How much does a recruiter cost?
MJL Recruiting & Consulting publishes its fees: contingent search is 20-35% of first-year salary, paid only when you hire, and retained search starts with a $5,000 retainer per opening and a $15,000 minimum fee per placement.
Service | Price |
|---|---|
20-35% on average, nothing upfront | |
$5,000 retainer per opening, $15,000 minimum fee per placement | |
Monthly retainer from $10,000 | |
Hourly rate, success fee equals the cap minus hourly fees | |
From $1,000 flat, or $200 per hour | |
$150 per session (2 or fewer people), $200 per person (3+) | |
$1,000 per role | |
$500 per job description | |
$800 for four sessions, $250 per session | |
$5,000, $7,500, or from $20,000 all-inclusive |
Is contingent or retained cheaper?
Contingent search costs nothing upfront, so it is the cheaper option if the search does not end in a hire. When you do hire, the contingent fee averages 20-35% of first-year salary, while retained search starts with a $5,000 retainer per opening and a $15,000 minimum total fee per placement. For senior, critical or hard-to-fill roles, retained is often the better value because your search gets full priority and a talent market report before you commit.
What is included in the fee?
Every retained search includes a discovery session, a free talent market report, outbound sourcing and first-round screening, a 30-second overview of each candidate, a shortlist of 3-5 vetted candidates, interview scheduling through the offer, and a two-pronged guarantee. Contingent search includes sourcing, screening and candidate presentation with a 90-day guarantee, but no market report. Consulting services are priced individually and can be bundled.
Are there hidden costs?
No. The fee you agree to is the fee you pay, with no extra charges for job postings, background checks or travel unless agreed in writing. The only additional fee is under the retained guarantee: if a hire leaves within 90 days because of something they needed from you and did not get, such as training or support, we replace them for an additional fee.
Not sure which option fits? Call 425-245-5318 or get a custom quote.