Recruiter salary in the North Arkansas nonmetro area
The North Arkansas nonmetro area is a lower-cost market for recruiters: the median of $52,920 a year1 is 3.8% below the Arkansas statewide median of $55,010, and 30.3% below the US median of $75,940. Only 5 of 521 US areas pay less for this job. About 370 recruiters work here, 6% of the Arkansas total.
BLS occupation 13-1071, area North Arkansas nonmetropolitan area. Data from the May 2025 release, checked 2026-10-15.
Pay in the North Arkansas nonmetro area against Arkansas and the US
| Range | 10th | Median | 90th | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| North Arkansas (Nonmetro) | $35,730 | $52,920 | $83,930 | |
| Arkansas | $32,030 | $55,010 | $99,990 | |
| United States | $47,180 | $75,940 | $128,720 |
The middle half of recruiters in the North Arkansas nonmetro area earns $43,120–$69,080. Pay is tightly grouped: the top tenth starts at $83,930, only 2.3 times the bottom tenth, against 2.7 times across the US, so the going rate is easier to read. The mean ($57,340) is 8% over the median, so a group of high earners pulls the average up; price a typical hire from the median. From the 25th to the 75th percentile, the local range is only $25,960 wide, against $30,870 across Arkansas and $40,770 nationally: employers in the North Arkansas nonmetro area 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 | $35,730 | $2,978 | $17.18 | $46,103 |
| 25th percentile | $43,120 | $3,593 | $20.73 | $55,639 |
| Median | $52,920 | $4,410 | $25.44 | $68,284 |
| 75th percentile | $69,080 | $5,757 | $33.21 | $89,135 |
| 90th percentile | $83,930 | $6,994 | $40.35 | $108,297 |
Pay climbs faster above the median than below it here: the 75th percentile is $16,160 over the median, the 25th only $9,800 under it. An offer at the 75th percentile adds about $20,852 a year in employer cost. 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 75th and 90th percentiles in the North Arkansas nonmetro area, and the Arkansas statewide median of $55,010 falls between the median and the 75th percentile. An offer at the national rate would beat what three quarters of local recruiters earn.
What a hire really costs in the North Arkansas nonmetro area
At the $52,920 median, a local hire costs about $68,284 a year: benefits and payroll taxes other than paid leave are 22.5% of total compensation in US private industry2, about $15,364 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 the North Arkansas nonmetro area
Of the 17 roles we track in the North Arkansas nonmetro area, this one ranks #3 by median pay, between accountants ($60,980) and office managers ($50,800). Project Coordinator is the highest at $73,220.
| Role | Median | vs recruiter | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Project Coordinator | +38.4% | 190 | |
| Accountant | +15.2% | 420 | |
| Recruiter | this role | 370 | |
| Office Manager | -4.0% | 1,200 | |
| Marketing Specialist | -5.3% | 260 |
Measured against the US median, recruiters rank #14 of the 17 roles we track in the North Arkansas nonmetro area (-30.3%), between project coordinators (-28.4%) and sales development representatives (-32.9%). The typical role here is at -24.9%, so, measured against the US, recruiters cost less in the North Arkansas nonmetro area than the area's general pay level would suggest. Recruiters hold 4.5% of the jobs in these 17 roles in the North Arkansas nonmetro area, 5.8% across Arkansas and 5.8% nationally. The job is a smaller part of the local workforce in these roles than it is nationally.
Other areas in Arkansas
Across the 9 areas of Arkansas with data for this job, the median runs from $51,260 in Hot Springs to $58,830 in Fayetteville-Springdale, a gap of $7,570 a year. All 3 areas in Arkansas with more recruiters than the North Arkansas nonmetro area also pay more, among them Little Rock-North Little Rock, AR ($57,640) and Fayetteville-Springdale, AR ($58,830).
| Area | Median | vs the North Arkansas nonmetro area | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fort Smith, AR-OK | +2.5% | 400 | |
| Jonesboro, AR | +1.6% | 200 | |
| West Arkansas (Nonmetro) | +1.5% | 250 | |
| East Arkansas (Nonmetro) | +0.9% | 250 | |
| North Arkansas (Nonmetro) | this area | 370 | |
| South Arkansas (Nonmetro) | -0.6% | 370 | |
| Hot Springs, AR | -3.1% | 110 |
the North Arkansas nonmetro area against other US metro areas
By number of jobs, the North Arkansas nonmetro area is #316 of 521 US areas for this job. It is a mid-sized market, and its pay is in the bottom quarter of US areas. Outside Arkansas, McAllen-Edinburg and Monroe pay just above the North Arkansas nonmetro area and Laredo and Eagle Pass just below. Of the three markets with about as many recruiters, all three pay more.
| Metro area | Median | vs the North Arkansas nonmetro area | Jobs | Close in |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dubuque, IA | +21.7% | 380 | jobs | |
| Jackson, TN | +19.9% | 370 | jobs | |
| Daphne-Fairhope, AL | +18.2% | 380 | jobs | |
| Monroe, LA | +3.2% | 200 | pay | |
| McAllen-Edinburg, TX | +1.3% | 970 | pay | |
| North Arkansas (Nonmetro) | this area | 370 | ||
| Laredo, TX | -2.2% | 430 | pay | |
| Eagle Pass, TX | -11.9% | 50 | pay |
Questions
How much does it cost to hire a recruiter in North Arkansas (Nonmetro)?
About $68,284 a year at the median, or $5,690 a month: $52,920 in pay plus about $15,364 in benefits and payroll taxes. Recruiting, equipment and office space are extra.
What do recruiters earn in the North Arkansas nonmetro area?
Pay here is lower than in three quarters of US areas. The median was $52,920 a year in the May 2025 BLS survey. The 10th percentile was $35,730, the 90th $83,930, and the middle half earned $43,120 to $69,080.
Is the North Arkansas nonmetro area cheaper than the rest of Arkansas for recruiters?
Yes, it costs less: a median of $52,920 against $55,010 statewide. The next area up in Arkansas is the East Arkansas nonmetro area at $53,370, the next down the South Arkansas nonmetro area at $52,620.
How many recruiters work in the North Arkansas nonmetro area?
BLS counts about 370 in the May 2025 survey. That is 6% of the Arkansas total of 6,230. 3 areas in Arkansas have more; the closest in size is Fort Smith, with about 400.
Does a recruiter cost more than an office manager in the North Arkansas nonmetro area?
Yes: $2,120 a year more at the median. The medians are $52,920 and $50,800.
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.