How Much Do Accounting Staffing Agencies Charge?

Accounting staffing agencies typically charge a markup of 25% to 40% on a contractor's hourly pay, or a one-time placement fee of 15% to 30% of first-year salary for a direct hire. On a US accountant at the median salary of $83,680, that works out to roughly $16,000 to $33,000 in the first year (BLS, 2026).

The exact charge depends on the hiring model, the seniority of the role and how long the person stays. The sections below break down each model in dollars.

Contract and Temporary Staffing Markups

For contract and temp roles, the agency pays the worker and bills you an hourly rate with a markup on top. Upwork's 2026 guide puts the usual range at 25% to 40%, rising to 75% for specialized or hard-to-fill roles (Upwork, 2026).

Only part of that premium covers required costs. Employer payroll taxes make up roughly 10% to 13% of it, and agency net profit typically lands between 3% and 8% after overhead (The Resource, 2026).

Public filings show the same picture at scale. Robert Half reported a 39.0% gross margin on contract talent in 2025, which implies bill rates about 64% above the worker's direct cost by MAVI's calculation (Robert Half, 2026).

Direct Hire Placement Fees

For permanent roles, accounting staffing agencies charge a one-time placement fee, usually 15% to 30% of first-year salary. Entry-level roles sit near 15% to 18%, mid-level roles near 20% to 22%, and senior or specialist roles near 25% to 30% (The Resource, 2026).

Most contracts include a guarantee of 30 to 90 days, after which a departure means paying the full fee again for a replacement hire. Our cost-per-hire statistics show how these fees fit into total hiring costs.

Contract-to-Hire Conversion Fees

Contract-to-hire combines both models. You pay the hourly premium during the contract period, then a conversion fee if you hire the person permanently. One published Robert Half schedule charges 25% of annual starting salary in the first 240 hours, stepping down until no fee applies after 961 hours (Second Talent, 2026).

What Drives the Fee Up or Down

Seniority is the biggest driver. Accounting staffing agencies charge higher percentages for controllers and specialists because those searches take longer and fewer candidates qualify. Urgency raises the price too, since a temp who must start tomorrow leaves little room to negotiate.

Volume and contract length work in the buyer's favor. Companies that place several roles a year, or keep a contractor for many months, can often negotiate lower rates. Most accounting staffing agencies will also discuss guarantee length and payment terms, which affect the true cost as much as the headline percentage.

What It Costs for One Accountant

The table below prices one accountant at the US median salary under each model. MAVI calculated these figures from the BLS median and the fee ranges above, excluding benefits and payroll taxes the employer pays directly.

Accounting staffing agencies are often the right call for an urgent US-based temp or an on-site hire. Our Robert Half alternatives guide covers other options when those fees don't fit the budget.

Hire Without a Placement Fee or an Hourly Premium

MAVI places dedicated, pre-vetted global accountants for one flat monthly fee, with no placement fee and no hourly markup. Companies typically start in as fast as 5 days, begin with a 14-day risk-free trial and save 50%+ compared with equivalent US hiring.

For a side-by-side view of the two models, see MAVI vs Recruiters.