Market guide · Brisbane

Executive Search recruitment in Brisbane.

Executive search in Brisbane is growing alongside SEQ’s expansion, leadership demand in property, construction, resources-adjacent and government-linked organisations.

Updated June 2026 · For recruiters, by Start Group

What it pays

Executive Search recruiter salaries in Brisbane.

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 $90,000
Recruitment Manager $110,000 to $125,000

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 Brisbane.

The Brisbane market

How executive search plays in Brisbane.

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

Executive search in Brisbane is growing alongside SEQ’s expansion, leadership demand in property, construction, resources-adjacent and government-linked organisations.

The desks: A developing market with fewer dedicated search firms, opening room for credible operators to establish themselves.

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 Brisbane executive search desks are warm, which comp plans pay out, and which to avoid, for your level.

FAQ · Executive Search recruitment Brisbane

Executive Search recruitment in Brisbane, explained.

What do executive search recruiters earn in Brisbane?
Indicative base salaries for executive search desks in Brisbane 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 Brisbane a good market for executive search recruiters?
Executive search in Brisbane is growing alongside SEQ’s expansion, leadership demand in property, construction, resources-adjacent and government-linked organisations.
Which executive search recruitment agencies should I join in Brisbane?
A developing market with fewer dedicated search firms, opening room for credible operators to establish themselves. 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 Brisbane, 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 · Brisbane

A straight read on the Brisbane executive search market.

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