Recruiter salary in Portland-South Portland, ME
Portland-South Portland is the most expensive place in Maine to hire a recruiter. The median is $78,100 a year1, 9.0% above the Maine statewide median of $71,630 and 2.8% above the US median of $75,940. That is in the top quarter of US areas (#57 of 521). With about 1,310 recruiters, 43% of the Maine total, no area in Maine employs more.
BLS occupation 13-1071, area Portland-South Portland, ME. Data from the May 2025 release, checked 2026-10-15.
Pay in Portland-South Portland against Maine and the US
| Range | 10th | Median | 90th | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Portland-South Portland, ME | $48,060 | $78,100 | $112,260 | |
| Maine | $45,850 | $71,630 | $105,840 | |
| United States | $47,180 | $75,940 | $128,720 |
The middle half of recruiters in Portland-South Portland earns $60,940–$95,320. Pay is tightly grouped: the top tenth starts at $112,260, 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 $34,380 wide, between the figure for Maine ($32,170) 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 | $48,060 | $4,005 | $23.11 | $62,013 |
| 25th percentile | $60,940 | $5,078 | $29.30 | $78,632 |
| Median | $78,100 | $6,508 | $37.55 | $100,774 |
| 75th percentile | $95,320 | $7,943 | $45.83 | $122,994 |
| 90th percentile | $112,260 | $9,355 | $53.97 | $144,852 |
The step from the 25th percentile to the median is $17,160 a year; from the median to the 75th it is $17,220, or about $22,219 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 Portland-South Portland, and the Maine statewide median of $71,630 falls there too.
What a hire really costs in Portland-South Portland
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 $22,674 to the $78,100 median and brings it to $100,774 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 Portland-South Portland
Of the 17 roles we track in Portland-South Portland, this one ranks #3 by median pay, between accountants ($79,790) and marketing specialists ($73,420). Project Coordinator is the highest at $105,530.
| Role | Median | vs recruiter | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Project Coordinator | +35.1% | 1,370 | |
| Accountant | +2.2% | 1,780 | |
| Recruiter | this role | 1,310 | |
| Marketing Specialist | -6.0% | 1,240 | |
| Office Manager | -10.1% | 2,600 |
Measured against the US median, recruiters rank #9 of the 17 roles we track in Portland-South Portland (+2.8%), between project coordinators (+3.1%) and medical administrative assistants (+2.8%). The typical role here is at +2.8%, so this job follows the area's general pay level. Recruiters hold 5.3% of the jobs in these 17 roles in Portland-South Portland, 5.5% across Maine and 5.8% nationally. That is close to the national mix.
Other areas in Maine
Across the 5 areas of Maine with data for this job, the median runs from $58,240 in Lewiston-Auburn to $78,100 in Portland-South Portland, a gap of $19,860 a year. No other area in Maine has as many recruiters, and all 4 others pay less.
| Area | Median | vs Portland-South Portland | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Portland-South Portland, ME | this area | 1,310 | |
| Northeast Maine (Nonmetro) | -5.3% | 170 | |
| Southwest Maine (Nonmetro) | -12.5% | 570 | |
| Bangor, ME | -18.2% | 350 | |
| Lewiston-Auburn, ME | -25.4% | 300 |
Portland-South Portland against other US metro areas
By number of jobs, Portland-South Portland is #101 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 Maine, Bellingham and Chicago-Naperville pay just above Portland-South Portland and Helena and San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles just below. All four are within $110 a year of the median in Portland-South Portland. Of the three markets with about as many recruiters, none pays as much.
| Metro area | Median | vs Portland-South Portland | Jobs | Close in |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chicago-Naperville, IL-IN | +0.1% | 26,470 | pay | |
| Bellingham, WA | +0.1% | 430 | pay | |
| Portland-South Portland, ME | this area | 1,310 | ||
| Helena, MT | -0.1% | 280 | pay | |
| San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles, CA | -0.1% | 610 | pay | |
| Syracuse, NY | -1.2% | 1,280 | jobs | |
| Reno, NV | -2.7% | 1,320 | jobs | |
| Lexington-Fayette, KY | -10.4% | 1,320 | jobs |
Questions
How much does it cost to hire a recruiter in Portland-South Portland, ME?
About $100,774 a year at the median, or $8,398 a month: $78,100 in pay plus about $22,674 in benefits and payroll taxes. Recruiting, equipment and office space are extra.
What is the pay range for recruiters in Portland-South Portland?
Pay here is higher than in three quarters of US areas. The median was $78,100 a year in the May 2025 BLS survey. The 10th percentile was $48,060, the 90th $112,260, and the middle half earned $60,940 to $95,320.
Is Portland-South Portland the most expensive area in Maine for recruiters?
Yes. Its median of $78,100 is the highest of 5 areas in Maine. The Northeast Maine nonmetro area comes next at $73,990.
How many recruiters work in Portland-South Portland?
BLS counts about 1,310 in the May 2025 survey. That is 43% of the Maine total of 3,020. No other area in Maine has as many.
Does a recruiter cost more than a marketing specialist in Portland-South Portland?
Yes: $4,680 a year more at the median. The medians are $78,100 and $73,420.
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.