# UK Executive Search Fee Index

> The median published figure in the UK Executive Search Fee Index is 30 percent across 5 sources' own pages (range 10 to 30 percent), read 11 November 2026.

Executive Search Fees · https://executivesearchfees.co.uk/datasets/uk-executive-search-fee-index/ · computed 2026-11-13

**Median published figure:** 30 % (range 10 to 30 %; 5 published figures; 5 of 41 sources read publish one).

5 of the 41 named sources read in full publish a figure; 36 publish none, read 11 November 2026.

The median is unchanged since 18 October 2026 (was 30 percent across 5).

## Every figure, with its source

One row per source: the figure the source's own page publishes, the page, and the day it was read.

| Source | Figure | Read |
|---|---|---|
| [Eagle Headhunters fee negotiations](https://www.eagleheadhunters.co.uk/fee-negotiations/) | 30 % | 2026-11-11 |
| [MSC Headhunters fee structure](https://www.msc-headhunters.com/fee-structure/) | 30 % | 2026-11-11 |
| [Executive Headhunters: typical headhunter fees](https://www.executiveheadhunters.co.uk/blog/how-much-do-headhunters-charge-typical-headhunter-fees/) | 30 % | 2026-11-11 |
| [Ten Percent Legal Recruitment fees](https://ten-percent.co.uk/legal-recruitment-agency-fees/) | 18 % | 2026-11-11 |
| [Valuable Recruitment: what executive search costs](https://valuablerecruitment.com/blog/how-much-does-executive-search-cost) | 10 % | 2026-11-11 |

## The sentence each figure was read from (5)

- [Eagle Headhunters fee negotiations](https://www.eagleheadhunters.co.uk/fee-negotiations/), read 2026-11-11: "At Eagle Headhunters we also charge 30% but only have two stages – the retainer fee and the final fee."
- [MSC Headhunters fee structure](https://www.msc-headhunters.com/fee-structure/), read 2026-11-11: "Industry-standard fees, structured with clarity. The industry standard for executive search is 25–30% of total package."
- [Executive Headhunters: typical headhunter fees](https://www.executiveheadhunters.co.uk/blog/how-much-do-headhunters-charge-typical-headhunter-fees/), read 2026-11-11: "A typical Headhunter fee will be more like 30% of first year salary with the fees broken down into instalments, usually 3 stages:"
- [Ten Percent Legal Recruitment fees](https://ten-percent.co.uk/legal-recruitment-agency-fees/), read 2026-11-11: "Permanent Recruitment 18% fees based on the first year salary or package."
- [Valuable Recruitment: what executive search costs](https://valuablerecruitment.com/blog/how-much-does-executive-search-cost), read 2026-11-11: "At Valuable Recruitment, executive search is a retained engagement typically priced at 10% to 15% of the placed candidate's first-year base salary."

