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Recruitment Trends

How do Recruiters Get Paid?

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George Gabriel - 12 May, 2022

Marketing & Communications Specialist

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Gig economy,

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Introduction

It's no secret that recruiters can make a lot of money. But how do they get paid? This can be a complicated question, as a recruiter gets paid in many different ways. The first thing to understand is that a recruiter gets paid based on the job they find for their client (also called an employer). There are three main types of recruiting jobs: permanent, contract, and temporary/temp-to-perm. Each type of job has its own compensation structure, so when looking at how much recruiters get paid, it's essential to know which job you're talking about specifically.

How Do Recruiters Get Paid Based On Their Experience?

The more experienced a recruiter is, the more they can charge. Recruiters with more experience can be paid a higher hourly rate or a bigger commission on placements because they are more highly regarded by their clients.

How Much Do Recruiters Make, Really?

More often than not, recruiters are paid on a commission basis. So as long as you're dedicated to finding the right talent, there's no limit to how much you can earn.

The average salary for recruiters --- or at least what we perceive to be the average salary for recruiters --- is US$60,000 per year. This number may seem low compared to other careers in finance or tech (both command salaries just shy of six figures). Still, it doesn't tell the whole story about this exciting career path! Recruiters earn a wide range of salaries depending on their experience level, geographic location, and individual performance metrics such as hiring volume and client retention rate across all clients within an organisation. Some employers may pay their recruiters close to US$60K annually - which does sound pretty good. But others might offer more than double that per year based on performance alone!

How Do Recruiters Get Paid?

How do recruiters get paid? That question has undoubtedly crossed your mind at some point in your career as an aspiring recruiter. After all, being a recruiter involves meeting with candidates and clients daily. How do you handle this exchange of information?

To give you the most comprehensive answer possible, we must first understand how recruiting works and why it is structured the way it is. Recruiters get paid by the company they are hiring for. Generally, the candidate doesn't pay anything - recruiters get paid exclusively by the company.

Recruiter shaking hand of candidate

Recruiters get paid in a variety of ways.

There are many different ways that a recruiter can get paid. Some recruiters get paid a salary, others get paid based on their experience, and others get paid based on their performance or the quality of candidates.

  • Salary: A recruiter who gets paid a salary typically works for one company and receives an agreed-upon paycheck every two weeks for their work with that company.
  • Experience: More experienced recruiters can charge a higher hourly rate or get bigger commissions on placements.
  • Bonus: Recruiters can be eligible for bonuses based on factors such as how much revenue they bring in for the firm or whether they meet specific quotas within a given period. For example, suppose you're working at an agency with clients paying $2,000 per placement fee. In that case, you might have some form of quota to reach each month before receiving your bonus check at the end of each quarter (or year).
  • Commission: This is where most recruiters aim to make their money because it's easier than getting paid via other means like retainer fees or finder's fees. Commissions tend not only to depend on how much revenue your firm brings in but also on what type of clientele you're bringing on board. Placing an executive assistant will likely mean more money than finding someone who works on marketing campaigns because executives usually earn higher salaries than marketers do!

Conclusion

Recruiters get paid in various ways, from hourly rates to commissions. The more experienced you are, the higher your pay will be. Regardless of experience level, recruiters often receive compensation based on their success in finding candidates who fit the job description, company culture, and their overall performance in the field. All in all, a career in recruitment can be very rewarding!

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