The 2020 Talent Acquisition Salary Report
In today’s competitive job landscape, it’s no surprise that talent acquisition is a valuable profession. The market is strong for human resources talent, and we’re taking a look at exactly what you can expect to make as a talent acquisition professional today.
Whatever the market conditions, talent acquisition professionals are in high demand. In an applicant market, strong TA pros are able to source and hire skilled candidates creatively and quickly. In an employer market, TA pros screen for the best talent their organization can afford. A strong human resources team can be the difference between retaining long-term, effective hires or dealing with a revolving door of recruitment.
Today’s market conditions for TA professionals is strong. Yello recently surveyed hiring authorities across the U.S. to identify salary trends and norms across all sectors and geographies.
For job-seeking talent acquisition professionals and companies who want to ensure their TA function is aligned with market conditions, the data may be enlightening.
2020 Talent Acquisition Salary Report: Key Takeaways
- The average salary for talent acquisition professionals across the board is $70,000 per year.
- 78% of talent acquisition professionals received a salary increase within the last 12 months, and 57% received a title change this year.
- 71% of respondents successfully negotiated a higher salary before accepting their current job.
- TA professionals in larger organizations tend to earn higher wages than their small business counterparts.
- TA professionals in the Northeast and West have the highest average salaries, while the Southwest region offers the lowest average salary.
Talent acquisition compensation trends
Overall, our data finds that the average salary for talent acquisition roles across all geographies, titles and industries is $70,000 per year. In addition to their base salary, these professionals often earn extra wages and bonuses averaging $1,000 to $2,000 per year.
What is your current salary?
Talent acquisition career growth
Research reveals that many HR professionals believe automation will see an increased role in recruitment and acquisition, but that doesn’t mean talent acquisition jobs are going away. We found an upward wage trend for TA professionals:
- 78% of respondents received a salary increase within the last year
- 57% received a promotion or title change within the last year.
These team members also know their value in the market. The majority (71%) report they successfully negotiated a higher salary before accepting their current job.
When is the last time you received a salary raise?
71% of talent acquisition professionals successfully negotiated a higher salary before accepting their current job.
Company size matters…
Company size and wages go hand-in-hand. TA professionals in larger organizations tend to earn higher wages than their small business counterparts:
Average talent acquisition salary by company size
…And so does experience
Unsurprisingly, more years of experience means higher salary for talent acquisition professionals. Entry-level workers start out between $40,001 to $50,000 per year. Experience boosts wages:
Average talent acquisition salary by years of experience
Industry Averages
How do talent acquisition salaries at your company compare to overall industry benchmarks? While some of the highest-paying industries include construction and government agencies, healthcare and education have some catching up to do.
Average talent acquisition salary by industry
Location, location, location
Geography also has a big impact on talent acquisition compensation. The Northeast and West regions of the U.S. lead the charge with an average salary of $80,001-$90,000, while the Southwest trails the pack with an average salary of $50,001 – $60,000.
Average talent acquisition salary by location
| Region | Average salary |
| Northeast | $80,001 – $90,000 |
| Southeast | $60,001 – $70,000 |
| Midwest | $60,001 – $70,000 |
| West | $80,001 – $90,000 |
| Southwest | $50,001 – $60,000 |
For talent acquisition leaders, knowing your team members’ value in the marketplace is critical. Employees today know their worth, and aligning compensation with market standards is necessary to win and retain talent. Use these benchmarks to audit your own talent team’s compensation, and prepare for job seeker expectations when it comes time to hire your next team member.
*Methodology: Yello partnered with SurveyMonkey Audience, SurveyMonkey’s global market research panel, to survey full- and part-time employed adults, ageds 18 – 99+ in the United States. The survey was conducted online between October 17 – October 18, 2019. It surveyed 200 professionals in the recruiting, talent acquisition, recruiting operations or staffing space.
