Recruiter salary in Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI
For this job Milwaukee-Waukesha sits between the state and national figures, with a median of $74,970 a year1. That is 6.3% above the Wisconsin statewide median of $70,540, and 1.3% below the US median of $75,940. That is in the top quarter of US areas (#116 of 521). With about 5,050 recruiters, 29% of the Wisconsin total, no area in Wisconsin employs more.
BLS occupation 13-1071, area Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI. Data from the May 2025 release, checked 2026-10-15.
Pay in Milwaukee-Waukesha against Wisconsin and the US
| Range | 10th | Median | 90th | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI | $48,630 | $74,970 | $109,840 | |
| Wisconsin | $47,860 | $70,540 | $105,270 | |
| United States | $47,180 | $75,940 | $128,720 |
The middle half of recruiters in Milwaukee-Waukesha earns $59,230–$93,280. Pay is tightly grouped: the top tenth starts at $109,840, only 2.3 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 $34,050 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 | $48,630 | $4,052 | $23.38 | $62,748 |
| 25th percentile | $59,230 | $4,936 | $28.48 | $76,426 |
| Median | $74,970 | $6,248 | $36.04 | $96,735 |
| 75th percentile | $93,280 | $7,773 | $44.85 | $120,361 |
| 90th percentile | $109,840 | $9,153 | $52.81 | $141,729 |
An offer at the 75th percentile instead of the median adds $18,310 a year in pay and about $23,626 in employer cost. Going down to the 25th percentile saves $15,740 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 Milwaukee-Waukesha, and the Wisconsin statewide median of $70,540 falls between the 25th percentile and the median.
What a hire really costs in Milwaukee-Waukesha
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 $21,765 to the $74,970 median and brings it to $96,735 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 Milwaukee-Waukesha
Of the 17 roles we track in Milwaukee-Waukesha, this one ranks #3 by median pay, between accountants ($80,290) and executive assistants ($74,240). Project Coordinator is the highest at $100,350.
| Role | Median | vs recruiter | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Project Coordinator | +33.9% | 6,790 | |
| Accountant | +7.1% | 7,960 | |
| Recruiter | this role | 5,050 | |
| Executive Assistant | -1.0% | 1,420 | |
| Office Manager | -1.3% | 6,310 |
Measured against the US median, recruiters rank #9 of the 17 roles we track in Milwaukee-Waukesha (-1.3%), between bookkeepers (+0.5%) and project coordinators (-1.9%). The typical role here is at -1.3%, so this job follows the area's general pay level. Recruiters hold 6.2% of the jobs in these 17 roles in Milwaukee-Waukesha, 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. No other area in Wisconsin has as many recruiters, and 14 of the other 16 pay less.
| Area | Median | vs Milwaukee-Waukesha | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Madison, WI | +2.3% | 2,810 | |
| Western Wisconsin (Nonmetro) | +1.9% | 580 | |
| Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI | this area | 5,050 | |
| Sheboygan, WI | -2.1% | 290 | |
| Fond du Lac, WI | -3.1% | 270 | |
| Green Bay, WI | -3.2% | 900 | |
| Oshkosh-Neenah, WI | -8.0% | 530 |
Milwaukee-Waukesha against other US metro areas
By number of jobs, Milwaukee-Waukesha is #39 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, Rapid City and Kansas City pay just above Milwaukee-Waukesha and Vineland and Cheyenne just below. All four are within $220 a year of the median in Milwaukee-Waukesha. Of the three markets with about as many recruiters, one pays more.
| Metro area | Median | vs Milwaukee-Waukesha | Jobs | Close in |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sacramento-Roseville, CA | +8.0% | 5,360 | jobs | |
| Kansas City, MO-KS | +0.3% | 6,950 | pay | |
| Rapid City, SD | +0.0% | 230 | pay | |
| Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI | this area | 5,050 | ||
| Vineland, NJ | -0.1% | 200 | pay | |
| Cheyenne, WY | -0.2% | 250 | pay | |
| Salt Lake City-Murray, UT | -0.7% | 5,350 | jobs | |
| Jacksonville, FL | -4.2% | 5,060 | jobs |
Questions
How much does it cost to hire a recruiter in Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI?
About $96,735 a year at the median, or $8,061 a month: $74,970 in pay plus about $21,765 in benefits and payroll taxes. Recruiting, equipment and office space are extra.
What do recruiters earn in Milwaukee-Waukesha?
Pay here is higher than in three quarters of US areas. The median was $74,970 a year in the May 2025 BLS survey. The 10th percentile was $48,630, the 90th $109,840, and the middle half earned $59,230 to $93,280.
Is Milwaukee-Waukesha cheaper than the rest of Wisconsin for recruiters?
No, it costs more: a median of $74,970 against $70,540 statewide. The next area up in Wisconsin is the Western Wisconsin nonmetro area at $76,400, the next down Sheboygan at $73,410.
How many recruiters work in Milwaukee-Waukesha?
BLS counts about 5,050 in the May 2025 survey. That is 29% of the Wisconsin total of 17,360. No other area in Wisconsin has as many.
Does a recruiter cost more than an executive assistant in Milwaukee-Waukesha?
Yes: $730 a year more at the median. The medians are $74,970 and $74,240.
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.