Recruiter salary in Virginia Beach-Chesapeake, VA-NC
For this job Virginia Beach-Chesapeake sits right at the US figure, with a median of $76,240 a year1. That is about level with the US median of $75,940, and 7.1% below the Virginia statewide median of $82,090. That is in the top quarter of US areas (#91 of 521). BLS counts about 4,290 people in this job here.
BLS occupation 13-1071, area Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC. Data from the May 2025 release, checked 2026-10-15.
Pay in Virginia Beach-Chesapeake against Virginia and the US
| Range | 10th | Median | 90th | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Virginia Beach-Chesapeake, VA-NC | $47,210 | $76,240 | $120,530 | |
| Virginia | $48,530 | $82,090 | $136,660 | |
| United States | $47,180 | $75,940 | $128,720 |
Recruiters at the 90th percentile earn $120,530, 2.6 times the 10th percentile; the US ratio is 2.7. The middle half of recruiters in Virginia Beach-Chesapeake earns $59,220–$97,780. From the 25th to the 75th percentile, the local range is only $38,560 wide, against $46,900 across Virginia and $40,770 nationally: employers in Virginia Beach-Chesapeake 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 | $47,210 | $3,934 | $22.70 | $60,916 |
| 25th percentile | $59,220 | $4,935 | $28.47 | $76,413 |
| Median | $76,240 | $6,353 | $36.65 | $98,374 |
| 75th percentile | $97,780 | $8,148 | $47.01 | $126,168 |
| 90th percentile | $120,530 | $10,044 | $57.95 | $155,523 |
The step from the 25th percentile to the median is $17,020 a year; from the median to the 75th it is $21,540, or about $27,794 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 Virginia Beach-Chesapeake, and the Virginia statewide median of $82,090 falls between the median and the 75th percentile.
What a hire really costs in Virginia Beach-Chesapeake
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 $22,134 to the $76,240 median and brings it to $98,374 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 Virginia Beach-Chesapeake
Of the 17 roles we track in Virginia Beach-Chesapeake, this one ranks #3 by median pay, between accountants ($79,450) and marketing specialists ($69,560). Project Coordinator is the highest at $104,920.
| Role | Median | vs recruiter | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Project Coordinator | +37.6% | 6,040 | |
| Accountant | +4.2% | 6,160 | |
| Recruiter | this role | 4,290 | |
| Marketing Specialist | -8.8% | 3,500 | |
| Executive Assistant | -11.3% | 1,140 |
Measured against the US median, recruiters rank #2 of the 17 roles we track in Virginia Beach-Chesapeake (+0.4%), between project coordinators (+2.5%) and administrative assistants (-2.6%). The typical role here is at -6.7%, so, measured against the US, recruiters cost more in Virginia Beach-Chesapeake than the area's general pay level would suggest. Recruiters hold 6.2% of the jobs in these 17 roles in Virginia Beach-Chesapeake, 6.7% across Virginia and 5.8% nationally. That is close to the national mix.
Other areas in Virginia
Across the 13 areas of Virginia with data for this job, the median runs from $62,310 in Harrisonburg to $82,430 in Charlottesville, a gap of $20,120 a year. The one area in Virginia with more recruiters, Richmond, VA ($79,340), also pays more.
| Area | Median | vs Virginia Beach-Chesapeake | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Richmond, VA | +4.1% | 4,540 | |
| Winchester, VA-WV | +3.7% | 460 | |
| Northeast Virginia (Nonmetro) | +2.7% | 270 | |
| Virginia Beach-Chesapeake, VA-NC | this area | 4,290 | |
| Southside Virginia (Nonmetro) | -8.1% | 390 | |
| Northwest Virginia (Nonmetro) | -8.2% | 210 | |
| Blacksburg-Christiansburg, VA | -8.3% | 360 |
Virginia Beach-Chesapeake against other US metro areas
By number of jobs, Virginia Beach-Chesapeake is #43 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 Virginia, Hanford-Corcoran and Manhattan pay just above Virginia Beach-Chesapeake and Crestview-Fort Walton Beach and Bend just below. All four are within $160 a year of the median in Virginia Beach-Chesapeake. Of the three markets with about as many recruiters, one pays more.
| Metro area | Median | vs Virginia Beach-Chesapeake | Jobs | Close in |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Providence-Warwick, RI-MA | +0.9% | 4,180 | jobs | |
| Manhattan, KS | +0.2% | 500 | pay | |
| Hanford-Corcoran, CA | +0.0% | 110 | pay | |
| Virginia Beach-Chesapeake, VA-NC | this area | 4,290 | ||
| Crestview-Fort Walton Beach, FL | -0.0% | 630 | pay | |
| Bend, OR | -0.1% | 530 | pay | |
| Las Vegas-Henderson, NV | -8.3% | 4,470 | jobs | |
| Omaha, NE-IA | -18.9% | 4,330 | jobs |
Questions
How much does it cost to hire a recruiter in Virginia Beach-Chesapeake, VA-NC?
About $98,374 a year at the median, or $8,198 a month: $76,240 in pay plus about $22,134 in benefits and payroll taxes. Recruiting, equipment and office space are extra.
What do recruiters earn in Virginia Beach-Chesapeake?
Pay here is higher than in three quarters of US areas. The median was $76,240 a year in the May 2025 BLS survey. The 10th percentile was $47,210, the 90th $120,530, and the middle half earned $59,220 to $97,780.
Is Virginia Beach-Chesapeake cheaper than the rest of Virginia for recruiters?
Yes, it costs less: a median of $76,240 against $82,090 statewide. The next area up in Virginia is the Northeast Virginia nonmetro area at $78,290, the next down the Southside Virginia nonmetro area at $70,040.
How many recruiters work in Virginia Beach-Chesapeake?
BLS counts about 4,290 in the May 2025 survey. Only Richmond has more in Virginia.
Does a recruiter cost more than a marketing specialist in Virginia Beach-Chesapeake?
Yes: $6,680 a year more at the median. The medians are $76,240 and $69,560.
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.