Recruiter salary in Topeka, KS
Recruiters earn more in Topeka than anywhere else in Kansas. Expect a median of $76,690 a year1, 8.2% above the Kansas statewide median of $70,870 and about level with the US median of $75,940. That is in the top quarter of US areas (#81 of 521). BLS counts about 720 people in this job here, 10% of the Kansas total.
BLS occupation 13-1071, area Topeka, KS. Data from the May 2025 release, checked 2026-10-15.
Pay in Topeka against Kansas and the US
| Range | 10th | Median | 90th | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Topeka, KS | $49,120 | $76,690 | $113,610 | |
| Kansas | $47,340 | $70,870 | $115,920 | |
| United States | $47,180 | $75,940 | $128,720 |
The middle half of recruiters in Topeka earns $60,430–$103,630. Pay is tightly grouped: the top tenth starts at $113,610, only 2.3 times the bottom tenth, against 2.7 times across the US, so the going rate is easier to read. From the 25th to the 75th percentile, the local range is $43,200 wide, wider than in Kansas as a whole ($38,190) and the US ($40,770), so what a recruiter earns in Topeka depends more on the employer.
What to budget for a recruiter here
| Point in the local range | Per year | Per month | Per hour | Employer cost per year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $49,120 | $4,093 | $23.62 | $63,381 |
| 25th percentile | $60,430 | $5,036 | $29.05 | $77,974 |
| Median | $76,690 | $6,391 | $36.87 | $98,955 |
| 75th percentile | $103,630 | $8,636 | $49.82 | $133,716 |
| 90th percentile | $113,610 | $9,468 | $54.62 | $146,594 |
Pay climbs faster above the median than below it here: the 75th percentile is $26,940 over the median, the 25th only $16,260 under it. An offer at the 75th percentile adds about $34,761 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 Topeka, and the Kansas statewide median of $70,870 falls there too.
What a hire really costs in Topeka
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 $22,265 to the $76,690 median and brings it to $98,955 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 Topeka
Of the 17 roles we track in Topeka, this one ranks #2 by median pay, after project coordinators ($100,000); accountants come next at $76,280.
| Role | Median | vs recruiter | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Project Coordinator | +30.4% | 520 | |
| Recruiter | this role | 720 | |
| Accountant | -0.5% | 1,420 | |
| Marketing Specialist | -14.8% | 620 | |
| Executive Assistant | -17.5% | 340 |
Measured against the US median, recruiters rank #2 of the 17 roles we track in Topeka (+1.0%), between HR assistants (+6.6%) and payroll specialists (-1.3%). The typical role here is at -8.8%, so, measured against the US, recruiters cost more in Topeka than the area's general pay level would suggest. Recruiters hold 5.1% of the jobs in these 17 roles in Topeka, 4.8% across Kansas and 5.8% nationally. That is close to the national mix.
Other areas in Kansas
Across the 5 areas of Kansas with data for this job, the median runs from $61,010 in the Kansas nonmetro area to $76,690 in Topeka, a gap of $15,680 a year. All 2 areas in Kansas with more recruiters than Topeka pay less, among them Wichita, KS ($65,390) and the Kansas nonmetro area ($61,010).
| Area | Median | vs Topeka | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Topeka, KS | this area | 720 | |
| Manhattan, KS | -0.4% | 500 | |
| Wichita, KS | -14.7% | 1,380 | |
| Lawrence, KS | -16.4% | 230 | |
| Kansas (Nonmetro) | -20.4% | 1,320 |
Topeka against other US metro areas
By number of jobs, Topeka is #167 of 521 US areas for this job. It is a mid-sized market, and its pay is in the top quarter of US areas. Outside Kansas, Philadelphia-Camden and Bakersfield-Delano pay just above Topeka and Madison and Rochester just below. All four are within $100 a year of the median in Topeka. Of the three markets with about as many recruiters, none pays as much.
| Metro area | Median | vs Topeka | Jobs | Close in |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bakersfield-Delano, CA | +0.0% | 1,240 | pay | |
| Philadelphia-Camden, PA-NJ | +0.0% | 16,000 | pay | |
| Topeka, KS | this area | 720 | ||
| Madison, WI | -0.0% | 2,810 | pay | |
| Rochester, NY | -0.1% | 2,460 | pay | |
| Fargo, ND-MN | -0.2% | 720 | jobs | |
| Appleton, WI | -17.0% | 720 | jobs | |
| Corpus Christi, TX | -21.7% | 720 | jobs |
Questions
How much does it cost to hire a recruiter in Topeka, KS?
About $98,955 a year at the median, or $8,246 a month: $76,690 in pay plus about $22,265 in benefits and payroll taxes. Recruiting, equipment and office space are extra.
What is the pay range for recruiters in Topeka?
Pay here is higher than in three quarters of US areas. The median was $76,690 a year in the May 2025 BLS survey. The 10th percentile was $49,120, the 90th $113,610, and the middle half earned $60,430 to $103,630.
Is Topeka the most expensive area in Kansas for recruiters?
Yes. Its median of $76,690 is the highest of 5 areas in Kansas. Manhattan comes next at $76,400.
How many recruiters work in Topeka?
BLS counts about 720 in the May 2025 survey. That is 10% of the Kansas total of 7,560. Only Wichita and the Kansas nonmetro area have more in Kansas.
Does a recruiter cost more than an accountant in Topeka?
Yes: $410 a year more at the median. The medians are $76,690 and $76,280.
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.