Skip to main content
RecXchange Logo
FEE GUIDE

Recruitment Fee Structures Explained

Contingency, retained, split fee, RPO — every recruitment fee model compared. Whether you're a recruiter choosing how to work, or a hiring manager trying to understand costs, this is your complete reference.

Contingency

Typical Fee
15–25% of salary
Best For
Mid-level roles, volume hiring
Key Note
Most common model. Competitive. No upfront cost to client.

Retained Search

Typical Fee
30–33% of salary (split into 3 payments)
Best For
Senior, executive, board-level roles
Key Note
Deep search process. Higher quality. Higher cost.

Split Fee

Typical Fee
Shared between two recruiters
Best For
Hard-to-fill, niche, or fast-turnaround roles
Key Note
The RecXchange model. 50/50, 60/40, or 70/30. Average $7k per placement.

RecX Direct

Typical Fee
Candidate-side recruiter earns 70%
Best For
Urgent, high-value direct client roles
Key Note
Highest candidate-side earning model on the platform.

At a Glance Comparison

ModelUpfront CostPay on PlacementExclusive?Best Earning (Recruiter)
ContingencyNoneYesNoMedium
Retained1/3 upfrontFinal 1/3YesHigh
Split FeeNoneYesNoHigh (shared)
RecX DirectNoneYesNoHighest (70%)
MAXIMIZE YOUR FEES

Earn More Per Placement on RecXchange

Access split fee roles with average $7,000 fees. Earn up to 70% on RecX Direct placements. Zero platform cut.

View Pricing