Recruiter salary and cost of hiring in Tennessee
The median recruiter in Tennessee earned $67,370 a year in May 2025[1], 11.3% below the US median of $75,940. That puts Tennessee at #36 of 51 states for this job.
BLS occupation 13-1071. Data from the May 2025 release, checked 2026-10-15.
Salary range
| Range | 10th | Median | 90th | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tennessee | $45,630 | $67,370 | $109,990 | |
| United States | $47,180 | $75,940 | $128,720 |
The middle half of recruiters in Tennessee earns $53,890–$85,200; the top tenth earns $109,990 or more, 2.4 times the bottom tenth.
What a hire really costs
Benefits and payroll taxes are 30.0% of total compensation in US private industry[2]. At the Tennessee median that makes about $96,243 a year before recruiting, equipment and office space. 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].
Pay by metro area in Tennessee
| Area | Median | 75th percentile | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| South Central Tennessee nonmetropolitan area | $87,790 | 480 | |
| Memphis, TN-MS-AR | $86,250 | 3,650 | |
| Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN | $89,040 | 8,210 | |
| Knoxville, TN | $83,200 | 2,980 | |
| Clarksville, TN-KY | $86,600 | 540 | |
| Kingsport-Bristol, TN-VA | $87,420 | 530 | |
| West Tennessee nonmetropolitan area | $81,160 | 440 | |
| Jackson, TN | $81,180 | 370 | |
| East Tennessee nonmetropolitan area | $79,250 | 530 | |
| Johnson City, TN | $81,100 | 360 | |
| Chattanooga, TN-GA | $81,180 | 1,550 | |
| North Central Tennessee nonmetropolitan area | $74,070 | 570 | |
| Cleveland, TN | $77,910 | 200 | |
| Morristown, TN | $80,130 | 190 |
South Central Tennessee nonmetropolitan area pays the most ($70,460) and Morristown, TN the least ($59,820): $10,640 a year apart for the same job.
What a recruiter does
A recruiter finds and attracts candidates, screens them, manages the interview process and closes offers for the hiring managers.
Neighbours in the ranking
| State | Median | vs Tennessee |
|---|---|---|
| New Mexico | +1.0% | |
| South Dakota | +0.3% | |
| Tennessee | +0.0% | |
| Missouri | -0.6% | |
| Wyoming | -0.6% |
Questions
How much does a recruiter earn in Tennessee?
The median was $67,370 a year in the May 2025 BLS survey; the middle half earned $53,890 to $85,200.
What does it cost to employ a recruiter in Tennessee?
About $96,243 a year at the median wage once benefits are added, using the 30% benefits share of US private industry (June 2026).
Where in Tennessee do recruiters earn the most?
South Central Tennessee nonmetropolitan area, with a median of $70,460 a year.
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 2026-11-05.