Recruitment Fee Cost Calculator
Estimate the cost of a recruitment agency fee. The scope and the size of your business are the main cost drivers, along with how the provider charges.
Your recruitment fee details
Below the typical range for this service.
Most agency recruitment is contingent, a percentage of the hire's first-year salary (commonly 12 to 20 percent), paid only when you hire, so the fee scales directly with the salary of the role filled.
Contingent recruitment (pay only on hire, typically 12 to 20 percent of first-year salary) suits most roles. Check the replacement guarantee, a free replacement if the hire leaves within a set period is standard and worth confirming.
💰 Ways to save
- Get a few quotes and compare on scope and inclusions, not just the headline price, cheap quotes often leave things out.
- A fixed-scope package is easier to budget than open-ended hourly work, ask whether one is available.
- Bundle related services with one provider where you can, it often earns a better overall rate.
How we estimate this
A recruitment agency fee in Australia is typically 12 to 20 percent of the hire's first-year salary in 2026 on a contingent basis (paid on hire), so a $90,000 role costs roughly $11,000 to $18,000. Retained search for senior roles costs more.
Pricing reviewed: November 2026.
Pricing reviewed November 2026. Indicative Australian costs, not a quote.
Understanding recruitment fee costs in Australia
A recruitment agency fee in Australia is typically 12 to 20 percent of the hire's first-year salary in 2026 on a contingent basis (paid on hire), so a $90,000 role costs roughly $11,000 to $18,000. Retained search for senior roles costs more.
Recruitment fees are usually a percentage of the hire's first-year salary (commonly 12 to 20 percent), paid on hire for contingent search. Retained search for senior roles is paid in stages and costs more. Flat-fee models also exist.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a recruitment agency cost in Australia?
Typically 12 to 20 percent of the hire's first-year salary in 2026 on a contingent basis (paid only on hire), so a $90,000 role costs roughly $11,000 to $18,000. Senior retained search costs more.
Do I only pay a recruiter if they find someone?
On a contingent model, yes, you pay only when you hire a candidate they placed, usually with a replacement guarantee if the hire leaves early. Retained search is different, paid in stages regardless, for senior or hard-to-fill roles.
Are you a business services firm?
Everyone on this page is working out what recruitment fee costs because they are ready to hire. Put your business right beneath the calculator, in your state, so you are who they find. From $50/mo.