Marketing recruiter
Marketing recruiter.
Flat fee, not a cut of salary.
We headhunt marketing and go-to-market people for agencies and in-house teams. A recruiter on 20 to 25 percent of first-year pay would charge $33,358 to $41,698 to hire a marketing manager on the median salary of $166,790 (BLS, May 2025).
Our fee is set by the role and agreed before we start.
What a percentage fee costs
for a marketing hire.
Median pay from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, times the 20 to 25 percent that SHRM gives for contingency recruiters.
Percentage fees on BLS May 2025 median annual wages
| Role | Median pay | 20% fee | 25% fee |
|---|---|---|---|
| Marketing managers | $166,790 | $33,358 | $41,698 |
| Advertising and promotions managers | $133,660 | $26,732 | $33,415 |
| Advertising and promotions managers at advertising and PR agencies | $133,550 | $26,710 | $33,388 |
Percentage fee
- Grows with the salary you agree.
- Often counts bonus and signing bonus too.
- A higher offer earns the recruiter more.
Our flat fee
- $7,500 for a standard search.
- Specialist, technical and executive searches priced by role.
- A higher salary doesn't earn us more.
Sources: BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook, May 2025 wages. SHRM, July 18, 2016: contingency recruiters “usually earn a fee in the area of 20 percent to 25 percent of the role’s first-year cash compensation,” paid only if they fill the job. BLS wages leave out year-end and other non-production bonuses, so a fee on full first-year cash pay can be higher. These are illustrations, not quotes for your role.
More detail: recruiting agency fees and the recruiter fee calculator, with worked examples at five salaries.
Put your own role in.
Pick the kind of search, set the monthly salary and type the rate you were quoted. The working is written out under the table.
Compare hiring fees
Our flat fee
Standard roleSet by the role. Never by the salary.
Your exact fee is agreed before we start.
This example is a standard role at $5,000 a month. Turn on JavaScript to change the role, salary or rate.
Save up to
$10,500Compared with a 30% fee.
| Of annual salary | Agency fee | Your saving |
|---|---|---|
| 15% | $9,000 | Save $1,500 |
| 20% | $12,000 | Save $4,500 |
| 30% | $18,000 | Save $10,500 |
| 25% your quote | $15,000 | Save $7,500 |
The maths
- $5,000 a month × 12 = $60,000 a year.
- 25% of $60,000 = $15,000.
- $15,000 − $7,500 flat fee = $7,500 saved.
The 15%, 20% and 30% rows are comparison rates inside the published range, not quotes. Indeed says headhunter fees average 20–25% and run from as low as 15% to 40% or more (Indeed, updated June 15, 2026). SHRM puts contingency fees at 20–25% of first-year cash pay (SHRM, July 18, 2016). Check what your quote multiplies: some include bonus and signing bonus.
Book a Scoping CallThe marketing roles
we hire for.
Agencies are our core. We also hire marketing and go-to-market talent for in-house teams at consumer brands, sales-led businesses and consultancies.
Hiring guides by role
Agency owners: see recruiting for marketing agencies. In-house teams: see in-house marketing recruitment.
Six stages.
One agreed fee.
You approve the role, pay, shortlist and offer. We handle the work between.
- 01Discover
- 02Define
- 03Headhunt
- 04Understand
- 05Evaluate
- 06Start Well
Questions before you hire a marketing recruiter
How much does a marketing recruiter cost?
Most agency recruiters charge a percentage of first-year pay. SHRM wrote on July 18, 2016 that contingency fees are usually 20 to 25 percent. Indeed's guide, updated June 15, 2026, says they run from as low as 15% to 40% or more. On the BLS May 2025 median for marketing managers, $166,790, 20 to 25 percent is $33,358 to $41,698. We charge a flat fee set by the role: $7,500 for a standard search, $10,000 to $15,000 for a specialist or technical search, and $15,000 to $25,000 for an executive search.
Is a flat fee cheaper than a percentage?
Above modest salaries, yes. At 20%, any salary over $37,500 costs more than our $7,500 standard search. At lower salaries a percentage can cost less. The calculator on this page shows where the two cross for your role.
Do you only recruit for marketing agencies?
Agencies are our core. We also hire marketing and go-to-market talent for in-house teams at consumer brands, sales-led businesses and consultancies. HR and operations searches are considered on enquiry.
When do I pay?
30% when you sign, to begin discovery. 70% when an offer is accepted. We agree the fee before we start, and it doesn't move with the salary.
What if the hire doesn't work out?
A 120-day replacement guarantee is included, under the agreed service terms. We explain those terms before you commit.
How long does a search take?
We plan on 5.8 weeks from sourcing to an accepted offer. That is a planning estimate, not a measured average, and it leaves out discovery and any notice period. Timing depends on the role, the market and how quickly decisions are made.
Your next hire
Bring one open role.
We'll price it before we start.
Tell us about the role. We'll tell you which fee applies and what the 120-day replacement guarantee covers before you commit.