Recruiter salary in Joplin, MO-KS
Joplin is a lower-cost market for recruiters: the median of $61,240 a year1 is 8.6% below the Missouri statewide median of $66,990, and 19.4% below the US median of $75,940. That is in the bottom quarter of US areas (#437 of 521). BLS counts about 390 people in this job here.
BLS occupation 13-1071, area Joplin, MO-KS. Data from the May 2025 release, checked 2026-10-15.
Pay in Joplin against Missouri and the US
| Range | 10th | Median | 90th | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Joplin, MO-KS | $39,120 | $61,240 | $95,880 | |
| Missouri | $44,730 | $66,990 | $110,660 | |
| United States | $47,180 | $75,940 | $128,720 |
The middle half of recruiters in Joplin earns $46,790–$78,090. Pay is tightly grouped: the top tenth starts at $95,880, only 2.5 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 $31,300 wide, against $38,150 across Missouri and $40,770 nationally: employers in Joplin 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 | $39,120 | $3,260 | $18.81 | $50,477 |
| 25th percentile | $46,790 | $3,899 | $22.50 | $60,374 |
| Median | $61,240 | $5,103 | $29.44 | $79,019 |
| 75th percentile | $78,090 | $6,508 | $37.54 | $100,761 |
| 90th percentile | $95,880 | $7,990 | $46.10 | $123,716 |
The step from the 25th percentile to the median is $14,450 a year; from the median to the 75th it is $16,850, or about $21,742 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 Joplin, and the Missouri statewide median of $66,990 falls there too.
What a hire really costs in Joplin
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 $17,779 to the $61,240 median and brings it to $79,019 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 Joplin
Of the 14 roles we track in Joplin, this one ranks #3 by median pay, between accountants ($72,560) and office managers ($56,800). Project Coordinator is the highest at $77,760.
| Role | Median | vs recruiter | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Project Coordinator | +27.0% | 330 | |
| Accountant | +18.5% | 560 | |
| Recruiter | this role | 390 | |
| Office Manager | -7.3% | 590 | |
| Marketing Specialist | -10.1% | 270 |
Measured against the US median, recruiters rank #9 of the 14 roles we track in Joplin (-19.4%), between administrative assistants (-18.9%) and project coordinators (-24.0%). The typical role here is at -18.6%, so this job follows the area's general pay level. Recruiters hold 6.3% of the jobs in these 14 roles in Joplin, 6.4% across Missouri and 5.9% 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 7 areas in Missouri with more recruiters than Joplin, 1 pays less: the Southeast Missouri nonmetro area ($60,040).
| Area | Median | vs Joplin | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Springfield, MO | +3.1% | 1,270 | |
| Jefferson City, MO | +1.9% | 530 | |
| North Missouri (Nonmetro) | +1.5% | 310 | |
| Joplin, MO-KS | this area | 390 | |
| Cape Girardeau, MO-IL | -0.9% | 230 | |
| Southeast Missouri (Nonmetro) | -2.0% | 590 | |
| Southwest Missouri (Nonmetro) | -8.3% | 280 |
Joplin against other US metro areas
By number of jobs, Joplin is #307 of 521 US areas for this job. It is a mid-sized market, and its pay is in the bottom quarter of US areas. Outside Missouri, Florence and Texarkana pay just above Joplin and Twin Falls and Shreveport-Bossier City just below. All four are within $110 a year of the median in Joplin. Of the three markets with about as many recruiters, all three pay more.
| Metro area | Median | vs Joplin | Jobs | Close in |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Yakima, WA | +17.9% | 390 | jobs | |
| La Crosse-Onalaska, WI-MN | +6.8% | 390 | jobs | |
| Eau Claire, WI | +6.0% | 390 | jobs | |
| Texarkana, TX-AR | +0.2% | 210 | pay | |
| Florence, SC | +0.1% | 510 | pay | |
| Joplin, MO-KS | this area | 390 | ||
| Twin Falls, ID | -0.0% | 190 | pay | |
| Shreveport-Bossier City, LA | -0.1% | 460 | pay |
Questions
How much does it cost to hire a recruiter in Joplin, MO-KS?
About $79,019 a year at the median, or $6,585 a month: $61,240 in pay plus about $17,779 in benefits and payroll taxes. Recruiting, equipment and office space are extra.
What do recruiters earn in Joplin?
Pay here is lower than in three quarters of US areas. The median was $61,240 a year in the May 2025 BLS survey. The 10th percentile was $39,120, the 90th $95,880, and the middle half earned $46,790 to $78,090.
Is Joplin cheaper than the rest of Missouri for recruiters?
Yes, it costs less: a median of $61,240 against $66,990 statewide. The next area up in Missouri is the North Missouri nonmetro area at $62,130, the next down Cape Girardeau at $60,660.
How many recruiters work in Joplin?
BLS counts about 390 in the May 2025 survey. 7 areas in Missouri have more; the closest in size is Jefferson City, with about 530.
Does a recruiter cost more than an office manager in Joplin?
Yes: $4,440 a year more at the median. The medians are $61,240 and $56,800.
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.