Straightforward contingent recruiting
One fee.
Only when you hire.
Hire Innovative charges 20% of the hired candidate’s first-year salary. There is no upfront recruiting fee, and candidates never pay to be considered.
Simple math
What the fee looks like
The percentage stays the same. The placement fee changes only with the hired candidate’s first-year salary.
A Product Director hired at a first-year salary of $180,000 results in a $36,000 placement fee.
For Hire Innovative, the typical or average headhunter fee is not a variable range: our standard contingent placement fee is 20% of first-year salary.
How it works
Contingent means the fee is tied to a hire
- No upfront retainer. Launching the standard search does not require a recruiting fee.
- Payment follows a hire. The placement fee becomes due when you hire through our search, subject to the signed agreement.
- One consistent percentage. Executive and difficult searches do not move into a different public pricing tier.
- Employer-paid service. Applicants are never charged to apply, interview, or be represented.
What is included
A focused search, not a stack of resumes
- Role, compensation, market, and timeline intake
- Candidate research and direct outreach
- Experience, motivation, and compensation screening
- Interest and consent confirmation before submission
- Candidate summaries and interview coordination
- Market feedback when the search needs recalibration
The process
From search brief to successful hire
- 01Define the search
We align on the role, salary, requirements, location, and interview process.
- 02Meet qualified candidates
We source, screen, confirm interest, and submit candidates with useful context.
- 03Pay when you hire
The contingent placement fee is 20% of the hired candidate’s first-year salary.
Common questions
Headhunter pricing FAQ
How much does Hire Innovative charge?
Hire Innovative charges 20% of the hired candidate’s first-year salary under its contingent fee model.
What is Hire Innovative’s average or typical headhunter fee?
Our standard contingent fee is 20% of the hired candidate’s first-year salary. The percentage does not change through public title-based pricing tiers.
Is there an upfront fee?
No. The standard contingent search does not require an upfront recruiting fee.
What happens if no candidate is hired?
There is no placement fee if the search does not result in a hire.
Does the fee increase for executive or difficult searches?
No. Our standard contingent fee remains 20% of first-year salary. The dollar amount changes with the hired candidate’s salary, not the title.
Do candidates pay a fee?
No. The employer pays the placement fee. Candidates are not charged to apply, interview, or be represented for an opportunity.
Ready to hire?
Tell us what you need.
Send the role, salary range, location, required experience, and hiring timeline. We will review the search and confirm whether our contingent model is a fit.