I have worked with recruiters in different capacities over the past 17 years or so. From using them to find work to using them to fill positions. Almost all f

I have worked with recruiters in different capacities over the past 17 years or so. From using them to find work to using them to fill positions. Almost all firms work off a percentage of the hiring salary with a guarantee or buy back within a 90-120 day window. Additionally, they are paid a sliding fee if a candidate is hired within the next 12 months after being referred to the company by the recruiter. The fees are usually around 15-25% of the hiring salary, but I have seen as much as 30% for tough to fill positions. Also, if you use a recruiter to get a consultant for 3 months then hire that consultant the fee will be reduced by some percentage, usually after 180 days you are free to hire the consultant without any further payments to a recruiter. The fee is paid by the employer to the recruiting firm, the actual recruiters usually make a percentage of that fee. Their take home is usually a small base salary plus their percentage paid out of the 90 day window. You'll know a good recruiter if you are a candidate because he/she will follow you really closely for 90-180 days to make sure you are happy and sticking with the company until at least after their guarantee window has passed. This helps them make sure the company is happy and you are so they keep their commission. Their commission varies, but is usually between 10-35% again partially depending on the difficulty of the position they are filing. So a decent recruiter, that is good at networking and places people intelligently, will make a reasonable salary. Generally around $75k-$150k, with outliers on either side I am sure. Partners in firms of course will take a higher percentage of each placement.