Recruiter salary in Memphis, TN-MS
For this job Memphis sits between the state and national figures, with a median of $69,150 a year1. That is 2.6% above the Tennessee statewide median of $67,370, and 8.9% below the US median of $75,940. Nationally it ranks #208 of 521 areas. About 3,650 recruiters work here.
BLS occupation 13-1071, area Memphis, TN-MS-AR. Data from the May 2025 release, checked 2026-10-15.
Pay in Memphis against Tennessee and the US
| Range | 10th | Median | 90th | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Memphis, TN-MS | $45,640 | $69,150 | $109,780 | |
| Tennessee | $45,630 | $67,370 | $109,990 | |
| United States | $47,180 | $75,940 | $128,720 |
The middle half of recruiters in Memphis earns $55,470–$86,250. Pay is tightly grouped: the top tenth starts at $109,780, only 2.4 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 $30,780 wide, against $31,310 across Tennessee and $40,770 nationally: employers in Memphis 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 | $45,640 | $3,803 | $21.94 | $58,890 |
| 25th percentile | $55,470 | $4,622 | $26.67 | $71,574 |
| Median | $69,150 | $5,762 | $33.25 | $89,226 |
| 75th percentile | $86,250 | $7,188 | $41.47 | $111,290 |
| 90th percentile | $109,780 | $9,148 | $52.78 | $141,652 |
An offer at the 75th percentile instead of the median adds $17,100 a year in pay and about $22,065 in employer cost. Going down to the 25th percentile saves $13,680 in pay. 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 Memphis, and the Tennessee statewide median of $67,370 falls between the 25th percentile and the median.
What a hire really costs in Memphis
At the $69,150 median, a local hire costs about $89,226 a year: benefits and payroll taxes other than paid leave are 22.5% of total compensation in US private industry2, about $20,076 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 Memphis
Of the 17 roles we track in Memphis, this one ranks #5 by median pay, between office managers ($71,310) and executive assistants ($63,610). Project Coordinator is the highest at $85,130.
| Role | Median | vs recruiter | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Marketing Specialist | +3.5% | 1,880 | |
| Office Manager | +3.1% | 8,710 | |
| Recruiter | this role | 3,650 | |
| Executive Assistant | -8.0% | 870 | |
| Sales Development Representative | -14.5% | 3,330 |
Measured against the US median, recruiters rank #9 of the 17 roles we track in Memphis (-8.9%), between payroll specialists (-8.3%) and marketing specialists (-9.1%). The typical role here is at -8.9%, so this job follows the area's general pay level. Recruiters hold 6.1% of the jobs in these 17 roles in Memphis, 5.9% across Tennessee and 5.8% nationally. That is close to the national mix.
Other areas in Tennessee
Across the 14 areas of Tennessee with data for this job, the median runs from $59,820 in Morristown to $70,460 in the South Central Tennessee nonmetro area, a gap of $10,640 a year. The one area in Tennessee with more recruiters, Nashville-Murfreesboro, TN ($67,380), pays less: a bigger pool at a lower median.
| Area | Median | vs Memphis | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| South Central Tennessee (Nonmetro) | +1.9% | 480 | |
| Memphis, TN-MS | this area | 3,650 | |
| Nashville-Murfreesboro, TN | -2.6% | 8,210 | |
| Knoxville, TN | -2.6% | 2,980 | |
| Clarksville, TN-KY | -5.0% | 540 | |
| Kingsport-Bristol, TN-VA | -6.6% | 530 | |
| West Tennessee (Nonmetro) | -7.3% | 440 |
Memphis against other US metro areas
By number of jobs, Memphis is #47 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 Tennessee, Jackson and Eugene-Springfield pay just above Memphis and Dayton-Kettering and Oshkosh-Neenah just below. All four are within $240 a year of the median in Memphis. Of the three markets with about as many recruiters, two pay more.
| Metro area | Median | vs Memphis | Jobs | Close in |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hartford-West Hartford, CT | +19.9% | 3,460 | jobs | |
| Louisville, KY-IN | +3.9% | 3,680 | jobs | |
| Eugene-Springfield, OR | +0.3% | 730 | pay | |
| Jackson, MI | +0.1% | 270 | pay | |
| Memphis, TN-MS | this area | 3,650 | ||
| Dayton-Kettering, OH | -0.2% | 2,160 | pay | |
| Oshkosh-Neenah, WI | -0.3% | 530 | pay | |
| Grand Rapids-Wyoming, MI | -4.9% | 3,490 | jobs |
Questions
How much does it cost to hire a recruiter in Memphis, TN-MS?
About $89,226 a year at the median, or $7,435 a month: $69,150 in pay plus about $20,076 in benefits and payroll taxes. Recruiting, equipment and office space are extra.
What is the pay range for recruiters in Memphis?
The median was $69,150 a year in the May 2025 BLS survey. The 10th percentile was $45,640, the 90th $109,780, and the middle half earned $55,470 to $86,250.
Is Memphis cheaper than the rest of Tennessee for recruiters?
No, it costs more: a median of $69,150 against $67,370 statewide. The next area up in Tennessee is the South Central Tennessee nonmetro area at $70,460, the next down Nashville-Murfreesboro at $67,380.
How many recruiters work in Memphis?
BLS counts about 3,650 in the May 2025 survey. Only Nashville-Murfreesboro has more in Tennessee.
Does a recruiter cost more than an executive assistant in Memphis?
Yes: $5,540 a year more at the median. The medians are $69,150 and $63,610.
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.