Recruiter salary in Lansing-East Lansing, MI
Lansing-East Lansing pays recruiters more than Michigan as a whole but less than the country. The median is $72,490 a year1: 4.3% above the Michigan statewide median of $69,520 and 4.5% below the US median of $75,940. Nationally it ranks #158 of 521 areas. BLS counts about 1,520 people in this job here, 6% of the Michigan total.
BLS occupation 13-1071, area Lansing-East Lansing, MI. Data from the May 2025 release, checked 2026-10-15.
Pay in Lansing-East Lansing against Michigan and the US
| Range | 10th | Median | 90th | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lansing-East Lansing, MI | $47,960 | $72,490 | $103,930 | |
| Michigan | $46,580 | $69,520 | $110,710 | |
| United States | $47,180 | $75,940 | $128,720 |
The middle half of recruiters in Lansing-East Lansing earns $59,990–$88,320. Pay is tightly grouped: the top tenth starts at $103,930, 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 $28,330 wide, against $33,710 across Michigan and $40,770 nationally: employers in Lansing-East Lansing 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 | $47,960 | $3,997 | $23.06 | $61,884 |
| 25th percentile | $59,990 | $4,999 | $28.84 | $77,406 |
| Median | $72,490 | $6,041 | $34.85 | $93,535 |
| 75th percentile | $88,320 | $7,360 | $42.46 | $113,961 |
| 90th percentile | $103,930 | $8,661 | $49.97 | $134,103 |
The step from the 25th percentile to the median is $12,500 a year; from the median to the 75th it is $15,830, or about $20,426 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 Lansing-East Lansing, and the Michigan statewide median of $69,520 falls between the 25th percentile and the median.
What a hire really costs in Lansing-East Lansing
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 $21,045 to the $72,490 median and brings it to $93,535 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 Lansing-East Lansing
Of the 17 roles we track in Lansing-East Lansing, this one ranks #3 by median pay, between accountants ($79,210) and office managers ($69,520). Project Coordinator is the highest at $97,050.
| Role | Median | vs recruiter | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Project Coordinator | +33.9% | 1,350 | |
| Accountant | +9.3% | 2,270 | |
| Recruiter | this role | 1,520 | |
| Office Manager | -4.1% | 1,960 | |
| Executive Assistant | -6.8% | 810 |
Measured against the US median, recruiters rank #12 of the 17 roles we track in Lansing-East Lansing (-4.5%), between paralegals (-4.2%) and project coordinators (-5.2%). The typical role here is at -2.3%, so this job follows the area's general pay level. Recruiters hold 7.1% of the jobs in these 17 roles in Lansing-East Lansing, 6.3% across Michigan and 5.8% nationally. The job is a bigger part of the local workforce in these roles than it is nationally.
Other areas in Michigan
Across the 19 areas of Michigan with data for this job, the median runs from $60,280 in the Northern Michigan nonmetro area to $77,770 in Ann Arbor, a gap of $17,490 a year. Of the 2 areas in Michigan with more recruiters than Lansing-East Lansing, 1 pays less: Grand Rapids-Wyoming, MI ($65,760).
| Area | Median | vs Lansing-East Lansing | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ann Arbor, MI | +7.3% | 1,110 | |
| Detroit-Warren, MI | +4.6% | 11,480 | |
| Midland, MI | +0.2% | 240 | |
| Lansing-East Lansing, MI | this area | 1,520 | |
| Monroe, MI | -0.7% | 210 | |
| Jackson, MI | -4.5% | 270 | |
| Muskegon-Norton Shores, MI | -7.0% | 230 |
Lansing-East Lansing against other US metro areas
By number of jobs, Lansing-East Lansing is #84 of 521 US areas for this job. It is one of the larger markets for this job, with pay near the middle of the US range. Outside Michigan, Houston-Pasadena and Green Bay pay just above Lansing-East Lansing and Utica-Rome and Mankato just below. All four are within $80 a year of the median in Lansing-East Lansing. Of the three markets with about as many recruiters, none pays as much.
| Metro area | Median | vs Lansing-East Lansing | Jobs | Close in |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Green Bay, WI | +0.1% | 900 | pay | |
| Houston-Pasadena, TX | +0.1% | 18,320 | pay | |
| Lansing-East Lansing, MI | this area | 1,520 | ||
| Utica-Rome, NY | -0.1% | 540 | pay | |
| Mankato, MN | -0.1% | 260 | pay | |
| Toledo, OH | -7.3% | 1,500 | jobs | |
| Palm Bay-Melbourne, FL | -13.5% | 1,500 | jobs | |
| Chattanooga, TN-GA | -14.9% | 1,550 | jobs |
Questions
How much does it cost to hire a recruiter in Lansing-East Lansing, MI?
About $93,535 a year at the median, or $7,795 a month: $72,490 in pay plus about $21,045 in benefits and payroll taxes. Recruiting, equipment and office space are extra.
What is the pay range for recruiters in Lansing-East Lansing?
The median was $72,490 a year in the May 2025 BLS survey. The 10th percentile was $47,960, the 90th $103,930, and the middle half earned $59,990 to $88,320.
Is Lansing-East Lansing cheaper than the rest of Michigan for recruiters?
No, it costs more: a median of $72,490 against $69,520 statewide. The next area up in Michigan is Midland at $72,630, the next down Monroe at $71,990.
How many recruiters work in Lansing-East Lansing?
BLS counts about 1,520 in the May 2025 survey. That is 6% of the Michigan total of 25,520. Only Detroit-Warren and Grand Rapids-Wyoming have more in Michigan.
Does a recruiter cost more than an office manager in Lansing-East Lansing?
Yes: $2,970 a year more at the median. The medians are $72,490 and $69,520.
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.