Recruiter salary in Winston-Salem, NC
Winston-Salem is a lower-cost market for recruiters: the median of $68,540 a year1 is 6.2% below the North Carolina statewide median of $73,070, and 9.7% below the US median of $75,940. Nationally it ranks #215 of 521 areas. About 1,370 recruiters work here, 4% of the North Carolina total.
BLS occupation 13-1071, area Winston-Salem, NC. Data from the May 2025 release, checked 2026-10-15.
Pay in Winston-Salem against North Carolina and the US
| Range | 10th | Median | 90th | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Winston-Salem, NC | $45,780 | $68,540 | $117,840 | |
| North Carolina | $46,760 | $73,070 | $126,000 | |
| United States | $47,180 | $75,940 | $128,720 |
Recruiters at the 90th percentile earn $117,840, 2.6 times the 10th percentile; the US ratio is 2.7. The middle half of recruiters in Winston-Salem earns $53,870–$91,860. The mean ($76,080) is 11% 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 only $37,990 wide, against $40,060 across North Carolina and $40,770 nationally: employers in Winston-Salem 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 | $45,780 | $3,815 | $22.01 | $59,071 |
| 25th percentile | $53,870 | $4,489 | $25.90 | $69,510 |
| Median | $68,540 | $5,712 | $32.95 | $88,439 |
| 75th percentile | $91,860 | $7,655 | $44.16 | $118,529 |
| 90th percentile | $117,840 | $9,820 | $56.65 | $152,052 |
Pay climbs faster above the median than below it here: the 75th percentile is $23,320 over the median, the 25th only $14,670 under it. An offer at the 75th percentile adds about $30,090 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 Winston-Salem, and the North Carolina statewide median of $73,070 falls there too.
What a hire really costs in Winston-Salem
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 $19,899 to the $68,540 median and brings it to $88,439 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 Winston-Salem
Of the 17 roles we track in Winston-Salem, this one ranks #4 by median pay, between marketing specialists ($73,320) and executive assistants ($67,860). Project Coordinator is the highest at $79,560.
| Role | Median | vs recruiter | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Accountant | +15.2% | 2,030 | |
| Marketing Specialist | +7.0% | 1,300 | |
| Recruiter | this role | 1,370 | |
| Executive Assistant | -1.0% | 510 | |
| Office Manager | -9.1% | 1,880 |
Measured against the US median, recruiters rank #9 of the 17 roles we track in Winston-Salem (-9.7%), between virtual receptionists (-7.0%) and office managers (-10.3%). The typical role here is at -9.7%, so this job follows the area's general pay level. Recruiters hold 5.3% of the jobs in these 17 roles in Winston-Salem, 6.0% across North Carolina and 5.8% nationally. That is close to the national mix.
Other areas in North Carolina
Across the 18 areas of North Carolina with data for this job, the median runs from $61,660 in Rocky Mount to $81,100 in Durham-Chapel Hill, a gap of $19,440 a year. Of the 4 areas in North Carolina with more recruiters than Winston-Salem, 1 pays less: Greensboro-High Point, NC ($67,660).
| Area | Median | vs Winston-Salem | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Raleigh-Cary, NC | +8.2% | 5,710 | |
| Asheville, NC | +2.4% | 910 | |
| Burlington, NC | +1.4% | 280 | |
| Winston-Salem, NC | this area | 1,370 | |
| Greensboro-High Point, NC | -1.3% | 2,630 | |
| Goldsboro, NC | -2.7% | 150 | |
| Greenville, NC | -3.4% | 430 |
Winston-Salem against other US metro areas
By number of jobs, Winston-Salem is #97 of 521 US areas for this job. It is one of the larger markets for this job, with pay near the middle of the US range. Outside North Carolina, Gulfport-Biloxi and Pueblo pay just above Winston-Salem and Naples-Marco Island and Sioux Falls just below. All four are within $310 a year of the median in Winston-Salem. Of the three markets with about as many recruiters, one pays more.
| Metro area | Median | vs Winston-Salem | Jobs | Close in |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spokane-Spokane Valley, WA | +8.6% | 1,370 | jobs | |
| Pueblo, CO | +0.4% | 290 | pay | |
| Gulfport-Biloxi, MS | +0.4% | 760 | pay | |
| Winston-Salem, NC | this area | 1,370 | ||
| Naples-Marco Island, FL | -0.2% | 730 | pay | |
| Sioux Falls, SD-MN | -0.5% | 670 | pay | |
| Wichita, KS | -4.6% | 1,380 | jobs | |
| Lakeland-Winter Haven, FL | -8.1% | 1,370 | jobs |
Questions
How much does it cost to hire a recruiter in Winston-Salem, NC?
About $88,439 a year at the median, or $7,370 a month: $68,540 in pay plus about $19,899 in benefits and payroll taxes. Recruiting, equipment and office space are extra.
What is the pay range for recruiters in Winston-Salem?
The median was $68,540 a year in the May 2025 BLS survey. The 10th percentile was $45,780, the 90th $117,840, and the middle half earned $53,870 to $91,860.
Is Winston-Salem cheaper than the rest of North Carolina for recruiters?
Yes, it costs less: a median of $68,540 against $73,070 statewide. The next area up in North Carolina is Burlington at $69,500, the next down Greensboro-High Point at $67,660.
How many recruiters work in Winston-Salem?
BLS counts about 1,370 in the May 2025 survey. That is 4% of the North Carolina total of 31,140. 4 areas in North Carolina have more; the closest in size is Durham-Chapel Hill, with about 2,370.
Does a recruiter cost more than an executive assistant in Winston-Salem?
Yes: $680 a year more at the median. The medians are $68,540 and $67,860.
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.