How Much Money Does Executive Search Give You?

17 Feb How Much Money Does Executive Search Give You?

Are you tired of the same old nine-to-five grind with no room for financial growth? It might be time to shake things up and consider a career in executive search. 

Executive recruiters play a vital role in connecting exciting, innovative executive talent with leading organizations seeking out transformative additions to their executive assets. 

Thanks to the pivotal role executive search firms play in the growth and success of their partners’ organizations, talented executive recruiters can command comfortable salaries and often enjoy lucrative incentivization and performance bonus structures.  

In this blog, we’ll dive into the earning potential of this exciting and in-demand career. So whether you are just starting or have years of experience under your belt, this post will provide valuable insight into the state of the executive search market.

What Is The Average Salary Of An Executive Recruiter? 

The salaries of executive recruiters can vary greatly, depending on a range of factors such as their industry, location, experience, and performance. To better understand executive recruiter pay scales, let’s take a look at average executive recruiter salaries at four different levels of the search firm ladder. 

Early-Career Executive Recruiters

During the earliest stages of their career, executive recruiters can expect to earn between $55,000 and $ 80,000 annually, not including performance bonuses or other incentives. 

This range represents the bottom quartile of executive recruiter earnings. It is typically composed of recent hires in the process of gaining the experience, expertise, and insight needed to be an effective executive search asset. 

Junior Executive Search Specialists

After succeeding in an entry-level role, executive search specialists can be promoted to the junior level. 

At this stage, most executive recruiters earn between $80,000 and $100,000 a year before performance bonuses. At this level, executive search specialists have developed a series of tried-and-true personal strategies that augment and enhance their firm’s process to generate consistent results.

A word on bonuses: Bonuses at this level can begin to be substantial at successful firms, with some junior and senior-level search specialists earning $25,000+ annually in performance incentives. 

Senior Executive Search Specialists

Executive search specialists who continue to raise the bar at the junior level by generating top-tier placements, investing in ongoing education and skill development, and demonstrating exceptional leadership qualities can expect to be promoted to a senior search role.

Senior search specialists excel at central executive recruitment tasks and possess strong track records of reliably identifying, engaging, evaluating, and onboarding world-class candidates for clients across industries. The rare experience, skill sets, and strategic expertise senior search specialists bring to the table allow them to earn a salary ranging from $110,000 to $120,000 before incentives and performance bonuses. 

Executive Search Directors 

The individuals that spearhead executive search firms are typically a wealth of niche knowledge, actionable insights, and groundbreaking search strategies. Executive search specialists at C-suite and Director levels also excel at maximizing the success of their entry-level, junior, and senior search teams. 

Successful executive search directors are well-rewarded for their efforts and guidance. Search specialists that reach the level of director can expect to earn anywhere from $130,000 a year (not including extremely lucrative profit share and performance bonuses) to north of $250,000. 

Who Are The Highest-Paid Recruiters?

The highest-paid recruiters can typically be found making waves at the uppermost rungs of the executive search ladder. These are executive recruiters that have demonstrated an ability to:

• Think outside the box and innovate.
• Leverage data to improve placement outcomes.
• Build authentic, long-lasting connections with customers.
• Maintain near-perfect placement success rates.
• Effectively lead teams of executive search specialists.

Executive recruiters that embody this rare blend of talent, experience, dedication, and success can earn anywhere from $130,000 a year to more than $250,000. After bonuses, these top-tier search specialists can crack $300,000 during particularly productive years. 

How Do Executive Recruiters Get Paid? 

Most executive recruiters earn a salary plus commissions or bonuses based on placement performance. 

Executive search firms pay their search specialists using the fees they charge their clients for their services. Most executive search firms charge between 25 and 35% of a position’s first-year salary.

How Medallion Partners Stands Out In Executive Search

Medallion Partners is a leading boutique executive search firm with an unmatched track record of success. 

We provide “Big Five” performance alongside friendly, attentive service, allowing our partners to take their organizations to new heights without the stress and risk generally associated with executive searches and placements. 

Our data-driven search process and cutting-edge candidate evaluation tools have helped organizations across industries identify, engage, and onboard world-class business leaders hand-picked from every corner of the globe. Contact us today.