Recruiter salary in Modesto, CA
Modesto pays recruiters less than California as a whole but still more than the country. The median is $77,070 a year1: 7.7% below the California statewide median of $83,500 and 1.5% above the US median of $75,940. That is in the top quarter of US areas (#73 of 521). BLS counts about 730 people in this job here.
BLS occupation 13-1071, area Modesto, CA. Data from the May 2025 release, checked 2026-10-15.
Pay in Modesto against California and the US
| Range | 10th | Median | 90th | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Modesto, CA | $48,890 | $77,070 | $120,330 | |
| California | $52,770 | $83,500 | $151,410 | |
| United States | $47,180 | $75,940 | $128,720 |
The middle half of recruiters in Modesto earns $60,450–$97,570. The top tenth earns $120,330 or more, 2.5 times the bottom tenth, close to the US pattern of 2.7 times. From the 25th to the 75th percentile, the local range is only $37,120 wide, against $51,370 across California and $40,770 nationally: employers in Modesto 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 | $48,890 | $4,074 | $23.50 | $63,084 |
| 25th percentile | $60,450 | $5,038 | $29.06 | $78,000 |
| Median | $77,070 | $6,422 | $37.05 | $99,445 |
| 75th percentile | $97,570 | $8,131 | $46.91 | $125,897 |
| 90th percentile | $120,330 | $10,028 | $57.85 | $155,265 |
The step from the 25th percentile to the median is $16,620 a year; from the median to the 75th it is $20,500, or about $26,452 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 Modesto, and the California statewide median of $83,500 falls between the median and the 75th percentile.
What a hire really costs in Modesto
At the $77,070 median, a local hire costs about $99,445 a year: benefits and payroll taxes other than paid leave are 22.5% of total compensation in US private industry2, about $22,375 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 Modesto
Of the 17 roles we track in Modesto, this one ranks #4 by median pay, between executive assistants ($77,900) and office managers ($74,140). Project Coordinator is the highest at $102,490.
| Role | Median | vs recruiter | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Accountant | +8.4% | 1,200 | |
| Executive Assistant | +1.1% | 520 | |
| Recruiter | this role | 730 | |
| Office Manager | -3.8% | 1,490 | |
| Marketing Specialist | -7.1% | 580 |
Measured against the US median, recruiters rank #11 of the 17 roles we track in Modesto (+1.5%), between executive assistants (+1.7%) and project coordinators (+0.2%). The typical role here is at +5.5%, so, measured against the US, recruiters cost less in Modesto than the area's general pay level would suggest. Recruiters hold 5.0% of the jobs in these 17 roles in Modesto, 6.2% across California and 5.8% nationally. That is close to the national mix.
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. Of the 12 areas in California with more recruiters than Modesto, 4 pay less, the largest of them Riverside-San Bernardino, CA ($76,570), Fresno, CA ($74,170) and Bakersfield-Delano, CA ($76,700).
| Area | Median | vs Modesto | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Los Angeles-Long Beach, CA | +4.1% | 36,850 | |
| Salinas, CA | +3.9% | 630 | |
| San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles, CA | +1.2% | 610 | |
| Modesto, CA | this area | 730 | |
| Merced, CA | -0.3% | 280 | |
| Bakersfield-Delano, CA | -0.5% | 1,240 | |
| Riverside-San Bernardino, CA | -0.6% | 7,210 |
Modesto against other US metro areas
By number of jobs, Modesto is #159 of 521 US areas for this job. It is a mid-sized market, and its pay is in the top quarter of US areas. Outside California, Syracuse and Worcester pay just above Modesto and Albany-Schenectady and Providence-Warwick just below. All four are within $220 a year of the median in Modesto. Of the three markets with about as many recruiters, none pays as much.
| Metro area | Median | vs Modesto | Jobs | Close in |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Worcester, MA | +0.3% | 2,050 | pay | |
| Syracuse, NY | +0.2% | 1,280 | pay | |
| Modesto, CA | this area | 730 | ||
| Albany-Schenectady, NY | -0.1% | 2,970 | pay | |
| Providence-Warwick, RI-MA | -0.2% | 4,180 | pay | |
| Eugene-Springfield, OR | -10.0% | 730 | jobs | |
| Naples-Marco Island, FL | -11.2% | 730 | jobs | |
| Gainesville, FL | -25.4% | 740 | jobs |
Questions
How much does it cost to hire a recruiter in Modesto, CA?
About $99,445 a year at the median, or $8,287 a month: $77,070 in pay plus about $22,375 in benefits and payroll taxes. Recruiting, equipment and office space are extra.
What is the pay range for recruiters in Modesto?
Pay here is higher than in three quarters of US areas. The median was $77,070 a year in the May 2025 BLS survey. The 10th percentile was $48,890, the 90th $120,330, and the middle half earned $60,450 to $97,570.
Is Modesto cheaper than the rest of California for recruiters?
Yes, it costs less: a median of $77,070 against $83,500 statewide. The next area up in California is San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles at $78,020, the next down Merced at $76,820.
How many recruiters work in Modesto?
BLS counts about 730 in the May 2025 survey. 12 areas in California have more; the closest in size is Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, with about 870.
Does a recruiter cost more than an office manager in Modesto?
Yes: $2,930 a year more at the median. The medians are $77,070 and $74,140.
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.