What do recruiters in Ireland charge?

When an Irish employer types “recruiters Ireland” into a search engine, the real question is usually about cost, process, or which type of recruiter fits the role. The market splits into three broad models, and each suits a different hiring problem.

The three ways recruiters charge

Contingency agencies dominate the Irish market. They work on a no-placement-no-fee basis, which sounds low-risk, but the incentive is to fill the role quickly with whoever is available. If a hire leaves early, most agencies offer a rebate period — typically 8 to 13 weeks — where they refund a portion of the fee on a sliding scale. After that period, you pay again to refill the role.

Fixed-fee managed search, like our Premium Hire service, charges a single price by salary band. The fee is agreed before any work begins and does not change if the hired candidate negotiates a higher salary. Optional Replacement Cover means that if the person leaves for any reason within 12 months of their start date, one replacement search for the same role is done at no further fee — provided the cover is bought before the start date.

Job-advertising packages sit at the lighter end. You write the ad, we post it across a selection of Irish job boards, and candidates apply to you directly. Our Premium and Premium Plus packages cost €499 and €599 respectively. This route works well when you have the time and internal resource to screen and interview applicants yourself.

What you get for the money

A contingency agency typically sources candidates from its database, runs a LinkedIn search, and sends you a handful of CVs. The screening is often light. A managed search goes further: a dedicated recruiter reviews the role’s market standing, salary, competitor positioning, and online presence before advertising, headhunting, screening, and presenting a shortlist of interviewed candidates. The difference is depth of search and quality of shortlist.

Across eight roles we have published in full, the numbers look like this:

These figures reflect real searches across different sectors and salary levels. The spread in time-to-fill is normal: a niche senior role in a tight labour market takes longer than a junior admin role in a city.

When a recruiter is not the answer

If the role is straightforward, the salary is below €30,000, and you have a strong internal HR function, a job-advertising package or a direct post on IrishJobs.ie or Indeed may be enough. If you already have a known candidate pool — say, a seasonal hospitality team that returns each year — you probably do not need a recruiter at all. The Jobs page on our site lists live roles and gives a sense of what active candidate traffic looks like.

Questions employers ask

Do all recruiters charge a percentage of salary?

No. Contingency agencies almost always do — typically 15–25%. Fixed-fee recruiters charge a set price by salary band, and advertising-only services charge a flat fee per ad campaign. Some independent recruiters work on a day rate or a retained basis, billing in stages regardless of outcome.

What happens if the person leaves soon after starting?

With a contingency agency, you may get a partial refund during the rebate period, but you will usually pay again for a replacement after that window closes. With a fixed-fee managed search that includes Replacement Cover, one replacement search for the same role is done at no further fee within 12 months, provided the cover was bought before the start date.

How long does it take a recruiter to fill a role?

It varies widely. Our own median across published roles is 53 days, but the range runs from 20 days to 137 days. A contingency agency may be faster for common roles because they work from an existing database; a managed search takes longer because it builds a bespoke funnel.

Are there recruiters who just advertise the job and nothing else?

Yes. That is exactly what a job-advertising package does. You get your ad on a selection of Irish job boards, candidates apply to you, and you manage the process from there. It costs less than a full search and suits employers who have the time to screen and interview.

How to choose

Start with the role. If it is hard to fill, senior, or critical to the business, a managed search gives you a dedicated recruiter and a structured process. If it is a volume role and you can handle the response, advertising-only is cheaper. If you want to pay only on success and are comfortable with a percentage fee, a contingency agency is the market default.

For a closer look at how fixed fees compare to percentage models, see our breakdown of typical recruitment fees in Ireland. If you are weighing up whether to handle hiring internally, the cost of hiring in Ireland lays out the hidden time and money costs.

Frequently asked questions