Cost of hiring a recruiter in Los Angeles-Long Beach, CA
Los Angeles-Long Beach pays recruiters less than California as a whole but still more than the country. The median is $80,220 a year[1]: 3.9% below the California statewide median of $83,500 and 5.6% above the US median of $75,940. Nationally that is #34 of 521 areas, in the top tenth. With about 36,850 recruiters, 35% of the California total, no area in California employs more.
BLS occupation 13-1071, area Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA. Data from the May 2025 release, checked 2026-10-15.
Pay in Los Angeles-Long Beach against California and the US
| Range | 10th | Median | 90th | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Los Angeles-Long Beach, CA | $51,730 | $80,220 | $134,130 | |
| California | $52,770 | $83,500 | $151,410 | |
| United States | $47,180 | $75,940 | $128,720 |
The middle half of recruiters in Los Angeles-Long Beach earns $63,410–$105,560. The top tenth earns $134,130 or more, 2.6 times the bottom tenth, close to the US pattern of 2.7 times. The mean ($89,780) is 12% over the median, so a group of high earners pulls the average up; price a typical hire from the median.
What to budget for a recruiter here
| Point in the local range | Per year | Per month | Per hour | Employer cost per year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $51,730 | $4,311 | $24.87 | $73,900 |
| 25th percentile | $63,410 | $5,284 | $30.49 | $90,586 |
| Median | $80,220 | $6,685 | $38.57 | $114,600 |
| 75th percentile | $105,560 | $8,797 | $50.75 | $150,800 |
| 90th percentile | $134,130 | $11,178 | $64.49 | $191,614 |
The step from the 25th percentile to the median is $16,810 a year; from the median to the 75th it is $25,340, or about $36,200 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.
What a hire really costs in Los Angeles-Long Beach
At the $80,220 median, a local hire costs about $114,600 a year: benefits and payroll taxes are 30.0% of total compensation in US private industry[2], about $34,380 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 fee[3]; Deel's contractor plan is the default payroll tool[4].
Other roles in Los Angeles-Long Beach
Of the 17 roles we track in Los Angeles-Long Beach, this one ranks #5 by median pay. Project Coordinator is the highest at $108,310 and Virtual Receptionist the lowest at $43,280.
| Role | Median | vs recruiter | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Project Coordinator | +35.0% | 38,540 | |
| Accountant | +17.6% | 70,640 | |
| Marketing Specialist | +3.5% | 39,390 | |
| Executive Assistant | +3.3% | 20,850 | |
| Recruiter | this role | 36,850 | |
| Sales Development Representative | -1.0% | 50,470 | |
| Office Manager | -3.4% | 54,340 | |
| Paralegal | -3.4% | 22,240 | |
| Payroll Specialist | -18.9% | 6,600 | |
| Bookkeeper | -27.0% | 53,910 | |
| HR Assistant | -28.2% | 3,890 | |
| Administrative Assistant | -33.2% | 58,800 | |
| Medical Administrative Assistant | -35.9% | 40,380 | |
| Customer Support Specialist | -39.1% | 66,590 | |
| Data Entry Specialist | -41.4% | 5,900 | |
| E-commerce Order Specialist | -41.9% | 5,740 | |
| Virtual Receptionist | -46.0% | 35,000 |
Other areas in California
Across the 28 areas of California with data for this job, the median runs from $70,830 in Redding to $112,140 in San Jose-Sunnyvale, a gap of $41,310 a year.
| Area | Median | vs Los Angeles-Long Beach | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sacramento-Roseville, CA | +0.9% | 5,360 | |
| Oxnard-Thousand Oaks, CA | +0.4% | 1,710 | |
| Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA | +0.1% | 870 | |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach, CA | this area | 36,850 | |
| Salinas, CA | -0.1% | 630 | |
| San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles, CA | -2.7% | 610 | |
| Modesto, CA | -3.9% | 730 |
Questions
How much does it cost to hire a recruiter in Los Angeles-Long Beach, CA?
About $114,600 a year at the median, or $9,550 a month: $80,220 in pay plus benefits and payroll taxes at the 30% share of total compensation in US private industry (June 2026). Recruiting, equipment and office space are extra.
What do recruiters earn in Los Angeles-Long Beach?
The median was $80,220 a year in the May 2025 BLS survey. The 10th percentile was $51,730, the 90th $134,130, and the middle half earned $63,410 to $105,560.
Is Los Angeles-Long Beach cheaper than the rest of California for recruiters?
Yes, it costs less: a median of $80,220 against $83,500 statewide. San Jose-Sunnyvale pays the most ($112,140) and Redding the least ($70,830).
How many recruiters work in Los Angeles-Long Beach?
BLS counts about 36,850 in the May 2025 survey. That is 35% of the California total of 104,000.
Does a recruiter cost more than a sales development representative in Los Angeles-Long Beach?
Yes: $770 a year more at the median. The medians are $80,220 and $79,450.
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.