Recruiter salary in Trenton-Princeton, NJ
Recruiters earn more in Trenton-Princeton than anywhere else in New Jersey. Expect a median of $80,340 a year1, about level with the New Jersey statewide median of $80,690 and 5.8% above the US median of $75,940. Only 30 of 521 US areas pay more for this job. With about 1,400 recruiters, 6% of the New Jersey total, no area in New Jersey employs more.
BLS occupation 13-1071, area Trenton-Princeton, NJ. Data from the May 2025 release, checked 2026-10-15.
Pay in Trenton-Princeton against New Jersey and the US
| Range | 10th | Median | 90th | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Trenton-Princeton, NJ | $53,890 | $80,340 | $127,730 | |
| New Jersey | $56,420 | $80,690 | $132,770 | |
| United States | $47,180 | $75,940 | $128,720 |
The middle half of recruiters in Trenton-Princeton earns $63,080–$102,160. Pay is tightly grouped: the top tenth starts at $127,730, only 2.4 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 $39,080 wide, between the figure for New Jersey ($37,270) and the US figure ($40,770).
What to budget for a recruiter here
| Point in the local range | Per year | Per month | Per hour | Employer cost per year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $53,890 | $4,491 | $25.91 | $69,535 |
| 25th percentile | $63,080 | $5,257 | $30.33 | $81,394 |
| Median | $80,340 | $6,695 | $38.62 | $103,665 |
| 75th percentile | $102,160 | $8,513 | $49.12 | $131,819 |
| 90th percentile | $127,730 | $10,644 | $61.41 | $164,813 |
The step from the 25th percentile to the median is $17,260 a year; from the median to the 75th it is $21,820, or about $28,155 once benefits are added. 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 Trenton-Princeton, and the New Jersey statewide median of $80,690 falls between the median and the 75th percentile.
What a hire really costs in Trenton-Princeton
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 $23,325 to the $80,340 median and brings it to $103,665 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 Trenton-Princeton
Of the 17 roles we track in Trenton-Princeton, this one ranks #5 by median pay, between executive assistants ($80,700) and office managers ($79,460). Project Coordinator is the highest at $113,750.
| Role | Median | vs recruiter | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Marketing Specialist | +2.2% | 1,140 | |
| Executive Assistant | +0.4% | 1,250 | |
| Recruiter | this role | 1,400 | |
| Office Manager | -1.1% | 2,770 | |
| Sales Development Representative | -3.5% | 1,620 |
Measured against the US median, recruiters rank #12 of the 17 roles we track in Trenton-Princeton (+5.8%), between customer support specialists (+6.3%) and executive assistants (+5.4%). The typical role here is at +7.1%, so this job follows the area's general pay level. Recruiters hold 5.4% of the jobs in these 17 roles in Trenton-Princeton, 4.5% across New Jersey and 5.8% nationally. That is close to the national mix.
Other areas in New Jersey
Across the 3 areas of New Jersey with data for this job, the median runs from $74,880 in Vineland to $80,340 in Trenton-Princeton, a gap of $5,460 a year. No other area in New Jersey has as many recruiters, and both others pay less.
| Area | Median | vs Trenton-Princeton | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trenton-Princeton, NJ | this area | 1,400 | |
| Atlantic City-Hammonton, NJ | -3.7% | 430 | |
| Vineland, NJ | -6.8% | 200 |
Trenton-Princeton against other US metro areas
By number of jobs, Trenton-Princeton is #93 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 New Jersey, Santa Maria-Santa Barbara and Oxnard-Thousand Oaks pay just above Trenton-Princeton and Minneapolis-St. Paul and Salem just below. All four are within $220 a year of the median in Trenton-Princeton. Of the three markets with about as many recruiters, one pays more.
| Metro area | Median | vs Trenton-Princeton | Jobs | Close in |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Olympia-Lacey, WA | +7.9% | 1,410 | jobs | |
| Oxnard-Thousand Oaks, CA | +0.3% | 1,710 | pay | |
| Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA | +0.0% | 870 | pay | |
| Trenton-Princeton, NJ | this area | 1,400 | ||
| Minneapolis-St. Paul, MN-WI | -0.0% | 12,660 | pay | |
| Salem, OR | -0.1% | 1,070 | pay | |
| Davenport-Moline, IA-IL | -0.8% | 1,420 | jobs | |
| Wichita, KS | -18.6% | 1,380 | jobs |
Questions
How much does it cost to hire a recruiter in Trenton-Princeton, NJ?
About $103,665 a year at the median, or $8,639 a month: $80,340 in pay plus about $23,325 in benefits and payroll taxes. Recruiting, equipment and office space are extra.
What do recruiters earn in Trenton-Princeton?
Pay here is higher than in three quarters of US areas. The median was $80,340 a year in the May 2025 BLS survey. The 10th percentile was $53,890, the 90th $127,730, and the middle half earned $63,080 to $102,160.
Is Trenton-Princeton the most expensive area in New Jersey for recruiters?
Yes. Its median of $80,340 is the highest of 3 areas in New Jersey. Atlantic City-Hammonton comes next at $77,380.
How many recruiters work in Trenton-Princeton?
BLS counts about 1,400 in the May 2025 survey. That is 6% of the New Jersey total of 21,690. No other area in New Jersey has as many.
Does a recruiter cost more than an office manager in Trenton-Princeton?
Yes: $880 a year more at the median. The medians are $80,340 and $79,460.
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.