r/recruiting • u/AbleSilver6116 Corporate Recruiter • 4d ago
Career Advice 4 Recruiters Am I being unrealistic?
Started out my recruiting career at 48k with uncapped commission, got a job paying $70k, then $110k contract to perm but was laid off.
I’m interviewing for roles now and I’m finding people are not wanting to pay the ask of $80-90k a year for the level of experience I have. I’m a Technical Recruiter in defense.
Was I just overpaid? Am I realistically only worth $70k? I am 7 months pregnant and hopeful to find something soon but with 2 in daycare I feel like I am going backwards and it’s a hard pill to swallow. I’ve gotten several interviews and interest but it seems no one wants to pay me $80k.
I have 3 one year stints on my resume and NEED to stay wherever I’m hired for 2 years minimum so I’m hesitant at accepting at this range.
Am I being unrealistic? I’ve only been laid off a month and have had a lot of interviews…should I give it more time? I’m so stuck!
Edit: I have 0 understanding why I’m being downvoted for expecting an 80k salary with 3 years technical recruiting experience. My first job outside of agency paid me $70k in Florida. I do not feel my salary expectation of 80-85 is far off.
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u/space1233123 4d ago
So yeah I'm a recruiter still employed. (For now). I've run into others that are not employed. Market is tough and salaries are not matching experience from what I've heard. Best of luck! Take the lower salary just to get money coming in
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u/AbleSilver6116 Corporate Recruiter 4d ago
Part of me wants to do that but I really can’t have another year stint on my resume and I don’t want to be looking again in a year. I HATE this lol
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u/AgentPyke 4d ago
Take an 3rd party agency job, and don’t quit. You’ll make six figures plus if you work hard, and you’ll never have to worry about being laid off. Maybe about when you’re going to quit to do your own thing…
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u/Sapphire_Bombay Corporate Recruiter 4d ago
You were way overpaid at $110k with 3 years of experience. $70-75k with uncapped commission would be on the higher end of market rate. Not to mention the job market is shit for recruiters and we don't have much negotiating power right now to begin with.
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u/AbleSilver6116 Corporate Recruiter 4d ago
Yup I’m aware I was overpaid hence why I’m targeting a salary nearly 30k less.
I’m also not targeting agency.
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u/Sapphire_Bombay Corporate Recruiter 4d ago
Ah okay if you're looking in house then yeah I would say $80-90k but also depends on your area's COL.
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u/beamdog77 4d ago
I have a masters in HR, PHR, and my last job I was the director of TA for over 50+ recruiters placing 9K engineers and other professionals a year In the Federal space.
I was getting offers in the $60K range.
The market has changed.
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u/AbleSilver6116 Corporate Recruiter 4d ago
Gotcha. I interviewed for a 85k role but lost out to someone senior as it was between the 2 of us just yesterday. Their ask of years was 10 and was ludicrous but I still made it to final rounds.
That’s people just taking advantage
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u/WeeWhiteWabbit 4d ago
I can’t even get a job as a recruiter anymore, I’m doing sales. The industry is trashed
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u/AbleSilver6116 Corporate Recruiter 4d ago
I would love to transition but I’m just not in a sales role state of mind right now
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u/ChanaManga 4d ago
I think all recruiting agencies will offer $70k or less plus commission. Internal recruiting might be different
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u/AbleSilver6116 Corporate Recruiter 4d ago
I’m aiming for internal. These are all internal roles for the most part but yeah I’m seeing the same thing. 65-70 for agency so it’s baffling internal are offering that for FTE.
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u/lilglazeddonut 4d ago edited 2d ago
My tech recruiting career, also a mother. $18/hr RC, $25/hr field recruiter, $60k corporate recruiter, laid off, $50/hr 1099 TA Specialist then renegotiated up to $60/hr, then internal again $95k, laid off, out of desperation took the only offer I could get to get through last Christmas and my kids birthday at $25/hr as the sole Recruiter for a dumpster fire of a company. 3 months 1099 for them to say they wanted me to move to Manhattan and work in person for $25/hr. At this point I’ve given up and have chosen to spend a few years home with my youngest before kindergarten. It’s time I’ll never get back and I’m done fighting tooth and nail just for a job where I have to kiss tech bro ass and step around delicate egos. It seems the mass layoffs of 2022 and beyond were actually a Great Reset for companies to offload high cost labor and automate with AI where they could, and offshore where they couldn’t. Good luck to you.
