So, How Much Does It Cost to Hire Through a Staffing Agency?

If you’re asking “How much does it cost to hire through a staffing agency?”, you’re not alone. Employers across construction, manufacturing, skilled trades, medical, and industrial sectors want to know exactly what they’ll pay — and whether using a recruiter is worth the investment.

The short answer: most direct placement recruitment agencies charge a percentage of the hired employee’s first-year annual salary. But not all agencies are the same, and understanding how fees and guarantees work can save your business thousands of dollars.

📊 Average Staffing & Recruitment Agency Fees

Across the U.S., the typical direct placement recruitment fee ranges between 15% and 35% of the candidate’s first-year salary.

• Entry-to-mid level roles (under $60,000 salary): ~15–18%

• Skilled trades, technicians, and clinical staff ($60,000–$90,000): ~18–20%

• Management, highly specialized, or hard-to-fill positions ($90,000+): 20–25% or higher

• Advanced Degrees/Speciality/Senior Roles, Physicians, C-Level, etc. 25% - 35%

For example:

• Hiring a diesel mechanic at $70,000/year → Agency fee might be $12,600 (18%).

• Hiring a maintenance manager at $95,000/year → Agency fee might be $19,000 (20%).

• Hiring a Physician at $250,000 → Agency fee might be $75,000 (30%).

Specialized recruiting partners (like BDA Recruitment) typically structure fees at about half the cost of large agencies while still providing the same level of sourcing, vetting, and placement expertise.

The difference? We’re industry-focused, lean, and designed to be more efficient for critical roles like diesel mechanics, industrial maintenance techs, CNC machinists, medical roles, and skilled trades professionals.

🏗️ Why Agencies Charge a Percentage

Recruiters don’t just post jobs online. They:

• Actively headhunt passive candidates (those not applying to ads).

• Pre-screen for skills, safety compliance, certifications, and cultural fit.

• Save businesses weeks or months of lost productivity from unfilled roles.

That fee ensures you’re paying for access to qualified talent you won’t find on your own — especially in industries with ongoing labor shortages like construction, skilled trades, and healthcare.

⚖️ Large National Agencies vs. Specialized Recruiters

Big-name staffing firms often charge on the higher end — 20–25% of salary — and may not provide the flexibility or personalized approach some employers need.

✅ What About Guarantees?

One of the most important questions employers ask is: “What if the hire doesn’t work out?”

Most reputable agencies will provide a replacement guarantee — typically ranging from 30 to 90 days. At BDA, we go further by offering a guarantee up to 6 months. If your new hire doesn’t work out for any reason within that timeframe, we’ll replace them at no additional cost.

This ensures you’re not taking on unnecessary risk, and it demonstrates our confidence in the candidates we deliver.

💡 Is It Worth the Cost?

Think about the cost of vacancy:

• A skilled industrial maintenance tech can prevent tens of thousands of dollars in downtime.

• A single unfilled construction project manager role can delay entire contracts.

• A vacant clinical role can compromise patient care and compliance.

When you factor in lost productivity, overtime for existing staff, and recruitment advertising, the agency fee often pays for itself many times over.

📌 Key Takeaways

• Average staffing agency fee: 15–35% of first-year salary

• BDA Recruitment fees: typically about half the cost of large agencies

• Guarantees: Up to 6 months of protection if the hire doesn’t work out

• Industries we serve: Construction, manufacturing, skilled trades, medical/clinical, diesel mechanics, and other critical roles

Hiring through a staffing agency isn’t just about cost — it’s about speed, quality, and long-term ROI.

👉 If you’re exploring how to hire top talent in skilled trades, medical, or industrial roles without breaking the bank, partnering with a specialized recruiter can be the most cost-effective solution.

If you're ready to hire and fill your critical openings fast, contact BDA Recruitment @ contact@bdarecruitment.com OR 512-963-4657!