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Recruiter Salary and Equity in 2026
How much do Recruiters expect to make at US-based startups? The average expected salary for Recruiters in a startup is 97k per year, with a range from 35k to 200k. The salary range for Recruiters varies depending on factors such as location, industry, experience, skills, and startup stage.
97.3k
Average Salary
2 years
Average years of experience
Salary
The average Recruiter salary is $97,292, which is 13.8% lower than the average startup salary of $112,833. Recruiter salaries are based on exclusive Wellfound data. All data is updated on a weekly basis. Factors that may influence salary include: location, years of experience, title, size of company, skill-set, and industry.
Top of market
$171,667/yr
Range $126k - $200k
Average
$97,292/yr
Range $55k - $120k
Below Average
$65,875/yr
Range $35k - $81k
Top Locations
The highest average salary a Recruiter can get in Cambridge, that is $150,000. This pay is 54.2% higher than the average Recruiter salary in startups, which is $97,292. Salaries will vary based on your location. The top-paying markets in the US, on average, are currently: Cambridge (avg $150,000 per year), Seattle (avg $129,000 per year), Los Angeles (avg $125,000 per year). Remote jobs often pay based on the location you reside in.
Cambridge
$150k
Seattle
$129k
Los Angeles
$125k
Denver
$100k
Austin
$86k
Remote
$85k
Boston
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View SalariesSan Francisco Bay Area
View SalariesIndustries
The highest average salary a Recruiter can get in Certification Test, that is $223,000. This pay is 23.5% higher than the average Recruiter salary, which is $180,600. The highest-paying industries in 2023 are: Certification Test (avg $223,000 per year), E Learn (avg $223,000 per year), Hybrid Vehicles (avg $186,000 per year).
Years of experience
Below Average
Average
Top of Market
The highest average salary a Recruiter can get with 10+ years of experience, that is $95,000. This pay is 2.4% lower than the average Recruiter salary, which is $97,292. The salary range varies with years of experience and depends on other factors such as skill set, size of company, and industry.
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Industries for Recruiter
Blockchain / CryptocurrencyFin TechBig DataFood and BeveragesMarketplacesSmall and Medium BusinessesReal EstateDigital MarketingHealth and WellnessMobile ApplicationArtificial IntelligenceSales and MarketingFinancial ServicesSoftwareEducationTechnologyB2BSaaSE-CommerceHealthcareEnterprise SoftwareMobile