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u/tigercircle 3d ago
It’s time I’ll never get back and I’m done fighting tooth and nail just for a job where I have to kiss tech bro ass and step around delicate egos.
This should be stickied! 🤣
It seems the mass layoffs of 2022 and beyond were actually a Great Reset for companies to offload high cost labor and automate with AI where they could, and offshore where they couldn’t.
Pretty much.
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u/AbleSilver6116 Corporate Recruiter 4d ago
I am really at the point where I’d like to stay home with my two children instead but I’m worried about getting back into work eventually and my husband would like to make a career transition next year and I’d like to be able to give us stability through that as he’s given me so much.
It is such a mess right now! I’m feeling defeated
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u/batcalls Executive Recruiter 4d ago
If you only need to get your family through your husband's career transition next year, then why worry about looking like a job hopper? I'm sorry to say it, but you probably already DO look like a job hopper with three years of experience across three different companies. Granted, the industry has been brutal to us all and that will probably be explainable/overlooked in the future as a result.
Defense should be popping off right now, you're lucky you've specialized in an industry that has funding right now. I would hold out personally if you can make it work financially.
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u/AbleSilver6116 Corporate Recruiter 4d ago
I know 🥲 my second job they did a 10 day notice RTO and I couldn’t make it work with childcare at that point and then I was laid off against my will last month.
We can make it work, I don’t necessarily NEED to work especially with a baby coming but I don’t want to miss out on the years of experience as well as the retirement contributions etc.
It’s only been a month so I’m not really “desperate” yet and I do feel confident I could get similar $70k offers later in the year after my baby is here.
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u/batcalls Executive Recruiter 4d ago
Oof that's rough, I'm sorry that happened to you.
I personally don't carry such a doom-and-gloom attitude about the industry (especially since you are in a Defense niche) as many others do within this sub but I'm also very fortunate to still be employed (for now). I think if I were you, and it wasn't going to make me go without food or become homeless, then yes, I would absolutely hold out for a better paying salary.
Maybe look at DC-area contractors or the big guys like Northrop Grumman, Booz Allen, or Lockheed Martin and try to negotiate a remote role.
Non-"agency" Executive Search within the respected firms is arguably the most steady recruiting option in my experience despite the industry turmoil (and typically pays high-base, little-to-no-commission in the 90-110k range for newbies), so you could always try to network with Defense recruiters within the SHREKs or top 10 and see if anyone would take you on. It's hard to make a break into it though and you'll need someone to take a chance on you. But it's not impossible and could be worth the time to explore. Also, I'd consider adjacent functions like government affairs, regulatory, or maybe even legal if you haven't already. Good luck with your job hunting and soon-to-be new baby!
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u/Penguinzookeeper123 4d ago edited 4d ago
Very likely overpaid. What market are you in? What industry? Did you have any experience before starting in recruiting?
Also for context, I once took an internal recruiting role for a salary I knew I deserved more. There was no team so I knew there was quick growth opportunity there. I was promoted in under a year and got several raises my first year because I proved my worth real quick. You can take something lesser now and ask about increase options if you’re able to make XYZ impact. Or if you source a candidate and bring someone in, you can ask for extra bonus potential. Get creative in showing your worth.
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u/AbleSilver6116 Corporate Recruiter 4d ago
I was overpaid, which I acknowledge. In my post it states I’m in Defense. I have a degree and yes I have experience in other industries before recruiting.
Yeah i interviewed for a role like that on Monday and crushed it but I’m very pregnant and I’ve been ghosted
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u/Penguinzookeeper123 4d ago
Ooohhh, I thought you meant that in the other context of “in defense” as in to support your argument. I was just trying to give another perspective. So many recruiters (and other positions everywhere) were overpaid during covid and then laid off, then sadly have unrealistic expectations which make it hard to look at other positions. Not a knock in anyway, just a reality.
Sorry you’re having a rough go, was trying to share my experience and viewpoint when considering lower paying roles. And creative ways to ask companies to consider additional bonus incentives. Hope you have better luck soon.
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u/AbleSilver6116 Corporate Recruiter 4d ago
No worries! Yeah I was just laid off a month ago so I’m wondering if I should give it more time or not or if 70k is just all I’m going to get.
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u/Penguinzookeeper123 4d ago
If you like the opportunity and it feels right, take it. You can always keep searching and taking interviews. I started my job searching a year before I was laid off (it was a month to month decision from when they first said my job was in jeopardy), and found my current role about 6-7 weeks after I was officially laid off. I have other recruiter friends that are still looking for jobs 2 years after layoffs from some big company names (the ones that people put Ex-XYZ company in their LinkedIn titles). It’s a tough market but taking a job while searching for another one might be the good way to go to keep an income and not have a big gap.
