Cost of hiring a recruiter in Philadelphia-Camden, PA-NJ
No other area in Pennsylvania pays recruiters more than Philadelphia-Camden: the median is $76,700 a year[1]. That is 8.9% above the Pennsylvania statewide median of $70,450, and 1.0% above the US median of $75,940. That is in the top quarter of US areas (#80 of 521). With about 16,000 recruiters, no area in Pennsylvania employs more.
BLS occupation 13-1071, area Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD. Data from the May 2025 release, checked 2026-10-15.
Pay in Philadelphia-Camden against Pennsylvania and the US
| Range | 10th | Median | 90th | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Philadelphia-Camden, PA-NJ | $49,080 | $76,700 | $126,900 | |
| Pennsylvania | $46,610 | $70,450 | $119,850 | |
| United States | $47,180 | $75,940 | $128,720 |
The middle half of recruiters in Philadelphia-Camden earns $60,680–$98,820. The top tenth earns $126,900 or more, 2.6 times the bottom tenth, close to the US pattern of 2.7 times. The mean ($84,290) is 10% over the median, so a group of high earners pulls the average up; price a typical hire from the median.
What to budget for a recruiter here
| Point in the local range | Per year | Per month | Per hour | Employer cost per year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $49,080 | $4,090 | $23.60 | $70,114 |
| 25th percentile | $60,680 | $5,057 | $29.17 | $86,686 |
| Median | $76,700 | $6,392 | $36.88 | $109,571 |
| 75th percentile | $98,820 | $8,235 | $47.51 | $141,171 |
| 90th percentile | $126,900 | $10,575 | $61.01 | $181,286 |
The step from the 25th percentile to the median is $16,020 a year; from the median to the 75th it is $22,120, or about $31,600 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.
What a hire really costs in Philadelphia-Camden
At the $76,700 median, a local hire costs about $109,571 a year: benefits and payroll taxes are 30.0% of total compensation in US private industry[2], about $32,871 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 fee[3]; Deel's contractor plan is the default payroll tool[4].
Other roles in Philadelphia-Camden
Of the 17 roles we track in Philadelphia-Camden, this one ranks #5 by median pay. Project Coordinator is the highest at $104,160 and Virtual Receptionist the lowest at $38,030.
| Role | Median | vs recruiter | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Project Coordinator | +35.8% | 17,210 | |
| Accountant | +12.1% | 29,370 | |
| Executive Assistant | +3.6% | 7,150 | |
| Marketing Specialist | +3.5% | 17,600 | |
| Recruiter | this role | 16,000 | |
| Office Manager | -5.2% | 28,900 | |
| Sales Development Representative | -7.4% | 19,260 | |
| Paralegal | -8.2% | 11,150 | |
| Payroll Specialist | -23.3% | 2,410 | |
| Bookkeeper | -31.3% | 22,660 | |
| HR Assistant | -33.7% | 1,630 | |
| Administrative Assistant | -36.3% | 32,850 | |
| E-commerce Order Specialist | -37.0% | 1,220 | |
| Medical Administrative Assistant | -38.6% | 15,550 | |
| Customer Support Specialist | -38.6% | 41,740 | |
| Data Entry Specialist | -46.2% | 2,340 | |
| Virtual Receptionist | -50.4% | 22,210 |
Other areas in Pennsylvania
Across the 20 areas of Pennsylvania with data for this job, the median runs from $59,120 in Johnstown to $76,700 in Philadelphia-Camden, a gap of $17,580 a year.
| Area | Median | vs Philadelphia-Camden | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Philadelphia-Camden, PA-NJ | this area | 16,000 | |
| Lebanon, PA | -1.8% | 310 | |
| York-Hanover, PA | -3.1% | 980 | |
| Chambersburg, PA | -6.4% | 260 | |
| Harrisburg-Carlisle, PA | -8.6% | 2,640 | |
| Allentown-Bethlehem, PA-NJ | -8.7% | 1,720 | |
| Reading, PA | -9.5% | 940 |
Questions
How much does it cost to hire a recruiter in Philadelphia-Camden, PA-NJ?
About $109,571 a year at the median, or $9,131 a month: $76,700 in pay plus benefits and payroll taxes at the 30% share of total compensation in US private industry (June 2026). Recruiting, equipment and office space are extra.
What do recruiters earn in Philadelphia-Camden?
The median was $76,700 a year in the May 2025 BLS survey. The 10th percentile was $49,080, the 90th $126,900, and the middle half earned $60,680 to $98,820.
Is Philadelphia-Camden the most expensive area in Pennsylvania for recruiters?
Yes. Its median of $76,700 is the highest of 20 areas in Pennsylvania. Lebanon comes next at $75,320.
How many recruiters work in Philadelphia-Camden?
BLS counts about 16,000 in the May 2025 survey.
Does a recruiter cost more than an office manager in Philadelphia-Camden?
Yes: $4,000 a year more at the median. The medians are $76,700 and $72,700.
Sources
- BLS OEWS May 2025, 13-1071: https://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes131071.htm
- BLS Employer Costs for Employee Compensation, private industry, June 2026: https://www.bls.gov/news.release/ecec.nr0.htm
- Silkstaff pricing: https://silkstaff.com/#pricing
- Deel pricing, contractor management: https://www.deel.com/pricing/
How these pages are built: methodology and data sources. Last updated 2026-11-06.