Recruitment Agencies:
I’m reaching out to anyone working in recruitment in New York, San Francisco, Dubai/KSA, or Singapore. I’d love to get insights on your base salaries and OTEs, as well as the industries you operate in.
A bit of background: I have 8 years of experience in recruitment (agency), with 5 years managing teams of up to 12 people. I’ve successfully built an entire vertical/division/desk from the ground up, generating £1m in gross profit and £4.2m in turnover within the built environment sector (real estate, civil engineering, and sustainability).
Currently based in London, where I earn £50k with an OTE of £110k (including team overrides) while managing a team of 12 and continuing to contribute to the industries mentioned above.
I’m considering a potential move abroad and am open to exploring different industries as well.
Any insights would be greatly appreciated! Thank you!
Hey there!
It sounds like you have a solid background in recruitment and impressive achievements in the built environment sector. In terms of base salaries and OTEs in the cities you mentioned, here’s some insight:
New York: Recruiters with your level of experience can expect base salaries around $70k to $90k, with OTEs ranging from $150k to $200k, especially if you’re managing a team and contributing to billings. The competition is fierce, and industries like tech and finance tend to pay more.
San Francisco: Similar to NY, you’re looking at base salaries from $80k to $100k, with OTEs potentially hitting the $200k to $250k mark, given the demand for tech and engineering talent there.
Dubai/KSA: The base salaries can be a bit lower on average, typically between AED 25k to AED 35k (around $6,800 to $9,500), with OTEs perhaps reaching AED 100k to AED 150k ($27k to $40k). However, the tax-free income can be a big draw. The market can be quite diverse, with real estate, construction, and oil & gas being prevalent.
Singapore: Base salaries are often in the range of S$60k to S$80k (around $43k to $57k), with OTEs reaching up to S$150k to S$200k ($107k to $143k) for experienced recruiters, particularly in technology and finance sectors.
Given your strong managerial experience and the success you’ve had in building a division, you should be competitive in these markets, even if you’re considering a shift in industry. Networking and understanding local market dynamics can also significantly impact your success.
Best of luck with your decision-making process! If you have specific questions about any city, feel free to ask.