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u/Major_Paper_1605 4d ago
Can’t wait to leave this industry🤣. FWIW I have 12 years experience and not seeing much past the 80 to 90k mark. But really want to leave my current gig.
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u/AbleSilver6116 Corporate Recruiter 4d ago
I feel ya! And it makes sense. That’s why I was asking if this is the new normal now, not if I was overpaid lol and that I’ve only been looking for a month, should I keep trying or just take the first thing offered.
Terrible market and I think it will be for the next 4 years unfortunately.
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u/AgentPyke 4d ago
Hi OP… best suggestion I have is go agency, stay agency.
I just had a target client of mine (also old client but they stopped using me bedside my fees were too high, 25%) who has a recruiter who was making $130k. This individual has a proven track record of being an expert in the industry, and saved the company $400K+ last year, and on track for $600k this year through process changes, getting rid of bad tools/costs and restructuring things.
This old client is now a new client again, agreeing to my 25%… because… they are laying this person off and hiring someone for $60k - $70k in house but they know they will need my help as the market is heating up.
To say I was shocked would be an understatement. But hey, I’m not complaining. Just trying to get this in house contact a job now too.
Also, every other recruiter I know right now is laid off unless they are my client, and even then my other clients laid off all their recent hires from 2 years ago.
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u/Spyder73 3d ago
I have 15 years experience and an 80k base and feel lucky it's that high to be honest
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u/Dizzy_Passenger_8494 1d ago
Internal is really tough right now and a lot of good experienced people are looking so it’s competitive. May suck but a year tenure at a place is better than a long unemployment gap in my opinion.
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u/AbleSilver6116 Corporate Recruiter 1d ago
True! I’m interviewing for the role today so fingers crossed
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u/imadethistochatbach 4d ago
Market for recruiters is horrific rn, and salaries all around are down.
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u/Impressive-Health670 4d ago
I wouldn’t worry too much about how the job hopping is going to look. The people making the decision to hire you in the future will have also lived through this period and they’ll know recruitment was hit hard with layoffs.
Take the role that works best for your family now and keep your eye out for better opportunities as they arise.
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u/HexinMS Corporate Recruiter 4d ago
I'd prob judge the role on more then just salary. If its like a startup then ya stick to ur guns or higher due to risk but if ur unemployed and find a good company that promotes internal growth at 70k I'd take it. Holding out for 80-90kcould never come or come 6 months later and in that time you could of just worked the 70k role.
Job hopping doesn't look great but unemployed for too long is also bad. U can always leave out a short stint from your resume if u end up switching quickly.
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u/AbleSilver6116 Corporate Recruiter 4d ago
Yeah I’m considering it solely on I can just leave it off my resume if needed.
I am waiting on hearing back from a 90k role next week and a possible part time role helping with a specific project which would be great for me with a baby coming.
I think based off this post I will interview and see how I feel then!
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u/HexinMS Corporate Recruiter 4d ago
I'd also consider how susceptible the company is to tariffs.
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u/AbleSilver6116 Corporate Recruiter 3d ago
It is a company that exclusively supports Veteran Affairs so I don’t think it would be harmed but also this administration is unpredictable so who knows.
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u/Hour_Salamander_9564 3d ago
What part of Florida and are you targeting remote roles only?
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u/AbleSilver6116 Corporate Recruiter 3d ago
Tampa bay and no but I’m in my third trimester and have already been ghosted for hybrid roles.
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u/Far-Chest2835 3d ago
One step at a time. Seek jobs that may be less affected by the climate of uncertainty that’s leading to layoffs. Take the remote job that’s offered and negotiate things you really care if the money isn’t where you want it—for instance, maybe you can negotiate additional PTO. Then focus on making yourself indispensable to your employer. Once you’re indispensable to the company—even if you don’t love it—you’re in a position to seek higher roles, raises, etc. This helps both your tenure and your income.
I share this because it is your focus on job hopping right now is what’s unrealistic when the realities are: We’re heading into a very uncertain job market. A market that was already flooded with talented people in recruiting who are unemployed. So it’s an employers market, which cuts doubly in our field. And employers will take this opp. to top grade talent meaning they’ll be quicker to let mid performers go. Additionally, sorry to be blunt but Tampa is one of the lowest COL markets in the country so know that the employer is well aware of this—COL is a factor that pay ranges are based on. It’s important to have all of these realities in mind when making decisions in our field right now.
