Recruiter salary in the Northeastern Wisconsin nonmetro area
The Northeastern Wisconsin nonmetro area is a lower-cost market for recruiters: the median of $63,800 a year1 is 9.6% below the Wisconsin statewide median of $70,540, and 16.0% below the US median of $75,940. Nationally it ranks #329 of 521 areas. BLS counts about 900 people in this job here, 5% of the Wisconsin total.
BLS occupation 13-1071, area Northeastern Wisconsin nonmetropolitan area. Data from the May 2025 release, checked 2026-10-15.
Pay in the Northeastern Wisconsin nonmetro area against Wisconsin and the US
| Range | 10th | Median | 90th | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Northeastern Wisconsin (Nonmetro) | $46,520 | $63,800 | $101,910 | |
| Wisconsin | $47,860 | $70,540 | $105,270 | |
| United States | $47,180 | $75,940 | $128,720 |
The middle half of recruiters in the Northeastern Wisconsin nonmetro area earns $52,150–$81,650. Pay is tightly grouped: the top tenth starts at $101,910, only 2.2 times the bottom tenth, against 2.7 times across the US, so the going rate is easier to read. The mean ($70,190) is 10% 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 $29,500 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 | $46,520 | $3,877 | $22.37 | $60,026 |
| 25th percentile | $52,150 | $4,346 | $25.07 | $67,290 |
| Median | $63,800 | $5,317 | $30.67 | $82,323 |
| 75th percentile | $81,650 | $6,804 | $39.25 | $105,355 |
| 90th percentile | $101,910 | $8,492 | $49.00 | $131,497 |
Pay climbs faster above the median than below it here: the 75th percentile is $17,850 over the median, the 25th only $11,650 under it. An offer at the 75th percentile adds about $23,032 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 median and the 75th percentile in the Northeastern Wisconsin nonmetro area, and the Wisconsin statewide median of $70,540 falls there too.
What a hire really costs in the Northeastern Wisconsin nonmetro area
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 $18,523 to the $63,800 median and brings it to $82,323 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 the Northeastern Wisconsin nonmetro area
Of the 17 roles we track in the Northeastern Wisconsin nonmetro area, this one ranks #3 by median pay, between accountants ($75,590) and executive assistants ($62,810). Project Coordinator is the highest at $95,680.
| Role | Median | vs recruiter | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Project Coordinator | +50.0% | 810 | |
| Accountant | +18.5% | 1,210 | |
| Recruiter | this role | 900 | |
| Executive Assistant | -1.6% | 210 | |
| Office Manager | -2.0% | 1,380 |
Measured against the US median, recruiters rank #14 of the 17 roles we track in the Northeastern Wisconsin nonmetro area (-16.0%), between paralegals (-15.2%) and executive assistants (-18.0%). The typical role here is at -9.7%, so, measured against the US, recruiters cost less in the Northeastern Wisconsin nonmetro area than the area's general pay level would suggest. Recruiters hold 5.6% of the jobs in these 17 roles in the Northeastern Wisconsin nonmetro area, 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. All 3 areas in Wisconsin with more recruiters than the Northeastern Wisconsin nonmetro area also pay more, among them Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI ($74,970) and Madison, WI ($76,660).
| Area | Median | vs the Northeastern Wisconsin nonmetro area | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| La Crosse-Onalaska, WI-MN | +2.5% | 390 | |
| Eau Claire, WI | +1.7% | 390 | |
| Kenosha, WI | +0.4% | 470 | |
| Northwestern Wisconsin (Nonmetro) | +0.4% | 170 | |
| Northeastern Wisconsin (Nonmetro) | this area | 900 | |
| Appleton, WI | -0.2% | 720 | |
| Janesville-Beloit, WI | -0.8% | 500 |
the Northeastern Wisconsin nonmetro area against other US metro areas
By number of jobs, the Northeastern Wisconsin nonmetro area is #140 of 521 US areas for this job. Both its size and its pay sit in the middle half of US areas. Outside Wisconsin, Idaho Falls and Bangor pay just above the Northeastern Wisconsin nonmetro area and Kankakee and Decatur just below. All four are within $100 a year of the median in the Northeastern Wisconsin nonmetro area. Of the three markets with about as many recruiters, all three pay more.
| Metro area | Median | vs the Northeastern Wisconsin nonmetro area | Jobs | Close in |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fort Collins-Loveland, CO | +23.1% | 900 | jobs | |
| Peoria, IL | +16.0% | 890 | jobs | |
| Asheville, NC | +10.0% | 910 | jobs | |
| Bangor, ME | +0.2% | 350 | pay | |
| Idaho Falls, ID | +0.1% | 280 | pay | |
| Northeastern Wisconsin (Nonmetro) | this area | 900 | ||
| Kankakee, IL | -0.1% | 160 | pay | |
| Decatur, IL | -0.2% | 140 | pay |
Questions
How much does it cost to hire a recruiter in Northeastern Wisconsin (Nonmetro)?
About $82,323 a year at the median, or $6,860 a month: $63,800 in pay plus about $18,523 in benefits and payroll taxes. Recruiting, equipment and office space are extra.
What do recruiters earn in the Northeastern Wisconsin nonmetro area?
The median was $63,800 a year in the May 2025 BLS survey. The 10th percentile was $46,520, the 90th $101,910, and the middle half earned $52,150 to $81,650.
Is the Northeastern Wisconsin nonmetro area cheaper than the rest of Wisconsin for recruiters?
Yes, it costs less: a median of $63,800 against $70,540 statewide. The next area up in Wisconsin is the Northwestern Wisconsin nonmetro area at $64,050, the next down Appleton at $63,650.
How many recruiters work in the Northeastern Wisconsin nonmetro area?
BLS counts about 900 in the May 2025 survey. That is 5% of the Wisconsin total of 17,360. 4 areas in Wisconsin have more; the closest in size is Green Bay, with about 900.
Does a recruiter cost more than an executive assistant in the Northeastern Wisconsin nonmetro area?
Yes: $990 a year more at the median. The medians are $63,800 and $62,810.
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.