Cost of hiring a recruiter in Seattle-Tacoma, WA
No other area in Washington pays recruiters more than Seattle-Tacoma: the median is $92,770 a year[1]. That is 9.7% above the Washington statewide median of $84,550, and 22.2% above the US median of $75,940. Only 5 of 521 US areas pay more for this job. With about 14,120 recruiters, 62% of the Washington total, no area in Washington employs more.
BLS occupation 13-1071, area Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA. Data from the May 2025 release, checked 2026-10-15.
Pay in Seattle-Tacoma against Washington and the US
| Range | 10th | Median | 90th | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Seattle-Tacoma, WA | $58,610 | $92,770 | $153,960 | |
| Washington | $57,030 | $84,550 | $136,070 | |
| United States | $47,180 | $75,940 | $128,720 |
The middle half of recruiters in Seattle-Tacoma earns $73,860–$124,380. The top tenth earns $153,960 or more, 2.6 times the bottom tenth, close to the US pattern of 2.7 times.
What to budget for a recruiter here
| Point in the local range | Per year | Per month | Per hour | Employer cost per year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $58,610 | $4,884 | $28.18 | $83,729 |
| 25th percentile | $73,860 | $6,155 | $35.51 | $105,514 |
| Median | $92,770 | $7,731 | $44.60 | $132,529 |
| 75th percentile | $124,380 | $10,365 | $59.80 | $177,686 |
| 90th percentile | $153,960 | $12,830 | $74.02 | $219,943 |
An offer at the 75th percentile instead of the median adds $31,610 a year in pay and about $45,157 in employer cost. Going down to the 25th percentile saves $18,910 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 Seattle-Tacoma
At the $92,770 median, a local hire costs about $132,529 a year: benefits and payroll taxes are 30.0% of total compensation in US private industry[2], about $39,759 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 Seattle-Tacoma
Of the 17 roles we track in Seattle-Tacoma, this one ranks #5 by median pay. Project Coordinator is the highest at $130,380 and Virtual Receptionist the lowest at $45,820.
| Role | Median | vs recruiter | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Project Coordinator | +40.5% | 26,910 | |
| Marketing Specialist | +10.1% | 18,030 | |
| Accountant | +7.1% | 22,100 | |
| Paralegal | +0.1% | 6,310 | |
| Recruiter | this role | 14,120 | |
| Sales Development Representative | -11.0% | 12,450 | |
| Office Manager | -12.0% | 18,020 | |
| Executive Assistant | -12.8% | 7,370 | |
| Payroll Specialist | -28.2% | 1,980 | |
| Bookkeeper | -34.8% | 17,860 | |
| HR Assistant | -34.9% | 1,480 | |
| Medical Administrative Assistant | -34.9% | 6,420 | |
| Administrative Assistant | -35.1% | 15,780 | |
| Customer Support Specialist | -42.3% | 25,840 | |
| E-commerce Order Specialist | -46.8% | n/a | |
| Data Entry Specialist | -49.3% | 760 | |
| Virtual Receptionist | -50.6% | 14,260 |
Other areas in Washington
Across the 13 areas of Washington with data for this job, the median runs from $72,180 in Yakima to $92,770 in Seattle-Tacoma, a gap of $20,590 a year.
| Area | Median | vs Seattle-Tacoma | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Seattle-Tacoma, WA | this area | 14,120 | |
| Bremerton-Silverdale, WA | -2.7% | 710 | |
| Olympia-Lacey, WA | -6.5% | 1,410 | |
| Kennewick-Richland, WA | -12.4% | 620 | |
| Walla Walla, WA | -13.0% | 120 | |
| Mount Vernon-Anacortes, WA | -15.1% | 230 | |
| Bellingham, WA | -15.7% | 430 |
Questions
How much does it cost to hire a recruiter in Seattle-Tacoma, WA?
About $132,529 a year at the median, or $11,044 a month: $92,770 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 Seattle-Tacoma?
The median was $92,770 a year in the May 2025 BLS survey. The 10th percentile was $58,610, the 90th $153,960, and the middle half earned $73,860 to $124,380.
Is Seattle-Tacoma the most expensive area in Washington for recruiters?
Yes. Its median of $92,770 is the highest of 13 areas in Washington. Bremerton-Silverdale comes next at $90,290.
How many recruiters work in Seattle-Tacoma?
BLS counts about 14,120 in the May 2025 survey. That is 62% of the Washington total of 22,770.
Does a recruiter cost more than a sales development representative in Seattle-Tacoma?
Yes: $10,230 a year more at the median. The medians are $92,770 and $82,540.
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.