Recruiters play a key role in connecting qualified candidates with companies looking to fill open positions. But if you’ve ever wondered, how much do recruiters make per hire or how do recruiters get paid—you’re not alone. Understanding how recruiters make money, whether they’re part of a staffing agency or working in-house, can help both job seekers and businesses get a clearer picture of how recruitment costs and commissions work.
In this article, we’ll break down how recruiters earn, what affects their pay, and how their compensation model changes depending on the type of recruiter, industry, and hiring setup.
How Do Recruiters Make Money?
Before getting into exact numbers, it’s important to understand the two main ways recruiters make money: base salary and commission.
Some recruiters, especially internal recruiters (those employed by a company’s HR department), are paid a yearly salary without commissions. Their income usually doesn’t change depending on how many roles they fill. On the other hand, external recruiters or agency recruiters typically work for a recruitment agency or staffing agency and earn money through commissions based on successful placements.
So when you ask, how do recruiters make money—the answer depends on who they work for and how their pay structure is set up.
How Much Do Recruiters Make Per Hire?
The answer to how much does a recruiter make per hire depends heavily on the industry, position level, and type of recruitment firm.
Agency Recruiters
Most agency recruiters earn commission when they successfully place a candidate. A typical agency charges a business 15% to 25% of the candidate’s first annual salary. For senior or hard-to-fill roles, that rate can go up to 30% or even higher.
So, if a recruiter places someone earning $100,000 a year and the agency charges a 20% fee, they bring in $20,000. The recruiter might get a cut of that amount, depending on their contract with the agency.
Let’s say an agency pays its recruiters 30% commission on each placement. In that case, the recruiter makes $6,000 for that hire.
Internal Recruiters
Internal recruiters usually don’t earn a commission per hire. Instead, they earn a base salary, which can range from $50,000 to $90,000 per year, depending on location and company size. Larger companies hiring for high-level roles might offer more competitive packages or bonuses based on hiring goals.
How Much Do Recruiters Make Per Hire Per Month?
To figure out how much do recruiters make per hire per month, we have to consider how many hires a recruiter typically makes.
An external recruiter might place anywhere from 2 to 10 candidates a month, depending on the roles they’re filling. If they earn an average of $5,000 to $10,000 per placement, their monthly income could range from $10,000 to $50,000. Of course, this varies depending on experience, commission structure, and how active the market is.
Internal recruiters with a fixed salary don’t see monthly spikes unless they get bonuses tied to performance. In most cases, internal recruitment pay is spread out evenly across the year.
Do Recruiters Get Commission from Your Salary?
This is one of the most common myths about recruiters. So, do recruiters get commission from your salary?
No, not directly. Recruiters do not take money out of your salary. The company that hires you pays the recruitment agency separately. If a recruiter earns commission, it’s based on the salary they helped negotiate for you, but you keep 100% of what you earn.
Think of it like a finder’s fee paid by the employer—it doesn’t come out of your paycheck.
Do Recruiters Get Commission If I Quit?
Here’s where it gets a little tricky. Companies usually include a guarantee period in their contracts with recruitment agencies. If the new hire quits within that period—typically 30 to 90 days—the agency often has to refund the fee or find a replacement for free.
So, do recruiters get commission if you quit? If the hire doesn’t last past the guarantee window, the recruiter may lose their commission or have to replace the role to keep it. Some agencies hold the commission in reserve until after that guarantee period ends.
How Much Do Army Recruiters Make Per Hire?
Army recruiters work differently. Unlike agency or corporate recruiters, Army recruiters are active-duty military personnel. They don’t receive commission per recruit. Instead, their pay is based on military rank and time in service, not on the number of recruits they bring in.
So, how much do Army recruiters make per hire? There’s no per-hire payment structure, but high-performing recruiters may receive awards, promotions, or special duty pay, depending on recruitment goals.
How Much Do Recruiters Make Per Hour?
If you break down a recruiter’s earnings, hourly rates vary wildly based on role and commission structure.
- Internal recruiters typically earn between $24 to $45 per hour based on their annual salary.
- Agency recruiters, especially those on commission, might earn much more depending on how many roles they’re filling.
For example, a recruiter earning $15,000 from one hire in a week could effectively be making hundreds per hour, though that income isn’t always steady.
So if you’re asking how much do recruiters make per hour, the answer ranges from entry-level hourly rates to six-figure annual earnings, depending on the setup.
Do Recruiters Get Paid for Every Recruit?
Do recruiters get paid for every recruit? Yes—if they’re external recruiters working on commission and the candidate accepts the offer and stays past the guarantee period.
If a candidate drops out before starting, ghosts the employer, or gets rejected during the process, the recruiter gets nothing.
In contrast, internal recruiters are salaried and aren’t paid per recruit, so their income doesn’t change from month to month regardless of how many positions they fill.
What is the Standard Commission for a Recruiter?
Most external recruitment agencies charge companies 15% to 25% of the hired candidate’s first-year salary. Some go as low as 10%, while others charge 30% or more for senior positions.
Recruiters then earn a percentage of that fee—commonly 30% to 50%. For example, if the agency charges a company $15,000 and the recruiter has a 40% split, they’ll earn $6,000 for that placement.
What is the standard commission for a recruiter? Around 15-25% is the industry norm from the client side, while recruiters themselves usually pocket 30-50% of that amount.
Different Types of Recruiters and Their Pay Models
Internal Recruiters
- Pay Type: Salary
- Bonuses: Sometimes
- Commission: Rarely
- Typical Annual Salary: $50,000–$90,000
Agency Recruiters
- Pay Type: Base + commission
- Commission Rate: 30%–50% of agency fee
- Placement Fee (Agency): 15%–30% of annual salary
- Typical Annual Earnings: $70,000–$200,000+
Army Recruiters
- Pay Type: Military pay grade
- Commission: None
- Bonuses: May receive duty pay or awards
Recap: What Recruiters Really Earn
Recruiters can earn anywhere from $50,000 to over $200,000 per year, depending on their role, how many placements they make, and the type of clients they work with. While internal recruiters enjoy consistent paychecks, agency recruiters often thrive on commission. Your salary as a job seeker isn’t reduced to pay them—the employer covers all recruitment fees.
So if you’ve ever wondered how much do recruiters make per hire per month or whether recruiters get commission from your salary—now you know the details.
FAQ’S
How much do recruiters get per hire?
External recruiters can make between $3,000 to $25,000 or more per hire, depending on the role and salary level.
Do recruiters get paid for every recruit?
Only if the candidate is placed and passes the guarantee period—otherwise, external recruiters don’t get paid.
How much does a recruiter make on a placement?
Anywhere from $2,000 to over $20,000, depending on commission and agency fees.
What is the standard commission for a recruiter?
Agencies usually charge 15–25% of a candidate’s first-year salary. Recruiters typically earn 30–50% of that fee.
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