Recruiter salary in Worcester, MA
Worcester pays recruiters less than Massachusetts as a whole but still more than the country. The median is $77,290 a year1: 9.7% below the Massachusetts statewide median of $85,630 and 1.8% above the US median of $75,940. That is in the top quarter of US areas (#71 of 521). About 2,050 recruiters work here, 8% of the Massachusetts total.
BLS occupation 13-1071, area Worcester, MA. Data from the May 2025 release, checked 2026-10-15.
Pay in Worcester against Massachusetts and the US
| Range | 10th | Median | 90th | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Worcester, MA | $51,360 | $77,290 | $128,250 | |
| Massachusetts | $57,500 | $85,630 | $145,130 | |
| United States | $47,180 | $75,940 | $128,720 |
The middle half of recruiters in Worcester earns $61,860–$101,510. The top tenth earns $128,250 or more, 2.5 times the bottom tenth, close to the US pattern of 2.7 times. The mean ($86,180) is 12% 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 $39,650 wide, against $48,010 across Massachusetts and $40,770 nationally: employers in Worcester 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 | $51,360 | $4,280 | $24.69 | $66,271 |
| 25th percentile | $61,860 | $5,155 | $29.74 | $79,819 |
| Median | $77,290 | $6,441 | $37.16 | $99,729 |
| 75th percentile | $101,510 | $8,459 | $48.80 | $130,981 |
| 90th percentile | $128,250 | $10,688 | $61.66 | $165,484 |
Pay climbs faster above the median than below it here: the 75th percentile is $24,220 over the median, the 25th only $15,430 under it. An offer at the 75th percentile adds about $31,252 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 25th percentile and the median in Worcester, and the Massachusetts statewide median of $85,630 falls between the median and the 75th percentile.
What a hire really costs in Worcester
At the $77,290 median, a local hire costs about $99,729 a year: benefits and payroll taxes other than paid leave are 22.5% of total compensation in US private industry2, about $22,439 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 Worcester
Of the 17 roles we track in Worcester, this one ranks #5 by median pay, between sales development representatives ($77,380) and executive assistants ($75,350). Project Coordinator is the highest at $100,290.
| Role | Median | vs recruiter | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Marketing Specialist | +16.8% | 2,030 | |
| Sales Development Representative | +0.1% | 2,180 | |
| Recruiter | this role | 2,050 | |
| Executive Assistant | -2.5% | 1,310 | |
| Office Manager | -5.4% | 3,380 |
Measured against the US median, recruiters rank #14 of the 17 roles we track in Worcester (+1.8%), between medical administrative assistants (+3.0%) and HR assistants (-1.5%). The typical role here is at +6.2%, so, measured against the US, recruiters cost less in Worcester than the area's general pay level would suggest. Recruiters hold 6.3% of the jobs in these 17 roles in Worcester, 7.0% across Massachusetts and 5.8% nationally. That is close to the national mix.
Other areas in Massachusetts
Across the 7 areas of Massachusetts with data for this job, the median runs from $74,210 in Pittsfield to $90,270 in Boston-Cambridge, a gap of $16,060 a year. The one area in Massachusetts with more recruiters, Boston-Cambridge, MA-NH ($90,270), also pays more.
| Area | Median | vs Worcester | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Boston-Cambridge, MA-NH | +16.8% | 21,770 | |
| Amherst Town-Northampton, MA | +4.5% | 310 | |
| Massachusetts (Nonmetro) | +2.3% | 160 | |
| Springfield, MA | +0.6% | 1,030 | |
| Worcester, MA | this area | 2,050 | |
| Barnstable Town, MA | -1.6% | 400 | |
| Pittsfield, MA | -4.0% | 290 |
Worcester against other US metro areas
By number of jobs, Worcester is #69 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 Massachusetts, Atlantic City-Hammonton and Hagerstown-Martinsburg pay just above Worcester and Syracuse and Modesto just below. All four are within $440 a year of the median in Worcester. Of the three markets with about as many recruiters, none pays as much.
| Metro area | Median | vs Worcester | Jobs | Close in |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hagerstown-Martinsburg, MD-WV | +0.6% | 510 | pay | |
| Atlantic City-Hammonton, NJ | +0.1% | 430 | pay | |
| Worcester, MA | this area | 2,050 | ||
| Syracuse, NY | -0.1% | 1,280 | pay | |
| Modesto, CA | -0.3% | 730 | pay | |
| Honolulu, HI | -2.3% | 1,990 | jobs | |
| Provo-Orem, UT | -5.1% | 2,000 | jobs | |
| Tucson, AZ | -17.3% | 2,130 | jobs |
Questions
How much does it cost to hire a recruiter in Worcester, MA?
About $99,729 a year at the median, or $8,311 a month: $77,290 in pay plus about $22,439 in benefits and payroll taxes. Recruiting, equipment and office space are extra.
What is the pay range for recruiters in Worcester?
Pay here is higher than in three quarters of US areas. The median was $77,290 a year in the May 2025 BLS survey. The 10th percentile was $51,360, the 90th $128,250, and the middle half earned $61,860 to $101,510.
Is Worcester cheaper than the rest of Massachusetts for recruiters?
Yes, it costs less: a median of $77,290 against $85,630 statewide. The next area up in Massachusetts is Springfield at $77,740, the next down Barnstable Town at $76,020.
How many recruiters work in Worcester?
BLS counts about 2,050 in the May 2025 survey. That is 8% of the Massachusetts total of 27,300. Only Boston-Cambridge has more in Massachusetts.
Does a recruiter cost more than an executive assistant in Worcester?
Yes: $1,940 a year more at the median. The medians are $77,290 and $75,350.
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.