The Boston index
Boston recruitment agencies, ranked.
Every firm we track, scored on public signals: specialist focus, market activity and track record. Terms, claiming and sponsorship never change a rank.
The index is free to read and free to be listed in. Our sponsor makes that possible, and has no say in any ranking.
- Firms tracked
- 307
- Specialties
- 13
- Open roles
- 6,452
- Updated
- Nov 11

The full leaderboard, Boston
| Rank | Firm | Focus | Fee model | Terms | Open roles | Index score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| =150 | Vetted | — | Not stated | Not disclosed | 0 | 23.8 |
| =150 | Vi-Leon | — | Not stated | Not disclosed | 0 | 23.8 |
| =150 | Ward Search Group | — | Not stated | Not disclosed | 0 | 23.8 |
| =150 | Winter Oak Talent | — | Not stated | Not disclosed | 0 | 23.8 |
| =150 | Winthrop & Co.Everett | Financial advisor recruiting and transitions | Not stated | Not disclosed | 0 | 23.8 |
| =150 | Z Legal Staffing | — | Not stated | Not disclosed | 0 | 23.8 |
| 307 | Pillar Search & HR Consulting | — | Not stated | Not disclosed | 1 | 23.7 |
- =150Vetted23.8Not statedNot disclosed0 open roles
- =150Vi-Leon23.8Not statedNot disclosed0 open roles
- =150Ward Search Group23.8Not statedNot disclosed0 open roles
- =150Winter Oak Talent23.8Not statedNot disclosed0 open roles
- =150Winthrop & Co.Everett · Financial advisor recruiting and transitions23.8Not statedNot disclosed0 open roles
- =150Z Legal Staffing23.8Not statedNot disclosed0 open roles
- 307Pillar Search & HR Consulting23.7Not statedNot disclosed1 open roles
Score built from public signals · Fee model from firm websites · Terms reported by firms · Terms never affect the score
How the score works →Recruitment agencies in Boston: questions
How are these Boston recruitment agencies ranked?
Each firm gets a score from public data: how focused it is on one specialty, how many roles it is actively hiring for, and its track record. We rank 307 firms in Boston so far and re-score them as new data comes in. The full method is on our methodology page.
Can a recruitment agency pay to rank higher?
No. There is no paid placement. Claiming a profile, adding terms and our sponsor never change a score or a rank.
What's the difference between a recruitment agency, a headhunter and an executive search firm?
They overlap. A recruitment agency fills roles for employers, usually on contingency. Headhunter is the informal name for a recruiter who approaches people who aren't job hunting. Executive search firms are headhunters for senior roles and usually work on a retained basis. We list all three when they fill professional, white-collar roles.
How much do recruitment agencies in Boston charge?
Most agencies charge a percentage of the hire's first-year base salary. Contingency recruiters are commonly quoted at around 15–25% and are paid only when you hire; retained and executive search firms often charge 25–35%, paid in stages as the search progresses.
My firm is missing or something is wrong. What can I do?
Firms can claim their profile for free and correct their details. Anyone can request a correction; we reply within three working days.
Browse by specialty
13 specialties- 4
Fintech & Trading
Top firm: Tomer Search Group
- 20
Legal
Top firm: Gillard Associates
- 63
Executive Search
Top firm: Lindauer
- 95
Tech & Engineering
Top firm: Dakota DesignStaff, Inc.
- 4
Data & AI
Top firm: Harnham
- 6
Private Equity & VC
Top firm: Opus Advisors
- 41
Healthcare & Life Sciences
Top firm: NOW Healthcare Recruiting
- 3
Media & Advertising
Top firm: Topfolio
- 3
Real Estate
Top firm: Keller Augusta
- 2
Insurance & Actuarial
Top firm: Smith Hanley Associates
- 35
Accounting & Finance
Top firm: Atlantic Group
- 18
Sales & Marketing
Top firm: Treeline
- 13
HR & Talent
Top firm: The Nagler Group