Executive search fees

Executive search fees in 2026: what you'll pay, and why

Last reviewed

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The short answer

Global retained executive search firms typically charge about one-third of a new hire's first-year cash compensation, plus an expense charge. Retained search fees commonly range from 25% to 38%, usually billed in three installments during the search. Contingency recruiters commonly charge 20% to 30% and are paid only when a hire is made. Talent Authority Partners charges 25% of first-year compensation, with an engagement fee that is credited toward the placement fee on most packages, and invoices the placement fee on the new hire's start date.

Search fee calculator

Global-firm depth. Without the global-firm fee.

Move the slider to the role's first-year compensation and see what you save.

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Up to $2,000,000

Leadership hires this year
1
$100,000$750,000+

Typical executive search firm $83,333, all billed before your hire starts. Talent Authority Partners $62,500, with $6,000 to start and $56,500 after your hire starts. $20,833 less in fees, $77,333 less paid before your hire starts.

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Assumes a package paid in cash. Fee bases differ (cash compensation versus total compensation), so compare exact totals using written proposals. Estimates only; the signed agreement governs all fees.

Fee structures

The three ways search firms charge

Global retained search

Typical fee
About one-third of first-year cash compensation, plus an expense charge. Retained fees commonly run 25% to 38%.
How it's billed
Usually three installments during the search.
Often the best fit for
Public-company CEO and board searches, and searches across many countries at once.

Contingency recruiting

Typical fee
Commonly 20% to 30% of first-year salary.
How it's billed
Only when a hire is made.
Often the best fit for
Higher-volume and less senior roles.

Talent Authority Partners

Typical fee
25% of first-year compensation.
How it's billed
Engagement fee of $6,000 (Executive and Specialized Search) or $3,000 (Professional Search), credited toward the placement fee. Select Search engagement fees are set after the intake call and are not credited. The placement fee is invoiced on the new hire's start date.
Often the best fit for
Manager to C-suite leadership hires where you want depth without the global-firm fee.

Worked examples

$150,000 compensation

Typical global firm: $50,000
TAP: $37,500

You save $12,500

$250,000 compensation

Typical global firm: $83,333
TAP: $62,500

You save $20,833

$400,000 compensation

Typical global firm: $133,333
TAP: $100,000

You save $33,333

See the comparison table
Fee examples at three compensation levels
First-year compensationTypical global firm (one-third, before expenses)TAP (25%)Difference
$150,000$50,000$37,500$12,500
$250,000$83,333$62,500$20,833
$400,000$133,333$100,000$33,333

What changes the fee

01

Which compensation counts.

Some firms charge on base salary, others on target cash (base plus bonus), others on total compensation. Always ask which.

02

Expense charges.

Some global firms add a percentage of the fee to cover indirect expenses, on top of the fee itself.

03

Estimate adjustments.

Some firms bill on an estimate of compensation and add an uptick fee if the final offer is higher.

04

Guarantees.

Replacement guarantees vary by firm and package. TAP's run from 30 to 90 days from the candidate's start date, depending on the package.

8 questions to ask any search firm before you sign

  1. 01What percentage do you charge, and on which compensation: base, target cash or total?
  2. 02Are expenses billed on top, and how are they calculated?
  3. 03When is each part of the fee due?
  4. 04What happens to fees already paid if the search is cancelled?
  5. 05Who will run my search day to day?
  6. 06How are candidates evaluated before I meet them, and what will I receive on each one?
  7. 07What does the replacement guarantee cover, and for how long?
  8. 08How many searches is my lead recruiter running right now?
Ask us all eight

Frequently asked questions

How much does an executive search firm charge?
Global retained executive search firms typically charge about one-third of a new hire's first-year cash compensation, plus an expense charge. Retained search fees commonly range from 25% to 38%, usually billed in three installments during the search. Contingency recruiters commonly charge 20% to 30% and are paid only when a hire is made. Talent Authority Partners charges 25% of first-year compensation, with an engagement fee that is credited toward the placement fee on most packages, and invoices the placement fee on the new hire's start date.
Is 25% a normal executive search fee?
Yes. Retained search fees commonly range from 25% to 38% of first-year total cash compensation, and contingency fees from 20% to 30%. TAP's 25% sits at the low end for a retained-style leadership search.
Is TAP a retained or contingency search firm?
A mix of both. The engagement fee commits both sides to the search, as retained search does, and the placement fee is invoiced only when your new leader starts, as contingency search does.
When do I pay TAP?
The engagement fee is invoiced after you accept a package and before sourcing begins. The placement fee is invoiced on the candidate's start date and is due within 30 calendar days (15 for Select Search).
What if the new hire leaves early?
Every package includes a replacement candidate guarantee of 30 to 90 days from the candidate's start date, depending on the package. Guarantees are conditional and governed by the signed agreement.
Sources · 2 cited Last reviewed 2026

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