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.
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.