Market guide · Perth

Executive Search recruitment in Perth.

Executive search in Perth is concentrated in resources, energy and engineering leadership, technical, operational and project-executive mandates tied to the state’s major employers.

Updated June 2026 · For recruiters, by Start Group

What it pays

Executive Search recruiter salaries in Perth.

What recruiters in this vertical actually earn, by level. Commission and bonus sit on top of these bases and vary widely by desk and billings.

LevelBase salary (AUD)
Recruitment Consultant $75,000 to $85,000
Recruitment Manager $120,000 to $140,000

Indicative base salary advertised on SEEK (full-time, June 2026), excluding super and commission. Commission and billings typically lift total earnings well above base.

Source: SEEK advertised salary data, June 2026

These are advertised bases for in-house recruitment roles, in agency rec-to-rec, commission and desk maturity change the picture. Get in touch for an honest read on executive search desks at your level in Perth.

The Perth market

How executive search plays in Perth.

The top of the market, retained and contingent search for leadership, board and C-suite roles.

Executive search in Perth is concentrated in resources, energy and engineering leadership, technical, operational and project-executive mandates tied to the state’s major employers.

The desks: A focused field of search firms with deep resources networks. Sector credibility matters more than breadth here.

What drives hiring: Leadership transitions, PE/VC portfolio build-outs, transformation mandates and succession planning.

The desks in this vertical

Which executive search desk fits you?.

Retained executive search, contingent senior appointments, board & NED, and interim executive desks, low volume, high value, research-intensive.

What a strong biller looks like here: Recruiters with gravitas, rigorous research, and the patience for long, retained mandates where one placement can make a year.

  • Retained search consultant
  • Board & NED recruiter
  • Interim executive recruiter
  • PE/portfolio talent partner
How Start Group helps

A rec-to-rec that actually knows the executive search desk.

We're the 3× NSW Rec2Rec Agency of the Year. We'll tell you which Perth executive search desks are warm, which comp plans pay out, and which to avoid, for your level.

FAQ · Executive Search recruitment Perth

Executive Search recruitment in Perth, explained.

What do executive search recruiters earn in Perth?
Indicative base salaries for executive search desks in Perth are in the table on this page (Indicative base salary advertised on SEEK (full-time, June 2026), excluding super and commission. Commission and billings typically lift total earnings well above base.). Commission and bonus typically sit on top and vary widely by desk and billings, we'll give you the real, current number for your level on a call.
Is Perth a good market for executive search recruiters?
Executive search in Perth is concentrated in resources, energy and engineering leadership, technical, operational and project-executive mandates tied to the state’s major employers.
Which executive search recruitment agencies should I join in Perth?
A focused field of search firms with deep resources networks. Sector credibility matters more than breadth here. As a rec-to-rec, our whole job is telling you which of those desks are warm, which comp plans actually pay out, and which to avoid, for your level and specialism.
Does Start Group place executive search recruiters?
Yes, we place recruiters across the executive search vertical in Perth, from consultants to GMs and directors. New to recruitment? Start with Start In Recruitment. Relocating from the UK or Ireland? See our Start In Australia relocation guide.
Executive Search · Perth

A straight read on the Perth executive search market.

Fifteen minutes. We'll tell you what your level really pays, which desks are worth it, and which to swerve.