Recruiter salary in Richmond, VA
Richmond pays recruiters less than Virginia as a whole but still more than the country. The median is $79,340 a year1: 3.3% below the Virginia statewide median of $82,090 and 4.5% above the US median of $75,940. Only 38 of 521 US areas pay more for this job. With about 4,540 recruiters, 16% of the Virginia total, no area in Virginia employs more.
BLS occupation 13-1071, area Richmond, VA. Data from the May 2025 release, checked 2026-10-15.
Pay in Richmond against Virginia and the US
| Range | 10th | Median | 90th | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Richmond, VA | $47,980 | $79,340 | $127,420 | |
| Virginia | $48,530 | $82,090 | $136,660 | |
| United States | $47,180 | $75,940 | $128,720 |
The middle half of recruiters in Richmond earns $60,530–$101,440. The top tenth earns $127,420 or more, 2.7 times the bottom tenth, close to the US pattern of 2.7 times. From the 25th to the 75th percentile, the local range is $40,910 wide, between the figure for Virginia ($46,900) 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 | $47,980 | $3,998 | $23.07 | $61,910 |
| 25th percentile | $60,530 | $5,044 | $29.10 | $78,103 |
| Median | $79,340 | $6,612 | $38.14 | $102,374 |
| 75th percentile | $101,440 | $8,453 | $48.77 | $130,890 |
| 90th percentile | $127,420 | $10,618 | $61.26 | $164,413 |
An offer at the 75th percentile instead of the median adds $22,100 a year in pay and about $28,516 in employer cost. Going down to the 25th percentile saves $18,810 in pay. 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 Richmond, and the Virginia statewide median of $82,090 falls between the median and the 75th percentile.
What a hire really costs in Richmond
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 $23,034 to the $79,340 median and brings it to $102,374 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 Richmond
Of the 17 roles we track in Richmond, this one ranks #4 by median pay, between marketing specialists ($81,660) and executive assistants ($77,510). Project Coordinator is the highest at $102,170.
| Role | Median | vs recruiter | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Accountant | +6.2% | 7,920 | |
| Marketing Specialist | +2.9% | 4,550 | |
| Recruiter | this role | 4,540 | |
| Executive Assistant | -2.3% | 2,060 | |
| Office Manager | -18.5% | 6,490 |
Measured against the US median, this job is the best paid of the 17 roles we track in Richmond (+4.5%); sales development representatives come last (-12.1%). The typical role here is at +0.1%, so, measured against the US, recruiters cost more in Richmond than the area's general pay level would suggest. Recruiters hold 6.5% of the jobs in these 17 roles in Richmond, 6.7% across Virginia and 5.8% nationally. That is close to the national mix.
Other areas in Virginia
Across the 13 areas of Virginia with data for this job, the median runs from $62,310 in Harrisonburg to $82,430 in Charlottesville, a gap of $20,120 a year. No other area in Virginia has as many recruiters, and 11 of the other 12 pay less.
| Area | Median | vs Richmond | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Charlottesville, VA | +3.9% | 610 | |
| Richmond, VA | this area | 4,540 | |
| Winchester, VA-WV | -0.4% | 460 | |
| Northeast Virginia (Nonmetro) | -1.3% | 270 | |
| Virginia Beach-Chesapeake, VA-NC | -3.9% | 4,290 | |
| Southside Virginia (Nonmetro) | -11.7% | 390 | |
| Northwest Virginia (Nonmetro) | -11.7% | 210 |
Richmond against other US metro areas
By number of jobs, Richmond is #40 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 Virginia, Davenport-Moline and Waterbury-Shelton pay just above Richmond and Colorado Springs and Burlington-South Burlington just below. All four are within $510 a year of the median in Richmond. Of the three markets with about as many recruiters, none pays as much.
| Metro area | Median | vs Richmond | Jobs | Close in |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Waterbury-Shelton, CT | +0.6% | 710 | pay | |
| Davenport-Moline, IA-IL | +0.4% | 1,420 | pay | |
| Richmond, VA | this area | 4,540 | ||
| Colorado Springs, CO | -0.4% | 1,800 | pay | |
| Burlington-South Burlington, VT | -0.5% | 600 | pay | |
| Providence-Warwick, RI-MA | -3.0% | 4,180 | jobs | |
| Las Vegas-Henderson, NV | -11.8% | 4,470 | jobs | |
| Omaha, NE-IA | -22.1% | 4,330 | jobs |
Questions
How much does it cost to hire a recruiter in Richmond, VA?
About $102,374 a year at the median, or $8,531 a month: $79,340 in pay plus about $23,034 in benefits and payroll taxes. Recruiting, equipment and office space are extra.
What do recruiters earn in Richmond?
Pay here is higher than in three quarters of US areas. The median was $79,340 a year in the May 2025 BLS survey. The 10th percentile was $47,980, the 90th $127,420, and the middle half earned $60,530 to $101,440.
Is Richmond cheaper than the rest of Virginia for recruiters?
Yes, it costs less: a median of $79,340 against $82,090 statewide. The next area up in Virginia is Charlottesville at $82,430, the next down Winchester at $79,040.
How many recruiters work in Richmond?
BLS counts about 4,540 in the May 2025 survey. That is 16% of the Virginia total of 28,540. No other area in Virginia has as many.
Does a recruiter cost more than an executive assistant in Richmond?
Yes: $1,830 a year more at the median. The medians are $79,340 and $77,510.
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.