Recruiter salary in Madison, WI
Recruiters earn more in Madison than anywhere else in Wisconsin. Expect a median of $76,660 a year1, 8.7% above the Wisconsin statewide median of $70,540 and about level with the US median of $75,940. That is in the top quarter of US areas (#82 of 521). BLS counts about 2,810 people in this job here, 16% of the Wisconsin total.
BLS occupation 13-1071, area Madison, WI. Data from the May 2025 release, checked 2026-10-15.
Pay in Madison against Wisconsin and the US
| Range | 10th | Median | 90th | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Madison, WI | $51,320 | $76,660 | $106,440 | |
| Wisconsin | $47,860 | $70,540 | $105,270 | |
| United States | $47,180 | $75,940 | $128,720 |
The middle half of recruiters in Madison earns $61,430–$90,170. Pay is tightly grouped: the top tenth starts at $106,440, only 2.1 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 $28,740 wide, between the figure for Wisconsin ($27,560) and the US figure ($40,770).
What to budget for a recruiter here
| Point in the local range | Per year | Per month | Per hour | Employer cost per year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $51,320 | $4,277 | $24.67 | $66,219 |
| 25th percentile | $61,430 | $5,119 | $29.53 | $79,265 |
| Median | $76,660 | $6,388 | $36.86 | $98,916 |
| 75th percentile | $90,170 | $7,514 | $43.35 | $116,348 |
| 90th percentile | $106,440 | $8,870 | $51.17 | $137,342 |
The step from the 25th percentile to the median is $15,230 a year; from the median to the 75th it is $13,510, or about $17,432 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 25th percentile and the median in Madison, and the Wisconsin statewide median of $70,540 falls there too.
What a hire really costs in Madison
At the $76,660 median, a local hire costs about $98,916 a year: benefits and payroll taxes other than paid leave are 22.5% of total compensation in US private industry2, about $22,256 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 Madison
Of the 17 roles we track in Madison, this one ranks #3 by median pay, between accountants ($81,130) and office managers ($75,290). Project Coordinator is the highest at $98,990.
| Role | Median | vs recruiter | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Project Coordinator | +29.1% | 4,280 | |
| Accountant | +5.8% | 4,440 | |
| Recruiter | this role | 2,810 | |
| Office Manager | -1.8% | 3,380 | |
| Executive Assistant | -7.6% | 950 |
Measured against the US median, recruiters rank #8 of the 17 roles we track in Madison (+0.9%), between bookkeepers (+5.1%) and HR assistants (+0.4%). The typical role here is at +0.4%, so this job follows the area's general pay level. Recruiters hold 6.2% of the jobs in these 17 roles in Madison, 6.2% across Wisconsin and 5.8% nationally. That is close to the national mix.
Other areas in Wisconsin
Across the 17 areas of Wisconsin with data for this job, the median runs from $63,270 in Janesville-Beloit to $76,660 in Madison, a gap of $13,390 a year. The one area in Wisconsin with more recruiters, Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI ($74,970), pays less: a bigger pool at a lower median.
| Area | Median | vs Madison | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Madison, WI | this area | 2,810 | |
| Western Wisconsin (Nonmetro) | -0.3% | 580 | |
| Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI | -2.2% | 5,050 | |
| Sheboygan, WI | -4.2% | 290 | |
| Fond du Lac, WI | -5.3% | 270 | |
| Green Bay, WI | -5.4% | 900 | |
| Oshkosh-Neenah, WI | -10.1% | 530 |
Madison against other US metro areas
By number of jobs, Madison is #53 of 521 US areas for this job. It is one of the larger markets for this job and one of the better-paying ones. Outside Wisconsin, Topeka and Philadelphia-Camden pay just above Madison and Rochester and Riverside-San Bernardino just below. All four are within $90 a year of the median in Madison. Of the three markets with about as many recruiters, one pays more.
| Metro area | Median | vs Madison | Jobs | Close in |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Albany-Schenectady, NY | +0.4% | 2,970 | jobs | |
| Philadelphia-Camden, PA-NJ | +0.1% | 16,000 | pay | |
| Topeka, KS | +0.0% | 720 | pay | |
| Madison, WI | this area | 2,810 | ||
| Rochester, NY | -0.1% | 2,460 | pay | |
| Riverside-San Bernardino, CA | -0.1% | 7,210 | pay | |
| Buffalo-Cheektowaga, NY | -2.8% | 2,730 | jobs | |
| Knoxville, TN | -12.1% | 2,980 | jobs |
Questions
How much does it cost to hire a recruiter in Madison, WI?
About $98,916 a year at the median, or $8,243 a month: $76,660 in pay plus about $22,256 in benefits and payroll taxes. Recruiting, equipment and office space are extra.
What is the pay range for recruiters in Madison?
Pay here is higher than in three quarters of US areas. The median was $76,660 a year in the May 2025 BLS survey. The 10th percentile was $51,320, the 90th $106,440, and the middle half earned $61,430 to $90,170.
Is Madison the most expensive area in Wisconsin for recruiters?
Yes. Its median of $76,660 is the highest of 17 areas in Wisconsin. The Western Wisconsin nonmetro area comes next at $76,400.
How many recruiters work in Madison?
BLS counts about 2,810 in the May 2025 survey. That is 16% of the Wisconsin total of 17,360. Only Milwaukee-Waukesha has more in Wisconsin.
Does a recruiter cost more than an office manager in Madison?
Yes: $1,370 a year more at the median. The medians are $76,660 and $75,290.
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.