Recruiter salary and cost of hiring in Wisconsin
The median recruiter in Wisconsin earned $70,540 a year in May 2025[1], 7.1% below the US median of $75,940. That puts Wisconsin at #28 of 51 states for this job.
BLS occupation 13-1071. Data from the May 2025 release, checked 2026-10-15.
Salary range
| Range | 10th | Median | 90th | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wisconsin | $47,860 | $70,540 | $105,270 | |
| United States | $47,180 | $75,940 | $128,720 |
The middle half of recruiters in Wisconsin earns $57,880–$85,440; the top tenth earns $105,270 or more, 2.2 times the bottom tenth.
What a hire really costs
Benefits and payroll taxes are 30.0% of total compensation in US private industry[2]. At the Wisconsin median that makes about $100,771 a year before recruiting, equipment and office space. 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].
Pay by metro area in Wisconsin
| Area | Median | 75th percentile | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Madison, WI | $90,170 | 2,810 | |
| Western Wisconsin nonmetropolitan area | $94,520 | 580 | |
| Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI | $93,280 | 5,050 | |
| Sheboygan, WI | $89,430 | 290 | |
| Fond du Lac, WI | $90,500 | 270 | |
| Green Bay, WI | $87,530 | 900 | |
| Oshkosh-Neenah, WI | $83,350 | 530 | |
| Racine-Mount Pleasant, WI | $86,920 | 400 | |
| Wausau, WI | $81,410 | 330 | |
| South Central Wisconsin nonmetropolitan area | $80,660 | 910 | |
| La Crosse-Onalaska, WI-MN | $81,370 | 390 | |
| Eau Claire, WI | $79,820 | 390 | |
| Kenosha, WI | $81,190 | 470 | |
| Northwestern Wisconsin nonmetropolitan area | $78,480 | 170 | |
| Northeastern Wisconsin nonmetropolitan area | $81,650 | 900 | |
| Appleton, WI | $80,260 | 720 | |
| Janesville-Beloit, WI | $79,360 | 500 |
Madison, WI pays the most ($76,660) and Janesville-Beloit, WI the least ($63,270): $13,390 a year apart for the same job.
What a recruiter does
A recruiter finds and attracts candidates, screens them, manages the interview process and closes offers for the hiring managers.
Neighbours in the ranking
| State | Median | vs Wisconsin |
|---|---|---|
| New Hampshire | +0.4% | |
| Georgia (US state) | +0.0% | |
| Wisconsin | +0.0% | |
| Pennsylvania | -0.1% | |
| Ohio | -0.5% |
Questions
How much does a recruiter earn in Wisconsin?
The median was $70,540 a year in the May 2025 BLS survey; the middle half earned $57,880 to $85,440.
What does it cost to employ a recruiter in Wisconsin?
About $100,771 a year at the median wage once benefits are added, using the 30% benefits share of US private industry (June 2026).
Where in Wisconsin do recruiters earn the most?
Madison, WI, with a median of $76,660 a year.
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 2026-11-05.