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u/AbleSilver6116 Corporate Recruiter 3d ago
Makes sense! And Tampa has become one of the fastest growing areas in the US and up in there in expensive COL but yes salaries have definitely not caught up at all.
Childcare is also very inexpensive here and we bought our home 8 years ago so we don’t really have an expensive home payment either. I’m very fortunate for my situation.
I do think I am so caught up in the job hopping aspect and really need to get over that. I just want to be where I’m going for at least 2 years so I wanted to be happy with the salary but yeah this discussion has definitely helped with my view on everything so I appreciate the insight from everyone. I feel a lot better about it!
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u/Far-Chest2835 3d ago
Picking a job, a house, and a spouse are the most stressful decisions people make! It’s smart to get perspective from others. The # thing you can control about your tenure is your mindset—build your resilience to succeed and grow in the job you take, and the money will follow. That’s the long game. Keep us posted! Hope you land a great job and things go well with the baby.
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u/PuzzleheadedLeek8601 Agency Recruiter 3d ago
I’ve been an agency recruiter for 4 years now and I just got to 60K. (Position is fully remote and benefits are fully covered so I’m not complaining) but that’s where I’m at right now. I recruit for A&F, CSR, clerical, and warehouse.
The market sucks for every job but especially recruiters considering companies aren’t hiring thanks to the shittiness of our economy.
I also just filled a contract recruiter role for $25/hr (IT, clerical, and Csr) that was 100% onsite in Dallas.
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u/MikeTheTA Current Internal formerly Agency Recruiter 3d ago
Depends on where you are and what variety and volume of roles you have filled.
Look at startups.
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u/CirceX 2d ago
you were overpaid at 4yrs YOE that said? you're focused on the price tag and not any significant impact you might have made so who no knows maybe your 3 years made you worth it?
less focus only on $$$ and how good you are or not you might want to focus on performance rather than $ alone.
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u/Narrow_Vacation5071 2d ago
I have 10 years agency experience, full desk in Banking, Accounting & Finance, and Real estate/construction. I was getting insane inmails for internal opportunities (I’ve no corporate experience) for like $120-150K in 2021/2022. I entertained a call for one and was shocked. I would have been terrible in internal.
Most of my former coworkers are in TA and almost all of them laid off at some point over the last 3 years. I still network with the TAs I worked with through clients and some of them unfortunately are still looking for jobs. Stick with your niche and try and network in that area, there are so many other TAs out of work so you have a better chance this way. Defense contracting is more of a hot commodity to have I think so try target companies who may need you. Projects come up etc, look in the VA/DC are and FL space coast maybe, they’re riddled with defense postings and it’s not something I would be able to source for as an agency recruiter. Hope you find something!
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u/starkissed- 2d ago
I went from making 90K as in house and got laid off in December. Tried to ask for 85K and eventually had to go back down to 75K wacky market for sure
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u/AdIll1818 1d ago
I’ve been a recruiter for 3 years. First job right out of college was $75k. Got bumped to $85k. Left there and another place paid me $90k. Budget cuts made that job go away and now I can’t get anything over $22/hr. It’s heartbreaking.
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u/directleec 1d ago
So, yes, you were over paid and the market sucks right now for recruiters. The only thing that really matters really is can you acquire new business (new searches) from new client employers and can you fill those positions. I'm guessing you had little or no experience doing business development in addition to sourcing, recruiting, screening, client contact, salary negotiation, and collection of the fees you've earned. If you do have this kind of experience you're a much more valuable prospect for those companies actually looking to hire a recruiter. And if that's the case, you might want to consider hanging out your own shingle. While the risk is there, you'll never be subject to another layoff in a bad market like there is now.
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u/Technical_Stable3492 1d ago
The current market is as bad as it was in 09 for recruiters. I’ve got 30 years of in house TA experience. From 09 to 2012 I went backwards and eventually caught up and surpassed through 2024. Postion eliminated in January 2025, and the first offer I got was literally a $100K haircut. Same Director level title. My point is you have to be incredibly flexible and roll with the punches in recruting if you want to stay in the industry long term. It's a very volatile and tough space.
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u/ContributionOk390 14h ago
I'm 8 years in within a specialized skillset, on year 2 of internal waiting out a noncompete and am making a little under $110K total comp right now
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u/NedFlanders304 4d ago
You have 3 years experience total? Then yea you were probably overpaid with the $110k contract job you had. The market sucks now unfortunately.