Rising pay means happy recruiters, finds survey

Jo Faragher

Job satisfaction and salaries are on the increase in recruitment, according to the REC’s latest Salary and Benefits Survey. It found that eight out of 10 recruiters are satisfied with their job, compared to 72% four years ago.

Financially, there is certainly reason to be cheerful, with 42% receiving a pay rise in the past year, and nine out of 10 having the opportunity to earn a bonus.

Recruiters’ basic salary has grown by 29% since 2009, and consultants take home an average basic of £27,280, rising to £38,885 after commission and bonuses. Managers earn, on average, £48,034 basic, going up to £59,859 after commission. 

One in four consultants and a third of managers receive a monthly bonus of between £2,000 and £5,000, said the REC.

Benefits packages have also improved since the REC’s last job satisfaction survey: more than half (56%) of recruiters are now able to access workplace pension schemes, 51% company cars, 23% health club membership and 22% share option schemes. Recruiters also reported that benefits such as training (73%), social functions (85%) and mobile phones (62%) were available. 

REC chief executive Kevin Green said: “We know that pay and benefits aren’t the only reasons recruiters love their jobs. The buzz of a fast-paced business, the variety of activity and the satisfaction of helping people find work are rewards in themselves.”

The survey also found that male consultants earned 33% more than female consultants, and 28% more as managers – this gender pay gap has shrunk since 2009, but is still marked.  

On this, Green added: “It’s good to see that the gap between what male and female recruiters are paid is shrinking, but it’s still disappointing to see this kind of gender differential. As its professional body, I see a role for REC leading our industry in driving better pay equality and flexible working – two areas where our industry should be modelling best practice for the rest of UK plc.”