro area ($60,040).
| Area | Median | vs Jefferson City | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Central Missouri (Nonmetro) | +2.6% | 640 | |
| Columbia, MO | +1.5% | 640 | |
| Springfield, MO | +1.2% | 1,270 | |
| Jefferson City, MO | this area | 530 | |
| North Missouri (Nonmetro) | -0.5% | 310 | |
| Joplin, MO-KS | -1.9% | 390 | |
| Cape Girardeau, MO-IL | -2.8% | 230 |
Jefferson City against other US metro areas
By number of jobs, Jefferson City is #234 of 521 US areas for this job. Both its size and its pay sit in the middle half of US areas. Outside Missouri, Owensboro and College Station-Bryan pay just above Jefferson City and Lake Havasu City-Kingman and Pinehurst-Southern Pines just below. All four are within $40 a year of the median in Jefferson City. Of the three markets with about as many recruiters, all three pay more.
| Metro area | Median | vs Jefferson City | Jobs | Close in |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bend, OR | +22.1% | 530 | jobs | |
| Oshkosh-Neenah, WI | +10.4% | 530 | jobs | |
| Kingsport-Bristol, TN-VA | +3.5% | 530 | jobs | |
| College Station-Bryan, TX | +0.1% | 570 | pay | |
| Owensboro, KY | +0.0% | 170 | pay | |
| Jefferson City, MO | this area | 530 | ||
| Lake Havasu City-Kingman, AZ | -0.0% | 250 | pay | |
| Pinehurst-Southern Pines, NC | -0.0% | 220 | pay |
Questions
How much does it cost to hire a recruiter in Jefferson City, MO?
About $80,542 a year at the median, or $6,712 a month: $62,420 in pay plus about $18,122 in benefits and payroll taxes. Recruiting, equipment and office space are extra.
What is the pay range for recruiters in Jefferson City?
The median was $62,420 a year in the May 2025 BLS survey. The 10th percentile was $46,180, the 90th $96,260, and the middle half earned $51,710 to $77,430.
Is Jefferson City cheaper than the rest of Missouri for recruiters?
Yes, it costs less: a median of $62,420 against $66,990 statewide. The next area up in Missouri is Springfield at $63,140, the next down the North Missouri nonmetro area at $62,130.
How many recruiters work in Jefferson City?
BLS counts about 530 in the May 2025 survey. That is 3% of the Missouri total of 17,650. 6 areas in Missouri have more; the closest in size is the Southeast Missouri nonmetro area, with about 590.
Does a recruiter cost more than a sales development representative in Jefferson City?
Yes: $560 a year more at the median. The medians are $62,420 and $61,860.
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.