Recruiter salary and cost of hiring in Kentucky
The median recruiter in Kentucky earned $69,010 a year in May 2025[1], 9.1% below the US median of $75,940. That puts Kentucky at #32 of 51 states for this job.
BLS occupation 13-1071. Data from the May 2025 release, checked 2026-10-15.
Salary range
| Range | 10th | Median | 90th | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kentucky | $43,690 | $69,010 | $107,940 | |
| United States | $47,180 | $75,940 | $128,720 |
The middle half of recruiters in Kentucky earns $52,680–$84,990; the top tenth earns $107,940 or more, 2.5 times the bottom tenth.
What a hire really costs
Benefits and payroll taxes are 30.0% of total compensation in US private industry[2]. At the Kentucky median that makes about $98,586 a year before recruiting, equipment and office space. 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 fee[3]; Deel's contractor plan is the default payroll tool[4].
Pay by metro area in Kentucky
| Area | Median | 75th percentile | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elizabethtown, KY | $100,420 | 1,060 | |
| Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN | $87,850 | 3,680 | |
| Lexington-Fayette, KY | $83,310 | 1,320 | |
| Paducah, KY-IL | $83,590 | 210 | |
| Central Kentucky nonmetropolitan area | $78,010 | 880 | |
| Owensboro, KY | $79,810 | 170 | |
| Bowling Green, KY | $81,400 | 360 | |
| West Kentucky nonmetropolitan area | $77,870 | 490 | |
| South Central Kentucky nonmetropolitan area | $78,560 | 700 | |
| East Kentucky nonmetropolitan area | $71,830 | 310 |
Elizabethtown, KY pays the most ($78,850) and East Kentucky nonmetropolitan area the least ($54,180): $24,670 a year apart for the same job.
What a recruiter does
A recruiter finds and attracts candidates, screens them, manages the interview process and closes offers for the hiring managers.
Neighbours in the ranking
| State | Median | vs Kentucky |
|---|---|---|
| Ohio | +1.7% | |
| Michigan | +0.7% | |
| Kentucky | +0.0% | |
| Texas | -0.1% | |
| New Mexico | -1.4% |
Questions
How much does a recruiter earn in Kentucky?
The median was $69,010 a year in the May 2025 BLS survey; the middle half earned $52,680 to $84,990.
What does it cost to employ a recruiter in Kentucky?
About $98,586 a year at the median wage once benefits are added, using the 30% benefits share of US private industry (June 2026).
Where in Kentucky do recruiters earn the most?
Elizabethtown, KY, with a median of $78,850 a year.
Sources
- BLS OEWS May 2025, 13-1071: https://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes131071.htm
- BLS Employer Costs for Employee Compensation, private industry, June 2026: https://www.bls.gov/news.release/ecec.nr0.htm
- Silkstaff pricing: https://silkstaff.com/#pricing
- Deel pricing, contractor management: https://www.deel.com/pricing/
How these pages are built: methodology and data sources. Last updated 2026-11-05.