Hiring
What are typical recruitment fees in Ireland?
Recruitment fees in Ireland depend on the model. Contingency agencies typically charge 15–25% of first-year salary—a €40,000 hire costs €6,000–€10,000, payable only if they fill the role. Managed search with Talent Finder costs €1,800–€4,300 depending on salary band, with a 100% refund if the role is not filled. Job advertising packages start at €499. There is no single standard; the right model depends on how specialist the role is, how quickly you need to hire, and how much budget risk you are willing to carry.
What are typical recruitment fees in Ireland?
There is no single standard fee for hiring in Ireland. The figure you pay depends on the model you choose, the salary of the role, and whether you are willing to carry the risk of paying before a hire is made.
Below is an honest comparison of the main models available to Irish employers.
The main fee models explained
| Model | Typical cost | When you pay | Risk |
|---|---|---|---|
| Contingency agency | 15–25% of first-year salary (market rate) | On successful placement | Agency absorbs search cost if role not filled; you may wait months with no result |
| Retained search | 30–35% of first-year salary (market rate), split across stages | Upfront + on completion | High cost; justified for senior or very specialist roles |
| Managed search (Talent Finder) | €1,800–€4,300 fixed by salary band | On engagement | 100% refund if the role is not filled |
| Job advertising package | €499–€599 fixed | Upfront | You run your own shortlisting; fastest and cheapest if you have capacity |
The contingency and retained figures above are well-established market ranges, not our prices. They are included here so you can make a fair comparison.
Our fixed fees by salary band
For managed search, we charge a flat fee that does not move with the final salary agreed.
| Role salary | Managed search fee |
|---|---|
| Up to €29,999 | €1,800 |
| €30,000–€44,999 | €2,300 |
| €45,000–€59,999 | €3,300 |
| €60,000 and above | €4,300 |
All prices are for Irish business customers on a reverse-charge basis.
For context: a contingency agency filling a €45,000 role at the low end of the market rate (15%) would cost €6,750. Our fee for the same role is €3,300. Whether that saving justifies the difference in service depends on your situation.
Job advertising packages
If you want to run your own process and simply need your vacancy in front of the right audience, our advertising packages are:
- Premium — €499
- Premium Plus — €599
You do the shortlisting. We handle the distribution. See what each package includes for the detail.
This is genuinely the cheapest route if you have someone internally who can screen applications and manage candidates through to offer. If you do not, it tends to become more expensive once you factor in the time cost.
What does the managed search process actually produce?
Across the 8 roles we have filled and publish in full:
| Metric | Figure |
|---|---|
| Roles published | 8 |
| Median time to fill | 53 days |
| Fastest fill | 20 days |
| Slowest fill | 137 days |
| Middle half of fills | 22–69 days |
| Candidates sourced and screened | 322 |
| Taken to internal interview | 121 |
| Presented to client | 51 |
| Client interviews held | 33 |
| Hires made | 9 |
| Median candidates worked per role | 30 |
We present a shortlist, not a pile of CVs. The median is 30 candidates worked per role before we bring you the people worth interviewing.
We do not publish case studies we cannot evidence. You can see the underlying data on our success stories page.
When a contingency agency may suit you better
Contingency agencies are worth considering if:
- You want multiple agencies competing to fill the same role at no upfront cost
- The role is very senior and you need extensive passive-candidate networks
- You genuinely cannot afford any payment unless a hire is made
The trade-off is a higher fee on success and no certainty the agency will prioritise your role over a higher-margin instruction.
When advertising alone may suit you better
A job board package makes sense if:
- You have an internal recruiter or an office manager with time to screen
- The role attracts a reasonable volume of active candidates
- You are confident in your own interview and selection process
For more on what reaches Irish candidates, see how to advertise a job in Ireland.
The guarantee
On managed search, if we do not fill your role, you receive a 100% refund. There are no replacement candidates, no credit notes, no extended retainers. The money comes back.
See the full terms on the guaranteed hire page.
To discuss a specific role
Call us on (01) 575 5347 or visit the contact page. We will tell you honestly which model is likely to suit your situation, including if it is not ours.
Frequently asked questions
Why is the managed search fee fixed rather than a percentage of salary?
A fixed fee means our incentive is to fill the role correctly, not to push for a higher salary offer. It also makes budgeting straightforward: you know the cost before you start. The fee is banded by salary range, so it scales broadly with role complexity without moving every time you negotiate the final package.
What happens if you do not fill the role?
You receive a 100% refund. Not a credit, not a replacement candidate—the fee is returned. The terms are set out on our guaranteed hire page before you commit.
Is there a cheaper option than managed search?
Yes. Our job advertising packages start at €499 and give you distribution across the main Irish job boards. You run your own screening and interviews. It is genuinely the lower-cost route if you have the internal capacity to manage the process. If you do not, the time cost can outweigh the saving.
How do your fees compare to a typical contingency agency?
Contingency agencies in Ireland typically charge 15–25% of first-year salary—that is a market range, not our figure. On a €45,000 role, that works out to €6,750–€11,250 on a successful hire. Our managed search fee for the same role is €3,300, with a full refund if the role is not filled. The agency model can suit situations where you want multiple suppliers competing at no upfront cost, but the success fee is considerably higher.
Sources
Want the fixed price for your role?
Advertise it yourself across Ireland's major job boards from €499, or hand the whole search to a dedicated recruiter with Guaranteed Hire — a flat fee by salary band with a 100% refund if the role is not filled. No VAT is added for Irish businesses.
See Guaranteed Hire Advertise a job
Or call (01) 575 5347.