Recruiter salary in Tuscaloosa, AL
Tuscaloosa is a lower-cost market for recruiters: the median of $63,220 a year1 is 2.6% below the Alabama statewide median of $64,940, and 16.8% below the US median of $75,940. Nationally it ranks #353 of 521 areas. About 520 recruiters work here, 5% of the Alabama total.
BLS occupation 13-1071, area Tuscaloosa, AL. Data from the May 2025 release, checked 2026-10-15.
Pay in Tuscaloosa against Alabama and the US
| Range | 10th | Median | 90th | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tuscaloosa, AL | $43,420 | $63,220 | $111,810 | |
| Alabama | $41,890 | $64,940 | $112,880 | |
| United States | $47,180 | $75,940 | $128,720 |
Recruiters at the 90th percentile earn $111,810, 2.6 times the 10th percentile; the US ratio is 2.7. The middle half of recruiters in Tuscaloosa earns $50,640–$85,280. The mean ($71,810) is 14% 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 $34,640 wide, between the figure for Alabama ($34,100) 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 | $43,420 | $3,618 | $20.88 | $56,026 |
| 25th percentile | $50,640 | $4,220 | $24.35 | $65,342 |
| Median | $63,220 | $5,268 | $30.39 | $81,574 |
| 75th percentile | $85,280 | $7,107 | $41.00 | $110,039 |
| 90th percentile | $111,810 | $9,318 | $53.75 | $144,271 |
Pay climbs faster above the median than below it here: the 75th percentile is $22,060 over the median, the 25th only $12,580 under it. An offer at the 75th percentile adds about $28,465 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 median and the 75th percentile in Tuscaloosa, and the Alabama statewide median of $64,940 falls there too.
What a hire really costs in Tuscaloosa
At the $63,220 median, a local hire costs about $81,574 a year: benefits and payroll taxes other than paid leave are 22.5% of total compensation in US private industry2, about $18,354 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 fee3; Deel's contractor plan is the default payroll tool4.
Other roles in Tuscaloosa
Of the 16 roles we track in Tuscaloosa, this one ranks #4 by median pay, between executive assistants ($66,930) and office managers ($59,880). Project Coordinator is the highest at $93,380.
| Role | Median | vs recruiter | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Accountant | +13.4% | 960 | |
| Executive Assistant | +5.9% | 130 | |
| Recruiter | this role | 520 | |
| Office Manager | -5.3% | 970 | |
| Marketing Specialist | -16.0% | 310 |
Measured against the US median, recruiters rank #8 of the 16 roles we track in Tuscaloosa (-16.8%), between customer support specialists (-15.1%) and virtual receptionists (-19.4%). The typical role here is at -18.1%, so this job follows the area's general pay level. Recruiters hold 5.8% of the jobs in these 16 roles in Tuscaloosa, 5.1% across Alabama and 5.8% nationally. That is close to the national mix.
Other areas in Alabama
Across the 16 areas of Alabama with data for this job, the median runs from $55,720 in Gadsden to $78,780 in Huntsville, a gap of $23,060 a year. Of the 5 areas in Alabama with more recruiters than Tuscaloosa, 1 pays less: the Northeast Alabama nonmetro area ($59,190).
| Area | Median | vs Tuscaloosa | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mobile, AL | +1.6% | 800 | |
| Montgomery, AL | +1.5% | 970 | |
| Southeast Alabama (Nonmetro) | +0.7% | 400 | |
| Tuscaloosa, AL | this area | 520 | |
| Auburn-Opelika, AL | -0.3% | 350 | |
| Decatur, AL | -0.3% | 260 | |
| Daphne-Fairhope, AL | -1.0% | 380 |
Tuscaloosa against other US metro areas
By number of jobs, Tuscaloosa is #239 of 521 US areas for this job. Both its size and its pay sit in the middle half of US areas. Outside Alabama, Janesville-Beloit and Lincoln pay just above Tuscaloosa and Bay City and Oklahoma City just below. All four are within $60 a year of the median in Tuscaloosa. Of the three markets with about as many recruiters, two pay more.
| Metro area | Median | vs Tuscaloosa | Jobs | Close in |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bend, OR | +20.5% | 530 | jobs | |
| Longview, TX | +2.4% | 520 | jobs | |
| Lincoln, NE | +0.1% | 1,130 | pay | |
| Janesville-Beloit, WI | +0.1% | 500 | pay | |
| Tuscaloosa, AL | this area | 520 | ||
| Bay City, MI | -0.0% | 120 | pay | |
| Oklahoma City, OK | -0.1% | 3,900 | pay | |
| Jefferson City, MO | -1.3% | 530 | jobs |
Questions
How much does it cost to hire a recruiter in Tuscaloosa, AL?
About $81,574 a year at the median, or $6,798 a month: $63,220 in pay plus about $18,354 in benefits and payroll taxes. Recruiting, equipment and office space are extra.
What is the pay range for recruiters in Tuscaloosa?
The median was $63,220 a year in the May 2025 BLS survey. The 10th percentile was $43,420, the 90th $111,810, and the middle half earned $50,640 to $85,280.
Is Tuscaloosa cheaper than the rest of Alabama for recruiters?
Yes, it costs less: a median of $63,220 against $64,940 statewide. The next area up in Alabama is the Southeast Alabama nonmetro area at $63,680, the next down Auburn-Opelika at $63,030.
How many recruiters work in Tuscaloosa?
BLS counts about 520 in the May 2025 survey. That is 5% of the Alabama total of 11,080. 5 areas in Alabama have more; the closest in size is the Northeast Alabama nonmetro area, with about 590.
Does a recruiter cost more than an office manager in Tuscaloosa?
Yes: $3,340 a year more at the median. The medians are $63,220 and $59,880.
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.