Recruiting is one of the roles within Human Resources that is easy to transition to a remote function. The position of Virtual or Remote Recruiter existed before the COVID pandemic.
As of January 2024, the average salary for a Virtual Recruiter was $53,461 per year, with an average salary range of $46,388 to $60,406 per year, this being a non-location/region-specific range, but a global one.
The average salary for a remote recruiter in the US is $72,000 per year, with an average salary range $58,000 - $90,000 per year.
The salary may vary depending on factors such as experience level, country, industry, or recruiter expertise.
Salary based on experience
When determining salary data for remote roles, one of the challenges is the significant discrepancies between regions. Here are the salary ranges based on experience level in the US, the UK, and Singapore:
US salary ranges based on experience (source: builtin.com):
| Experience Level | Salary Range |
|---|---|
| Entry-level (0-1 year) | $50,000 - $60,000 per year |
| Mid-level (2-5 years) | $80,000 - $105,000 per year |
| Senior-level (7+ years) | $140,000 - $225,000 per year |
Singapore salary ranges based on experience (source: payscale.com):
| Experience Level | Salary Range (USD) |
|---|---|
| Entry-level (0-1 year) | $20,800 - $21,000 per year |
| Mid-level (2-5 years) | $35,000 - $35,500 per year |
| Senior-level (7+ years) | $38,000 per year |
In addition, the average monthly pay for recruiters in Singapore is approximately $3,600 at Adecco, and approximately $5,800 at Google.
For remote recruiters in the UK, the salary range is between £22,000 to £37,000 ($27,353 to $45,844). You can find more information on the salary range here.
Internal vs External Recruiters
Internal recruiters are employees of a company and typically have a set salary, which has a cap on it. According to Glassdoor, the national average salary for internal recruiters in the United States is $79,956 per year.
On the other hand, external recruiters, also known as agency recruiters, work for themselves or an agency and are paid on a commission basis. They receive a recruitment fee or placement fee from the company for each successful placement. The earning potential for external recruiters is typically higher than for internal recruiters. According to Glassdoor, the average salary for external recruiters in the United States is $77,000 per year, with a salary range between $63,000 - $96,000.
Highest salaries for recruiters
The highest salaries paid to recruiters are in the Web3 industry, with an average of $142,000 per year and a salary range between $70,000 and $300,000 per year. Tech companies also offer high salaries to recruiters. Here are some examples:
Salesforce average recruiter salary: $103,920 per year
Autodesk average recruiter salary: $139,771 per year
Meta average recruiter salary: $156,310 per year
Visa average recruiter salary: $240,000 per year
States with the highest salaries for recruiters
Location plays an important role in determining salary ranges, and recruiting is no exception.
| State | Average Salary | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Massachusetts | $66,136 | Source |
| California | $65,166 | Source |
| New York | $62,624 | Source |
| Rhode Island | $62,038 | Source |
| Alaska | $60,762 | Source |
| Oregon | $59,266 | Source |
| Connecticut | $58,433 | Source |
| Virginia | $57,312 | Source |
In recent years, due to the ability to work remotely, multinational companies have shifted recruiter roles from the US to more affordable countries in South America or even Europe.