Spotlight for Recruiting Professionals
In general, compensation for college recruiting positions is higher in the information and nonprofit/government sectors and in the West than it is in other industries and geographic regions, according to NACE’s 2016 Recruiting Compensation Benchmark Report.
While, at $134,565, directors in the Northeast are the top-earning position by region, managers ($112,000) and recruiters ($78,488) in the West easily outpace their colleagues in other regions.
Meanwhile, by industry, the upper-level positions—director ($126,333) and manager ($120,000)—earn the most in the nonprofit/government industry. On the other hand, recruiters ($85,000) and coordinators ($65,000) earn most in the information industry.
NACE’s 2016 Recruiting Compensation Benchmark survey was conducted among NACE employer members during the summer of 2016. The survey was open from July 25, 2016, until October 17, 2016. It was sent to 945 employer organizations and responses were received from 174 member companies—an 18.4 percent response rate. The 2016 Recruiting Compensation Benchmark Report is available in MyNACE to members who participated or whose organizations participated in the survey. An executive summary of the 2016 Recruiting Compensation Benchmark Report is also available.
Figure 1: Average annual salaries by region
| Region |
Position |
| Director |
Manager |
Recruiter |
Coordinator |
| Northeast |
$134,565 |
$90,523 |
$54,182 |
$48,398 |
| South |
$100,043 |
$81,065 |
$66,196 |
$60,938 |
| Midwest |
$110,090 |
$90,977 |
$68,813 |
$49,823 |
| West |
$116,741 |
$112,000 |
$78,488 |
$59,357 |
Source: 2016 Recruiting Compensation Benchmark Report, National Association of Colleges and Employers
Figure 2: Average annual salaries by industry
| Industry |
Position |
| Director |
Manager |
Recruiter |
Coordinator |
| Energy |
$123,333 |
$100,000 |
$69,545 |
NA |
| Construction |
NA |
NA |
$56,667 |
NA |
| Manufacturing |
$119,747 |
$88,019 |
$67,859 |
$55,522 |
| Trade |
$101,750 |
$69,738 |
$65,444 |
$52,833 |
| Transportation |
NA |
NA |
$67,667 |
NA |
| Information |
NA |
$112,200 |
$85,000 |
$65,000 |
| Finance |
$104,114 |
$81,875 |
$66,750 |
$50,293 |
| Professional and business services |
$103,938 |
$95,641 |
$70,190 |
$50,103 |
| Nonprofit/government |
$126,333 |
$120,000 |
$50,149 |
NA |
Source: 2016 Recruiting Compensation Benchmark Report, National Association of Colleges and Employers