Recruiter salary in Australia
The median full-time salary for a recruiter is $102,400 per annum, before tax, up $21,300 since 2018.
- Agency recruiters usually earn a base salary plus commission on placements, so total pay swings with the desk, the market and how the commission is calculated, while in-house recruiters are paid a straight salary with far less variation.
- The sector you recruit for and the seniority of the roles you fill move the figure as much as experience does.
- Enterprise agreements matter less here than the individual deal, so ask how commission is structured before accepting an offer.
The median salary rose by $21,300 between 2018 and 2024; the dashed line shows a projection to 2028 based on the real ABS Wage Price Index growth rate, not a role-specific forecast.
Roles that pay more than recruiter
The largest typical pay rise is $41,500 a year, moving into Human Resources Manager.
- Human Resources Manager+$41,500/yr
- Organisational Development Consultant+$24,700/yr
- Careers Counsellor+$9,600/yr
How to negotiate a higher recruiter salary
- Know the market rate before you ask. The median full-time recruiter salary is $102,400; use that, not a guess, as your anchor, and adjust for your experience and employer.
- Lead with what's scarce, not just tenure. Skills like Selling and negotiation and Account and relationship management tend to command a premium over general recruiter experience, name them specifically when you ask.
- Bring a real alternative to the table. Human Resources Manager pays a typical $41,500 a year more and draws on similar skills, even mentioning you're weighing it up is a legitimate data point in a pay conversation.
- Time it deliberately. Reviews, the end of a project you delivered, or taking on responsibility beyond your job description are stronger moments to ask than an arbitrary date on the calendar.
- Ask for a number, not a raise. "Based on the market rate and [specific contribution], I'd like to move to X" gets a clearer answer than "I think I deserve more."
Recruiter salary questions
How much do recruiters earn in Australia?
The median full-time salary for a recruiter is $102,400 a year before tax. Seniority, specialisation, sector and the award or agreement you're employed under all move it.
Is recruiter pay rising or falling?
The median recruiter salary is up $21,300 since 2018. Figures from 2025 onward on this page are a projection, not a measured result.
What pays more than recruiter?
Human Resources Manager pays a typical $41,500 a year more and draws on similar skills to recruiter.
Related salaries
- HR Advisor salary
- Human Resources Manager salary
- Careers Counsellor salary
- Talent Acquisition Manager salary
- Organisational Development Consultant salary
- HR Administrator salary
Pay advice
- How to ask for a pay rise, and back it up with real numbersWhat national wage growth looks like right now, how to work out a figure for your own role, wording you can adapt for the conversation, and what to do if the answer is no.
- The average salary in Australia (2026)Full-time adults in Australia averaged $2,083.70 a week in May 2026. Several measures get called the average salary, and this explains which one fits your situation.
- Overtime pay, time in lieu and what your award saysOvertime rates come from your award or agreement, not one national rule. How rates work, what happens on a salary, and how time off in lieu works.