## Read in full, publishes no figure

- [Ten Percent Financial Recruitment fees](https://tenpercentfinancial.co.uk/our-fees/), read 2026-09-12: every candidate on the page was refused
- [Valuable Recruitment: recruitment agency fees](https://valuablerecruitment.com/blog/recruitment-agency-fees), read 2026-10-12: every candidate on the page was refused
- [Nurole: find your solution](https://www.nurole.com/find-your-solution), read 2026-10-12: every candidate on the page was refused
- [Nurole pricing guide](https://www.nurole.com/pricing-guide-form-page), read 2026-11-11: read in full and no accepted figure on the page
- [Boardio pricing](https://www.boardio.com/pricing), read 2026-11-11: every candidate on the page was refused
- [Reach Volunteering: when and what we charge](https://reachvolunteering.org.uk/when-and-what-we-charge), read 2026-10-12: read in full and no accepted figure on the page
- [Paul Harper Search: how a search works](https://www.paulharpersearch.co.uk/faqs/how-a-search-works/), read 2026-09-12: every candidate on the page was refused
- [Executive Recruitment: guide to UK executive search costs](https://executiverecruitment.co.uk/blog/complete-guide-to-executive-search-costs-in-the-uk/), read 2026-11-11: every candidate on the page was refused
- [Executive Headhunters FAQ](https://www.executiveheadhunters.co.uk/executive-search-headhunting-faq/), read 2026-11-11: every candidate on the page was refused
- [MERJE: how much does executive search cost](https://merje.com/blog/2024/01/how-much-does-executive-search-cost/), read 2026-09-12: every candidate on the page was refused
- [Richmond Capital: retained vs contingent costs](https://richmond-capital.co.uk/insights/the-different-costs-and-fees-associated-with-retained-search-and-contingent-recruitment/), read 2026-11-11: every candidate on the page was refused
- [Mason Bedford: what a UK recruitment agency charges](https://www.masonbedford.co.uk/blog/how-much-does-a-recruitment-agency-charge-uk/), read 2026-09-12: every candidate on the page was refused
- [Matrix Personnel: recruitment agency fees UK](https://matrix-personnel.com/recruitment-agency-fees-uk/), read 2026-11-11: every candidate on the page was refused
- [Quick Employment: UK recruitment agency cost guide](https://www.quickemployment.co.uk/article/recruitment-agency-cost-uk-2026-price-guide), read 2026-11-11: every candidate on the page was refused
- [HVAC FM Recruitment: UK recruitment cost breakdown](https://www.hvacrecruitment.com/blog/2026/03/how-much-does-recruitment-cost-in-the-uk-a-complete-pricing-breakdown), read 2026-11-11: every candidate on the page was refused
- [Michael Page employer centre](https://www.michaelpage.co.uk/employer-centre), read 2026-11-11: read in full and no accepted figure on the page
- [Perrett Laver services](https://www.perrettlaver.com/services/), read 2026-10-12: read in full and no accepted figure on the page
- [MRG on the CCS recruitment framework](https://mrgglobal.com/weve-been-awarded-to-the-crown-commercial-services-recruitment-framework/), read 2026-09-12: read in full and no accepted figure on the page
- [Hireful pricing](https://www.hireful.co.uk/pricing/), read 2026-10-12: every candidate on the page was refused
- [The Pensions Regulator FOI: permanent recruitment fees](https://www.thepensionsregulator.gov.uk/en/about-us/freedom-of-information/recently-released-information/permanent-recruitment-fees), read 2026-09-12: every candidate on the page was refused
- [CCS RM6290 Executive and Non-Executive Recruitment Services](https://www.gca.gov.uk/agreements/RM6290), read 2026-09-12: read in full and no accepted figure on the page
- [headhunters.co.uk headhunter costs guide](https://headhunters.co.uk/guides/headhunter-costs/), read 2026-11-11: every candidate on the page was refused
- [Chameleon i: UK agency pricing models](https://www.chameleoni.com/pricing-models), read 2026-09-12: every candidate on the page was refused
- [On3 Works: UK recruitment agency fees](https://on3works.com/resources/recruitment-agency-fees-uk), read 2026-11-11: every candidate on the page was refused
- [FutureFill: UK agency fee breakdown](https://www.futurefill.ai/blog/how-much-do-recruitment-agencies-charge-uk), read 2026-09-12: every candidate on the page was refused
- [Glozo: recruiting fees 2026](https://www.glozo.com/blog/recruitment-agency-fees), read 2026-11-11: every candidate on the page was refused
- [Recruitly: recruitment agency fees 2026](https://recruitly.io/resources/recruitment-agency-fees-2026), read 2026-11-11: every candidate on the page was refused
- [Fractional Quest: UK executive search firms compared](https://fractional.quest/executive-search-firms), read 2026-11-11: every candidate on the page was refused
- [KI Talent: executive search fees](https://kitalent.com/executive-search-fees), read 2026-09-12: every candidate on the page was refused
- [JRG Partners: retained search pricing](https://www.jrgpartners.com/retained-search-pricing-roi-guide/), read 2026-11-11: every candidate on the page was refused
- [Cowen Partners: two types of search firm fees](https://cowenpartners.com/the-two-types-of-executive-search-firms-fees/), read 2026-11-11: every candidate on the page was refused
- [Hunter Recruiting: what search firms charge](https://www.hirecruiting.com/newsroom/how-much-do-executive-search-firms-charge/), read 2026-11-11: every candidate on the page was refused
- [The Good Search: search firm pricing](https://tgsus.com/executive-search-blog/executive-search-fees-search-firm-pricing/), read 2026-09-12: every candidate on the page was refused
- [Pyck: executive search fees](https://pyck.cc/signals/executive-search-fees), read 2026-11-11: every candidate on the page was refused
- [Ikon Search: CEO recruiter pricing](https://ikonsearch.com/feeds/blog/ea-ceo-recruiter-pricing), read 2026-10-12: every candidate on the page was refused
- [Staffing Advisors: what search firms charge](https://www.staffingadvisors.com/blog/what-do-executive-search-firms-charge/), read 2026-11-11: every candidate on the page was refused

