Best Recruitment Agencies
Claim your firm

The Chicago index

Chicago 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
409
Specialties
13
Open roles
6,813
Updated
Nov 11
Chicago, United States

The full leaderboard, Chicago

  1. 51Insurance Recruiting SolutionsInsurance, actuarial, underwriting, claims and insurance-sector finance and technology recruitment54.8
    Not statedNot disclosed82 open roles
  2. 52The Bryar GroupSchaumburg · Finance, tax, accounting, and audit search54.7
    Not statedNot disclosed9 open roles
  3. 53CyberSearchTechnology and professional staffing54.2
    Not statedNot disclosed20 open roles
  4. 54Crucial HireHuman resources leadership search from HR managers and directors through CHRO54.0
    HybridNot disclosed48 open roles
  5. 55Employment Process GroupTechnology, engineering, construction management and business recruitment53.1
    Not statedNot disclosed18 open roles
  6. =56Everforth ApexSoftware engineering, cloud, infrastructure, cybersecurity, data, AI and technical program delivery52.4
    Not statedNot disclosed250 open roles
  7. =56Hazard, Young, Attea & AssociatesSuperintendent, cabinet and educational leadership search52.4
    Not statedNot disclosed17 open roles
  8. 58CMC Consultants52.2
    Not statedNot disclosed3 open roles
  9. =59Academic SearchHigher education presidents, provosts, deans and senior academic and administrative leadership.51.8
    Not statedNot disclosed9 open roles
  10. =59Astor Professional SearchAttorney recruitment for law firm associates, partners and in-house legal departments51.8
    Not statedNot disclosed9 open roles
  11. 61Torrey & Gray51.6
    Not statedNot disclosed11 open roles
  12. =62Ingenium Partners51.2
    Not statedNot disclosed7 open roles
  13. =62The Sterling ChoiceOak Brook · Engineering, quality, and industrial recruitment51.2
    Not statedNot disclosed52 open roles
  14. 64North Bridge Staffing Group51.1
    Not statedNot disclosed12 open roles
  15. 65KEES/Alford Executive SearchExecutive search for nonprofit organizations50.7
    RetainedNot disclosed2 open roles
  16. 66Total Tech SpecialistsOak Brook · Permanent and contract engineering recruiting49.7
    Not statedNot disclosed7 open roles
  17. 67Hunt ClubExecutive search and team builds for venture capital and private equity-backed companies49.5
    RetainedNot disclosed7 open roles
  18. 68JBM Recruitment49.4
    Not statedNot disclosed5 open roles
  19. 69EpsteinSchwartz Legal Search49.2
    Not statedNot disclosed10 open roles
  20. 70HarnhamData science, analytics, AI and data engineering recruitment48.8
    Not statedNot disclosed6 open roles
  21. =71David Gomez PartnersOak Brook · Diversity-focused C-suite and senior leadership search48.2
    Not statedNot disclosed7 open roles
  22. =71The Jacobson Group48.2
    Not statedNot disclosed49 open roles
  23. =73McCann PartnersIT contract, contract-to-hire, project staffing, permanent placement and executive search47.9
    Not statedNot disclosed1 open roles
  24. =73TeamBradley47.9
    Not statedNot disclosed8 open roles
  25. 75DAVRONEngineering, architecture, construction management and manufacturing recruitment.47.8
    HybridNot disclosed50 open roles
  26. 76Momentum Staffing GroupScientific, engineering and architecture recruitment47.7
    Not statedNot disclosed10 open roles
  27. =77Connect SearchFinance, accounting, financial services, IT, HR, executive and professional recruitment47.6
    Not statedNot disclosed163 open roles
  28. =77Northside RecruitingRogers Park · Attorneys, partners and in-house counsel for law firms and corporate legal teams47.6
    Not statedNot disclosed18 open roles
  29. 79System OneEngineering, technology, clinical science and professional workforce recruiting47.2
    Not statedNot disclosed199 open roles
  30. 80The Hire Company46.9
    Not statedNot disclosed9 open roles
  31. 81Improvix Inc.IT, cybersecurity and engineering recruitment, including security-cleared technology roles46.8
    Not statedNot disclosed6 open roles
  32. 82ESPO CorporationEngineering, technical and IT recruitment and staffing44.4
    Not statedNot disclosed115 open roles
  33. 83The Planet Group43.4
    Not statedNot disclosed200 open roles
  34. 84Advanced ClinicalClinical research, scientists, biometrics, medical writing, pharmacovigilance and regulatory talent.42.7
    Not statedNot disclosed35 open roles
  35. 85Bond Consultants42.2
    Not statedNot disclosed15 open roles
  36. =86Addison GroupAccounting and finance, information technology, HR and corporate support41.6
    Not statedNot disclosed30 open roles
  37. =86The Jonus GroupInsurance, actuarial, underwriting, claims, brokerage and related professionals41.6
    Not statedNot disclosed10 open roles
  38. 88Spotter StaffingSchool-based therapists, psychologists, social workers and special education teachers41.5
    Not statedNot disclosed32 open roles
  39. =89Access SearchAccounting, corporate finance, investment operations and financial leadership41.3
    Not statedNot disclosed0 open roles
  40. =89Activ8 Recruitment & SolutionsBilingual technology, engineering and corporate recruitment41.3
    Not statedNot disclosed0 open roles
  41. =89Addison Clark Executive SearchExecutive and professional recruitment across corporate functions41.3
    Not statedNot disclosed0 open roles
  42. =89ALJ GroupReal estate development, architecture, and construction search41.3
    Not statedNot disclosed0 open roles
  43. =89Ancilla CorporationTrading, quantitative finance, investment management, technology and executive search41.3
    Not statedNot disclosed0 open roles
  44. =89Ansley Consulting GroupRetained senior-level executive search across industries41.3
    RetainedNot disclosed0 open roles
  45. =89BellCast PartnersPrivate equity and alternative investment recruitment from pre-MBA to partner level41.3
    Not statedNot disclosed0 open roles
  46. =89Callan Associates41.3
    RetainedNot disclosed0 open roles
  47. =89CEO Search Partners41.3
    RetainedNot disclosed0 open roles
  48. =89Chicago Financial Search, Inc.Financial services and fintech recruitment across trading, compliance, technology and executive leadership.41.3
    Not statedNot disclosed0 open roles
  49. =89CollaberaTechnology, engineering and specialist professional staffing41.3
    Not statedNot disclosed0 open roles
  50. =89Corporate Strategic Resourcing41.3
    Not statedNot disclosed0 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 Chicago: questions

How are these Chicago 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 409 firms in Chicago 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 Chicago 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