Recruiter placement fee calculator

A placement fee is the fee percentage multiplied by first-year compensation. Enter the salary (or CTC for India), the percentage and any bonus your agreement counts. You also get your share after a split and the refund if the hire leaves inside the guarantee. All numbers here are examples, not market rates.

LiveRec Editorial. Assumptions last checked .

The placement
CurrencyUse INR with first-year CTC for India.
Only if your agreement counts it.
100 if you work alone.
Guarantee (optional)
0 means the candidate stays.
Refund type

Placement fee

$24,000

$120,000 × 20%. Your share at 100%: $24,000.

Breakdown
ItemAmount
Compensation used$120,000
Total fee$24,000
Your share$24,000
Other recruiter's share$0
Refund of total fee$0
Your share kept after refund$24,000

Illustrative arithmetic. Your agreement controls.

How this is calculated

  1. Compensation = base salary (or CTC) + any bonus your agreement counts.
  2. Fee = compensation × fee percentage.
  3. Your share = fee × your split percentage.
  4. Prorated refund = fee × (guarantee days − day left) ÷ guarantee days, only if the candidate leaves on or before the last guarantee day.
  5. Full refund = the whole fee under the same condition. Replacement = no refund, a new search at no fee.

Example: USD 120,000 × 20 percent = USD 24,000. At a 50/50 split your share is USD 12,000. With a 90-day prorated guarantee and a hire who leaves on day 45, the refund is USD 24,000 × 45 ÷ 90 = USD 12,000 in total, of which USD 6,000 comes out of your half.

Assumptions and sources

Last checked 30 October 2026.

  • The formulas are arithmetic. No external source or market average is used.
  • The refund is split in the same proportion as the fee. Your agreement may say otherwise.
  • Whether bonuses, equity or allowances count as compensation is a term of your agreement. The calculator counts only what you enter.
  • Taxes and commissions owed to others are not included.

Frequently asked questions

Does the calculator know my agreement?
No. Use the terms you signed. If the agreement and this page disagree, the agreement wins.
Which fee percentage should I use?
Your negotiated rate. The calculator does not suggest one.
Can I use it for India?
Yes. Switch the currency to INR and enter first-year CTC.
Does the calculator store my numbers?
No. It runs in your browser, stores nothing and sends nothing.

Illustrative arithmetic. Your agreement controls. This is general information, not legal, tax or immigration advice. Rules change and your situation may differ. Consult a licensed attorney or qualified adviser.