Cost and fees
What is a typical recruitment agency fee in the UK?
Contingency recruitment agencies in the UK typically charge between 15% and 25% of the hire's first-year salary, paid when the candidate starts. On a £30,000 salary that is £4,500 to £7,500; on £60,000 it is £9,000 to £15,000. Rates are negotiable, particularly on volume, and specialist or executive search sits higher. The percentage rises with the salary even though the work does not, which is the whole reason flat-fee alternatives exist.
What the percentage works out at
| Salary | At 15% | At 20% | At 25% |
|---|---|---|---|
| £25,000 | £3,750 | £5,000 | £6,250 |
| £30,000 | £4,500 | £6,000 | £7,500 |
| £45,000 | £6,750 | £9,000 | £11,250 |
| £60,000 | £9,000 | £12,000 | £15,000 |
| £80,000 | £12,000 | £16,000 | £20,000 |
Most SME hiring lands between 15% and 20%. Below 15% usually means a volume agreement already in place; above 25% usually means genuine search rather than contingency.
What moves the number
- Volume. Agencies discount hard for consistent work. A committed pipeline of roles will beat a one-off every time.
- Difficulty. A rare skill set justifies a higher rate, and an honest agency will tell you before starting rather than after failing.
- Exclusivity. Giving one agency the role rather than four usually buys a lower rate and better attention.
- Seniority. Executive search is normally retained — paid in stages whether or not it completes.
Why the percentage is contentious
Filling a £45,000 role and a £30,000 role take a broadly similar amount of work: the same advert, the same screening calls, the same interview scheduling. At 20% one bills £9,000 and the other £6,000.
A flat fee prices the work instead. Ours is £1,500 to £4,000 +VAT by salary band, fixed before the search and unchanged by the salary you agree.
What the percentage does buy
One thing worth being straight about: contingency means you pay nothing if they never fill it. All the risk of a failed search sits with the agency. Pay a flat fee up front and that risk moves to you — unless the fee carries a refund, which is why we publish a 100% one and why it is the clause to read hardest before paying anyone.
Want the fixed price for your role?
Advertise it yourself from £399 +VAT, or hand the whole search to a dedicated recruiter — a flat fee by salary band with a 100% refund if the role is not filled.
See Guaranteed Hire Advertise a job
Or call 0161 327 2895.