## Methodology

Every row is a verbatim sentence read from the named source's own page through our fetch service on the date shown, hash-pinned to the stored read (the sha of the page's visible text; the raw page is mirrored to R2). 5 of the 41 named sources that could be read published a usable figure; 36 published none and are recorded as not published, never filled in; 0 could not be read (blocked, dead or unreachable) and count nowhere. The headline figures (median, minimum, maximum, quartiles) are over ONE figure per source in % (a source's median where its page yielded several accepted sentences), so N counts sources, never sentences; 396 candidate sentence(s) were refused by a reviewer with the reason recorded. The fuller derivation this dataset is chartered to grow into (not yet what the figures above are; they are each source's own published figure as read): the distribution of PUBLISHED UK search fees - the median, low and high percentage, what base it is taken on (first-year base salary versus total first-year compensation, which is the difference nobody prices out), the instalment pattern, the minimum fee floor and the rebate window - computed across every UK firm that publishes one, beside the share of the market that publishes NOTHING, which is the finding this index exists to produce: how many named UK firms quote only on request, and how a stated percentage converts to pounds at each salary band once the base and the minimum fee are applied

## Sources

- [Eagle Headhunters fee negotiations](https://www.eagleheadhunters.co.uk/fee-negotiations/) (the publisher's own terms; quoted for reporting and comment)
- [MSC Headhunters fee structure](https://www.msc-headhunters.com/fee-structure/) (the publisher's own terms; quoted for reporting and comment)
- [Ten Percent Legal Recruitment fees](https://ten-percent.co.uk/legal-recruitment-agency-fees/) (the publisher's own terms; quoted for reporting and comment)
- [Ten Percent Financial Recruitment fees](https://tenpercentfinancial.co.uk/our-fees/) (the publisher's own terms; quoted for reporting and comment)
- [Valuable Recruitment: recruitment agency fees](https://valuablerecruitment.com/blog/recruitment-agency-fees) (the publisher's own terms; quoted for reporting and comment)
- [Valuable Recruitment: what executive search costs](https://valuablerecruitment.com/blog/how-much-does-executive-search-cost) (the publisher's own terms; quoted for reporting and comment)
- [Nurole: find your solution](https://www.nurole.com/find-your-solution) (the publisher's own terms; quoted for reporting and comment)
- [Nurole pricing guide](https://www.nurole.com/pricing-guide-form-page) (the publisher's own terms; quoted for reporting and comment)
- [Boardio pricing](https://www.boardio.com/pricing) (the publisher's own terms; quoted for reporting and comment)
- [Reach Volunteering: when and what we charge](https://reachvolunteering.org.uk/when-and-what-we-charge) (the publisher's own terms; quoted for reporting and comment)
- [Paul Harper Search: how a search works](https://www.paulharpersearch.co.uk/faqs/how-a-search-works/) (the publisher's own terms; quoted for reporting and comment)
- [Executive Recruitment: guide to UK executive search costs](https://executiverecruitment.co.uk/blog/complete-guide-to-executive-search-costs-in-the-uk/) (the publisher's own terms; quoted for reporting and comment)
- [Executive Headhunters: typical headhunter fees](https://www.executiveheadhunters.co.uk/blog/how-much-do-headhunters-charge-typical-headhunter-fees/) (the publisher's own terms; quoted for reporting and comment)
- [Executive Headhunters FAQ](https://www.executiveheadhunters.co.uk/executive-search-headhunting-faq/) (the publisher's own terms; quoted for reporting and comment)
- [MERJE: how much does executive search cost](https://merje.com/blog/2024/01/how-much-does-executive-search-cost/) (the publisher's own terms; quoted for reporting and comment)
- [Richmond Capital: retained vs contingent costs](https://richmond-capital.co.uk/insights/the-different-costs-and-fees-associated-with-retained-search-and-contingent-recruitment/) (the publisher's own terms; quoted for reporting and comment)
- [Mason Bedford: what a UK recruitment agency charges](https://www.masonbedford.co.uk/blog/how-much-does-a-recruitment-agency-charge-uk/) (the publisher's own terms; quoted for reporting and comment)
- [Matrix Personnel: recruitment agency fees UK](https://matrix-personnel.com/recruitment-agency-fees-uk/) (the publisher's own terms; quoted for reporting and comment)
