Recruiter salary in Raleigh-Cary, NC
Raleigh-Cary pays recruiters more than North Carolina as a whole but less than the country. The median is $74,170 a year1: 1.5% above the North Carolina statewide median of $73,070 and 2.3% below the US median of $75,940. Among US areas it comes in at #133 of 521. About 5,710 recruiters work here, 18% of the North Carolina total.
BLS occupation 13-1071, area Raleigh-Cary, NC. Data from the May 2025 release, checked 2026-10-15.
Pay in Raleigh-Cary against North Carolina and the US
| Range | 10th | Median | 90th | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Raleigh-Cary, NC | $48,060 | $74,170 | $125,700 | |
| North Carolina | $46,760 | $73,070 | $126,000 | |
| United States | $47,180 | $75,940 | $128,720 |
The middle half of recruiters in Raleigh-Cary earns $60,070–$97,670. The top tenth earns $125,700 or more, 2.6 times the bottom tenth, close to the US pattern of 2.7 times. The mean ($80,820) is 9% 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 $37,600 wide, against $40,060 across North Carolina and $40,770 nationally: employers in Raleigh-Cary 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 | $48,060 | $4,005 | $23.11 | $62,013 |
| 25th percentile | $60,070 | $5,006 | $28.88 | $77,510 |
| Median | $74,170 | $6,181 | $35.66 | $95,703 |
| 75th percentile | $97,670 | $8,139 | $46.96 | $126,026 |
| 90th percentile | $125,700 | $10,475 | $60.43 | $162,194 |
Pay climbs faster above the median than below it here: the 75th percentile is $23,500 over the median, the 25th only $14,100 under it. An offer at the 75th percentile adds about $30,323 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 Raleigh-Cary, and the North Carolina statewide median of $73,070 falls between the 25th percentile and the median.
What a hire really costs in Raleigh-Cary
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 $21,533 to the $74,170 median and brings it to $95,703 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 Raleigh-Cary
Of the 17 roles we track in Raleigh-Cary, this one ranks #4 by median pay, between marketing specialists ($78,980) and executive assistants ($73,490). Project Coordinator is the highest at $102,280.
| Role | Median | vs recruiter | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Accountant | +10.5% | 9,190 | |
| Marketing Specialist | +6.5% | 6,470 | |
| Recruiter | this role | 5,710 | |
| Executive Assistant | -0.9% | n/a | |
| Sales Development Representative | -7.6% | 8,970 |
Measured against the US median, recruiters rank #11 of the 17 roles we track in Raleigh-Cary (-2.3%), between accountants (-2.1%) and virtual receptionists (-3.8%). The typical role here is at -2.0%, so this job follows the area's general pay level. Recruiters hold 6.5% of the jobs in the 16 of these roles with a job count in Raleigh-Cary, 6.1% across North Carolina and 5.9% nationally. That is close to the national mix.
Other areas in North Carolina
Across the 18 areas of North Carolina with data for this job, the median runs from $61,660 in Rocky Mount to $81,100 in Durham-Chapel Hill, a gap of $19,440 a year. The one area in North Carolina with more recruiters, Charlotte-Concord, NC-SC ($78,330), also pays more.
| Area | Median | vs Raleigh-Cary | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Durham-Chapel Hill, NC | +9.3% | 2,370 | |
| Charlotte-Concord, NC-SC | +5.6% | 8,930 | |
| Fayetteville, NC | +1.7% | 870 | |
| Raleigh-Cary, NC | this area | 5,710 | |
| Asheville, NC | -5.3% | 910 | |
| Burlington, NC | -6.3% | 280 | |
| Winston-Salem, NC | -7.6% | 1,370 |
Raleigh-Cary against other US metro areas
By number of jobs, Raleigh-Cary is #35 of 521 US areas for this job. It is one of the larger markets for this job, with pay near the middle of the US range. Outside North Carolina, Fresno and Pittsfield pay just above Raleigh-Cary and Visalia and Peoria just below. All four are within $150 a year of the median in Raleigh-Cary. Of the three markets with about as many recruiters, two pay more.
| Metro area | Median | vs Raleigh-Cary | Jobs | Close in |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sacramento-Roseville, CA | +9.1% | 5,360 | jobs | |
| Salt Lake City-Murray, UT | +0.3% | 5,350 | jobs | |
| Pittsfield, MA | +0.1% | 290 | pay | |
| Fresno, CA | +0.0% | 1,770 | pay | |
| Raleigh-Cary, NC | this area | 5,710 | ||
| Visalia, CA | -0.2% | 580 | pay | |
| Peoria, IL | -0.2% | 890 | pay | |
| Pittsburgh, PA | -12.0% | 6,280 | jobs |
Questions
How much does it cost to hire a recruiter in Raleigh-Cary, NC?
About $95,703 a year at the median, or $7,975 a month: $74,170 in pay plus about $21,533 in benefits and payroll taxes. Recruiting, equipment and office space are extra.
What is the pay range for recruiters in Raleigh-Cary?
The median was $74,170 a year in the May 2025 BLS survey. The 10th percentile was $48,060, the 90th $125,700, and the middle half earned $60,070 to $97,670.
Is Raleigh-Cary cheaper than the rest of North Carolina for recruiters?
No, it costs more: a median of $74,170 against $73,070 statewide. The next area up in North Carolina is Fayetteville at $75,440, the next down Asheville at $70,210.
How many recruiters work in Raleigh-Cary?
BLS counts about 5,710 in the May 2025 survey. That is 18% of the North Carolina total of 31,140. Only Charlotte-Concord has more in North Carolina.
Does a recruiter cost more than an executive assistant in Raleigh-Cary?
Yes: $680 a year more at the median. The medians are $74,170 and $73,490.
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.