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The Global Insight

Do staffing agencies make money?

Author

John Johnson

Updated on April 01, 2026

Temporary work agencies make money by charging employers for all the services they provide. The agency can also collect a portion of the temp worker’s contracted hourly wages. For example, if the worker is making $10 per hour, the temp agency might charge the business $14 an hour and keep the $4 difference as a fee.

What are typical staffing agency fees?

Temporary staffing agency fees are charged to the client company. Agencies typically charge between 1.65 and 2.10 times the employee’s base salary. The rate will reflect the demand of the skill set needed, difficulty of the search and number of available candidates.

How do staffing recruiters get paid?

Most recruiters in staffing agencies are paid on commission, earning a fee based on your first year’s salary when you get hired. (It doesn’t come out of your pay. It’s just an added expense for the company who hires you.) This often works in your favor.

Is it worth working for a staffing agency?

Yes, some people enjoy the flexibility and variety offered in working with a staffing agency. Some staffing agencies offer great benefits that are sometimes even better than regular employers. Between benefits and a good salary, you can support yourself and your family with short-term positions.

Can you quit a staffing agency?

Contact your temp agency If you found your current job through a temp agency, such as Innovo Staffing, the first step you should take is to contact your agency representative and inform them of your decision to leave, especially if it is prior to the agreed date.

What percentage of pay do staffing agencies take?

How much does a staffing agency charge? Staffing agencies typically charge 25% to 100% of the hired employee’s wages. So, for example, if you and the staffing agency have agreed on a markup of 50%, and the new employee earns an hourly wage of $10, you will pay the agency $15 per hour for their work.

Do recruiters get paid if I quit?

Recruiters do not take a cut of your salary. The company the staffing agency places you at however does compensate the recruiter based on a percentage of your first year’s salary if the employer and recruiting agency have a contingency agreement in place.

Is it bad to go through a staffing agency?

It is not bad to get a job through a staffing agency. Even though most jobs through a staffing agency may be boring like working at a mailroom or very short term like a week; however, they do have some jobs that last more than a week. They do have jobs that are month or more.

How does a temporary staffing agency make money?

First of all, temporary staffing agencies make their money in different ways. They either take a percentage of the employee’s salary or they charge the company looking for an employee a very high price for their services.

How much do owners of staffing agencies earn?

Typically pay is higher in big city areas; the more people the agency matches up with work, the bigger the salary for the employees of the agency. According to Indeed.com for example, agency owners in Washington, D.C. make about $122,000, which is 18% above the national average.

What makes up a staffing agency Bill rate?

Markup: The percentage on top of the pay rate that is used by your staffing agency to cover employment taxes, worker’s compensation and insurance and your overall profit. Bill rate: The sum of the pay rate and the markup.

How to price staffing agency services [ business model ]?

Since staffing agencies perform a service, keeping customers happy is crucial for long-term success. It’s not a one-time transaction like business-to-consumer companies. By lowering the mark up for some clients, you’ll be able to keep the high-volume with just a slight price adjustment.