Cost of hiring a recruiter in San Francisco-Oakland, CA
Budget above the national rate here. The median recruiter in San Francisco-Oakland earned $103,140 a year in May 2025[1], 23.5% above the California statewide median of $83,500 and 35.8% above the US median of $75,940. Only 1 of 521 US areas pay more for this job. About 16,420 recruiters work here, 16% of the California total.
BLS occupation 13-1071, area San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA. Data from the May 2025 release, checked 2026-10-15.
Pay in San Francisco-Oakland against California and the US
| Range | 10th | Median | 90th | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| San Francisco-Oakland, CA | $61,500 | $103,140 | $171,420 | |
| California | $52,770 | $83,500 | $151,410 | |
| United States | $47,180 | $75,940 | $128,720 |
The middle half of recruiters in San Francisco-Oakland earns $79,820–$136,040. The top tenth earns $171,420 or more, 2.8 times the bottom tenth, close to the US pattern of 2.7 times. The mean ($113,530) 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 | $61,500 | $5,125 | $29.57 | $87,857 |
| 25th percentile | $79,820 | $6,652 | $38.38 | $114,029 |
| Median | $103,140 | $8,595 | $49.59 | $147,343 |
| 75th percentile | $136,040 | $11,337 | $65.40 | $194,343 |
| 90th percentile | $171,420 | $14,285 | $82.41 | $244,886 |
An offer at the 75th percentile instead of the median adds $32,900 a year in pay and about $47,000 in employer cost. Going down to the 25th percentile saves $23,320 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.
What a hire really costs in San Francisco-Oakland
Pay is only part of it. Benefits and payroll taxes are 30.0% of total compensation in US private industry[2], which adds about $44,203 to the $103,140 median and brings it to $147,343 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 fee[3]; Deel's contractor plan is the default payroll tool[4].
Other roles in San Francisco-Oakland
Of the 17 roles we track in San Francisco-Oakland, this one ranks #5 by median pay. Project Coordinator is the highest at $135,040 and Virtual Receptionist the lowest at $49,450.
| Role | Median | vs recruiter | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Project Coordinator | +30.9% | 20,770 | |
| Marketing Specialist | +19.5% | 24,120 | |
| Accountant | +7.4% | 25,170 | |
| Executive Assistant | +2.0% | 11,250 | |
| Recruiter | this role | 16,420 | |
| Sales Development Representative | -6.0% | 29,980 | |
| Office Manager | -14.1% | 19,480 | |
| Paralegal | -18.5% | 7,630 | |
| Payroll Specialist | -21.9% | 2,260 | |
| HR Assistant | -35.5% | 1,300 | |
| Bookkeeper | -36.5% | 18,100 | |
| Administrative Assistant | -39.8% | 20,270 | |
| Medical Administrative Assistant | -40.5% | 13,660 | |
| Customer Support Specialist | -43.9% | 19,930 | |
| E-commerce Order Specialist | -50.1% | 1,250 | |
| Data Entry Specialist | -50.3% | 1,410 | |
| Virtual Receptionist | -52.1% | 8,510 |
Other areas in California
Across the 28 areas of California with data for this job, the median runs from $70,830 in Redding to $112,140 in San Jose-Sunnyvale, a gap of $41,310 a year.
| Area | Median | vs San Francisco-Oakland | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| San Jose-Sunnyvale, CA | +8.7% | 7,970 | |
| San Francisco-Oakland, CA | this area | 16,420 | |
| Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA | -17.9% | 450 | |
| Napa, CA | -18.2% | 310 | |
| Vallejo, CA | -19.4% | 650 | |
| Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA | -20.9% | 920 | |
| San Diego-Chula Vista, CA | -21.2% | 9,110 |
Questions
How much does it cost to hire a recruiter in San Francisco-Oakland, CA?
About $147,343 a year at the median, or $12,279 a month: $103,140 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 is the pay range for recruiters in San Francisco-Oakland?
The median was $103,140 a year in the May 2025 BLS survey. The 10th percentile was $61,500, the 90th $171,420, and the middle half earned $79,820 to $136,040.
Is San Francisco-Oakland cheaper than the rest of California for recruiters?
No, it costs more: a median of $103,140 against $83,500 statewide. San Jose-Sunnyvale pays the most ($112,140) and Redding the least ($70,830).
How many recruiters work in San Francisco-Oakland?
BLS counts about 16,420 in the May 2025 survey. That is 16% of the California total of 104,000.
Does a recruiter cost more than a sales development representative in San Francisco-Oakland?
Yes: $6,180 a year more at the median. The medians are $103,140 and $96,960.
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.