Cost of hiring a recruiter in Washington-Arlington, DC-VA
BLS publishes pay for this job in only one area of the District of Columbia, and it is Washington-Arlington. The median is $100,830 a year[1], 9.1% below the District of Columbia median of $110,970 and 32.8% above the US median of $75,940. Only 2 of 521 US areas pay more for this job. BLS counts about 24,450 people in this job here.
BLS occupation 13-1071, area Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV. Data from the May 2025 release, checked 2026-10-15.
Pay in Washington-Arlington against the District of Columbia and the US
| Range | 10th | Median | 90th | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Washington-Arlington, DC-VA | $60,940 | $100,830 | $158,940 | |
| District of Columbia | $65,280 | $110,970 | $170,330 | |
| United States | $47,180 | $75,940 | $128,720 |
Recruiters at the 90th percentile earn $158,940, 2.6 times the 10th percentile; the US ratio is 2.7. The middle half of recruiters in Washington-Arlington earns $76,070–$131,510.
What to budget for a recruiter here
| Point in the local range | Per year | Per month | Per hour | Employer cost per year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $60,940 | $5,078 | $29.30 | $87,057 |
| 25th percentile | $76,070 | $6,339 | $36.57 | $108,671 |
| Median | $100,830 | $8,402 | $48.48 | $144,043 |
| 75th percentile | $131,510 | $10,959 | $63.23 | $187,871 |
| 90th percentile | $158,940 | $13,245 | $76.41 | $227,057 |
The step from the 25th percentile to the median is $24,760 a year; from the median to the 75th it is $30,680, or about $43,829 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.
What a hire really costs in Washington-Arlington
Pay is only part of it. Benefits and payroll taxes are 30.0% of total compensation in US private industry[2], which adds about $43,213 to the $100,830 median and brings it to $144,043 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 fee[3]; Deel's contractor plan is the default payroll tool[4].
Other roles in Washington-Arlington
Of the 17 roles we track in Washington-Arlington, this one ranks #3 by median pay. Project Coordinator is the highest at $127,030 and Virtual Receptionist the lowest at $41,240.
| Role | Median | vs recruiter | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Project Coordinator | +26.0% | 38,230 | |
| Accountant | +1.3% | 41,470 | |
| Recruiter | this role | 24,450 | |
| Executive Assistant | -10.4% | 12,960 | |
| Marketing Specialist | -13.6% | 21,090 | |
| Paralegal | -19.1% | 12,990 | |
| Sales Development Representative | -22.5% | 29,300 | |
| Office Manager | -24.2% | 23,390 | |
| Payroll Specialist | -37.1% | 2,010 | |
| Bookkeeper | -41.2% | 18,550 | |
| HR Assistant | -41.4% | 1,610 | |
| Administrative Assistant | -46.8% | 37,010 | |
| Medical Administrative Assistant | -52.1% | 18,960 | |
| E-commerce Order Specialist | -52.8% | 920 | |
| Customer Support Specialist | -54.2% | 36,750 | |
| Data Entry Specialist | -57.5% | 1,620 | |
| Virtual Receptionist | -59.1% | 17,920 |
Questions
How much does it cost to hire a recruiter in Washington-Arlington, DC-VA?
About $144,043 a year at the median, or $12,004 a month: $100,830 in pay plus benefits and payroll taxes at the 30% share of total compensation in US private industry (June 2026). Recruiting, equipment and office space are extra.
What is the pay range for recruiters in Washington-Arlington?
The median was $100,830 a year in the May 2025 BLS survey. The 10th percentile was $60,940, the 90th $158,940, and the middle half earned $76,070 to $131,510.
How many recruiters work in Washington-Arlington?
BLS counts about 24,450 in the May 2025 survey.
Does a recruiter cost more than an executive assistant in Washington-Arlington?
Yes: $10,510 a year more at the median. The medians are $100,830 and $90,320.
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 2026-11-06.