- [Quick Employment: UK recruitment agency cost guide](https://www.quickemployment.co.uk/article/recruitment-agency-cost-uk-2026-price-guide) (the publisher's own terms; quoted for reporting and comment)
- [HVAC FM Recruitment: UK recruitment cost breakdown](https://www.hvacrecruitment.com/blog/2026/03/how-much-does-recruitment-cost-in-the-uk-a-complete-pricing-breakdown) (the publisher's own terms; quoted for reporting and comment)
- [Michael Page employer centre](https://www.michaelpage.co.uk/employer-centre) (the publisher's own terms; quoted for reporting and comment)
- [Perrett Laver services](https://www.perrettlaver.com/services/) (the publisher's own terms; quoted for reporting and comment)
- [MRG on the CCS recruitment framework](https://mrgglobal.com/weve-been-awarded-to-the-crown-commercial-services-recruitment-framework/) (the publisher's own terms; quoted for reporting and comment)
- [Hireful pricing](https://www.hireful.co.uk/pricing/) (the publisher's own terms; quoted for reporting and comment)
- [The Pensions Regulator FOI: permanent recruitment fees](https://www.thepensionsregulator.gov.uk/en/about-us/freedom-of-information/recently-released-information/permanent-recruitment-fees) (the publisher's own terms; quoted for reporting and comment)
- [CCS RM6290 Executive and Non-Executive Recruitment Services](https://www.gca.gov.uk/agreements/RM6290) (the publisher's own terms; quoted for reporting and comment)
- [headhunters.co.uk headhunter costs guide](https://headhunters.co.uk/guides/headhunter-costs/) (the publisher's own terms; quoted for reporting and comment)
- [Chameleon i: UK agency pricing models](https://www.chameleoni.com/pricing-models) (the publisher's own terms; quoted for reporting and comment)
- [On3 Works: UK recruitment agency fees](https://on3works.com/resources/recruitment-agency-fees-uk) (the publisher's own terms; quoted for reporting and comment)
- [FutureFill: UK agency fee breakdown](https://www.futurefill.ai/blog/how-much-do-recruitment-agencies-charge-uk) (the publisher's own terms; quoted for reporting and comment)
- [Glozo: recruiting fees 2026](https://www.glozo.com/blog/recruitment-agency-fees) (the publisher's own terms; quoted for reporting and comment)
- [Recruitly: recruitment agency fees 2026](https://recruitly.io/resources/recruitment-agency-fees-2026) (the publisher's own terms; quoted for reporting and comment)
- [Fractional Quest: UK executive search firms compared](https://fractional.quest/executive-search-firms) (the publisher's own terms; quoted for reporting and comment)
- [KI Talent: executive search fees](https://kitalent.com/executive-search-fees) (the publisher's own terms; quoted for reporting and comment)
- [JRG Partners: retained search pricing](https://www.jrgpartners.com/retained-search-pricing-roi-guide/) (the publisher's own terms; quoted for reporting and comment)
- [Cowen Partners: two types of search firm fees](https://cowenpartners.com/the-two-types-of-executive-search-firms-fees/) (the publisher's own terms; quoted for reporting and comment)
- [Hunter Recruiting: what search firms charge](https://www.hirecruiting.com/newsroom/how-much-do-executive-search-firms-charge/) (the publisher's own terms; quoted for reporting and comment)
- [The Good Search: search firm pricing](https://tgsus.com/executive-search-blog/executive-search-fees-search-firm-pricing/) (the publisher's own terms; quoted for reporting and comment)
- [Pyck: executive search fees](https://pyck.cc/signals/executive-search-fees) (the publisher's own terms; quoted for reporting and comment)
- [Ikon Search: CEO recruiter pricing](https://ikonsearch.com/feeds/blog/ea-ceo-recruiter-pricing) (the publisher's own terms; quoted for reporting and comment)
- [Staffing Advisors: what search firms charge](https://www.staffingadvisors.com/blog/what-do-executive-search-firms-charge/) (the publisher's own terms; quoted for reporting and comment)

## Cite or embed

- The median published figure in the UK Executive Search Fee Index is 30 percent across 5 sources' own pages (range 10 to 30 percent), read 11 November 2026.
- 5 of the 41 named sources read in full publish a figure; 36 publish none, read 11 November 2026.
- The median is unchanged since 18 October 2026 (was 30 percent across 5).

Cite as: "executivesearchfees.co.uk UK Executive Search Fee Index", updated 2026-11-13, https://executivesearchfees.co.uk/datasets/uk-executive-search-fee-index/.

CSV: https://executivesearchfees.co.uk/datasets/uk-executive-search-fee-index.csv
JSON: https://executivesearchfees.co.uk/datasets/uk-executive-search-fee-index.json
Embed (plain HTML, static link back): see https://executivesearchfees.co.uk/datasets/uk-executive-search-fee-index/#median