Recruiter salary in Stockton-Lodi, CA
For this job Stockton-Lodi sits right at the US figure, with a median of $76,560 a year1. That is about level with the US median of $75,940, and 8.3% below the California statewide median of $83,500. That is in the top quarter of US areas (#85 of 521). About 1,160 recruiters work here, 1% of the California total.
BLS occupation 13-1071, area Stockton-Lodi, CA. Data from the May 2025 release, checked 2026-10-15.
Pay in Stockton-Lodi against California and the US
| Range | 10th | Median | 90th | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stockton-Lodi, CA | $48,640 | $76,560 | $126,280 | |
| California | $52,770 | $83,500 | $151,410 | |
| United States | $47,180 | $75,940 | $128,720 |
Recruiters at the 90th percentile earn $126,280, 2.6 times the 10th percentile; the US ratio is 2.7. The middle half of recruiters in Stockton-Lodi earns $62,520–$99,270. The mean ($82,920) is 8% 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 $36,750 wide, against $51,370 across California and $40,770 nationally: employers in Stockton-Lodi 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 | $48,640 | $4,053 | $23.38 | $62,761 |
| 25th percentile | $62,520 | $5,210 | $30.06 | $80,671 |
| Median | $76,560 | $6,380 | $36.81 | $98,787 |
| 75th percentile | $99,270 | $8,272 | $47.73 | $128,090 |
| 90th percentile | $126,280 | $10,523 | $60.71 | $162,942 |
Pay climbs faster above the median than below it here: the 75th percentile is $22,710 over the median, the 25th only $14,040 under it. An offer at the 75th percentile adds about $29,303 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 25th percentile and the median in Stockton-Lodi, and the California statewide median of $83,500 falls between the median and the 75th percentile.
What a hire really costs in Stockton-Lodi
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 $22,227 to the $76,560 median and brings it to $98,787 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 Stockton-Lodi
Of the 17 roles we track in Stockton-Lodi, this one ranks #4 by median pay, between executive assistants ($79,200) and office managers ($74,100). Project Coordinator is the highest at $104,240.
| Role | Median | vs recruiter | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Accountant | +9.2% | 1,420 | |
| Executive Assistant | +3.4% | 500 | |
| Recruiter | this role | 1,160 | |
| Office Manager | -3.2% | 2,190 | |
| Marketing Specialist | -3.8% | 730 |
Measured against the US median, recruiters rank #13 of the 17 roles we track in Stockton-Lodi (+0.8%), between project coordinators (+1.9%) and e-commerce order specialists (+0.2%). The typical role here is at +5.1%, so, measured against the US, recruiters cost less in Stockton-Lodi than the area's general pay level would suggest. Recruiters hold 6.2% of the jobs in these 17 roles in Stockton-Lodi, 6.2% across California and 5.8% nationally. That is close to the national mix.
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. Of the 9 areas in California with more recruiters than Stockton-Lodi, 1 pays less: Fresno, CA ($74,170).
| Area | Median | vs Stockton-Lodi | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Merced, CA | +0.3% | 280 | |
| Bakersfield-Delano, CA | +0.2% | 1,240 | |
| Riverside-San Bernardino, CA | +0.0% | 7,210 | |
| Stockton-Lodi, CA | this area | 1,160 | |
| Hanford-Corcoran, CA | -0.4% | 110 | |
| Eastern Sierra-Mother Lode Region of California (Nonmetro) | -0.9% | 210 | |
| North Coast Region of California (Nonmetro) | -1.3% | 410 |
Stockton-Lodi against other US metro areas
By number of jobs, Stockton-Lodi is #110 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 California, Rochester and Madison pay just above Stockton-Lodi and Fargo and Manhattan just below. All four are within $160 a year of the median in Stockton-Lodi. Of the three markets with about as many recruiters, none pays as much.
| Metro area | Median | vs Stockton-Lodi | Jobs | Close in |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Madison, WI | +0.1% | 2,810 | pay | |
| Rochester, NY | +0.0% | 2,460 | pay | |
| Stockton-Lodi, CA | this area | 1,160 | ||
| Fargo, ND-MN | -0.0% | 720 | pay | |
| Manhattan, KS | -0.2% | 500 | pay | |
| Fort Wayne, IN | -14.4% | 1,150 | jobs | |
| Lincoln, NE | -17.3% | 1,130 | jobs | |
| Jackson, MS | -18.1% | 1,160 | jobs |
Questions
How much does it cost to hire a recruiter in Stockton-Lodi, CA?
About $98,787 a year at the median, or $8,232 a month: $76,560 in pay plus about $22,227 in benefits and payroll taxes. Recruiting, equipment and office space are extra.
What is the pay range for recruiters in Stockton-Lodi?
Pay here is higher than in three quarters of US areas. The median was $76,560 a year in the May 2025 BLS survey. The 10th percentile was $48,640, the 90th $126,280, and the middle half earned $62,520 to $99,270.
Is Stockton-Lodi cheaper than the rest of California for recruiters?
Yes, it costs less: a median of $76,560 against $83,500 statewide. The next area up in California is Riverside-San Bernardino at $76,570, the next down Hanford-Corcoran at $76,250.
How many recruiters work in Stockton-Lodi?
BLS counts about 1,160 in the May 2025 survey. That is 1% of the California total of 104,000. 9 areas in California have more; the closest in size is Bakersfield-Delano, with about 1,240.
Does a recruiter cost more than an office manager in Stockton-Lodi?
Yes: $2,460 a year more at the median. The medians are $76,560 and $74,100.
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.