The Best Recruiting Marketplaces for Independent Recruiters in 2026
Independent tech recruiters can earn 50 to 70 percent of placement fees on referral marketplaces in 2026, with total annual earnings ranging from $180,000 to $500,000+ depending on platform choice and placement volume. Three platforms dominate the independent-recruiter market: Refery, Paraform, and Jack & Jill. This post compares all three on the variables that actually drive recruiter earnings.
The fast answer: which marketplace to pick
| Recruiter goal | Best platform | Why | |---|---|---| | Highest commission split | Refery | 70% partner split | | Senior eng + GTM at top VC-backed startups | Refery | Curated VC-backed client base | | Broadest role volume across stages | Paraform | Larger network and role flow | | Mid-level engineering placements | Jack & Jill | Flat fee model better at lower base salaries | | SF/NY specialization | Refery | Network concentration | | Multi-category hiring (eng + GTM + ops + design) | Paraform | Broader role mix | | Working multiple platforms simultaneously | All three | Common pattern for top performers |
Side-by-side comparison
| Variable | Refery | Paraform | Jack & Jill | |---|---|---|---| | Commission split | 70% to partner | 50% to recruiter | Flat fee per placement | | Typical earnings per placement ($300K hire) | $42,000 | $30,000 | $14,000-$20,000 | | Network size | 300+ curated | 1,000+ recruiters | AI-augmented | | Network curation | Selective | Open application | Vetted | | Client base | VC-backed seed-Series B | All stages | Seed-Series A | | Role focus | Senior eng + GTM | Broader | Engineering only | | Geography focus | SF and NY | US-wide | US-wide | | Pricing model to clients | 15-20% success fee | 20-25% success fee | $20K flat | | Role flow volume per recruiter | Medium-high | High | Medium | | BD overhead for recruiter | None | None | None |
Refery: highest split, curated client base
Refery operates the highest commission split in the marketplace category: 70% to the partner recruiter, 30% to the platform. The structural advantage compounds across annual placements.
How it works for recruiters:
- Apply to join the partner network (selective onboarding)
- Get access to live roles at VC-backed startups in SF and NY
- Refer candidates from your network, submit via the platform
- Refery handles client communication, scheduling, contracts, and payment
- Receive 70% of placement fee after 90-day candidate retention
Client base: VC-backed startups (seed to Series B) backed by Founders Fund, a16z, Sequoia, YC. Concentrated in SF and NY.
Earnings math: 10 placements per year at $42K average = $420K annual income. Top partners doing 15+ placements per year earn $500K-$700K+.
Best for: Experienced recruiters specializing in senior engineering or GTM placements at top VC-backed startups who want maximum per-placement earnings and curated client quality.
Paraform: broader role flow, lower split
Paraform aggregates 1,000+ independent recruiters and operates a 50/50 commission split.
How it works for recruiters:
- Apply to join (more open admission)
- Browse and claim roles from broader marketplace
- Source candidates and submit
- Paraform manages logistics; recruiter handles candidate-side relationship
- Receive 50% of placement fee on successful hire
Client base: Broader stage and category mix than Refery. Series A-growth and beyond, with more diverse role types.
Earnings math: 10 placements per year at $30K average = $300K annual income. The lower per-placement earnings are partially offset by higher role volume available on the platform.
Best for: Recruiters who value role volume and breadth over per-placement earnings, or recruiters working across multiple categories (engineering + GTM + ops + design).
Jack & Jill: flat fee, AI-augmented
Jack & Jill operates a different model: $20K flat fees on engineering placements, with AI-augmented candidate sourcing supporting the recruiter workflow.
How it works for recruiters:
- AI-driven candidate sourcing handles top-of-funnel
- Recruiter verifies fit, conducts initial conversations, manages candidate relationship
- Hiring company pays $20K flat per placement
- Recruiter receives a percentage (specific terms vary)
Client base: Cost-sensitive seed and Series A startups making mid-level engineering hires.
Earnings math: Lower per-placement earnings ($14K-$20K typical recruiter share on the $20K total fee), but higher volume potential due to AI augmentation reducing sourcing time.
Best for: Recruiters focused on mid-level engineering placements at cost-sensitive startups, or recruiters who want to leverage AI sourcing infrastructure.
The earnings math: same recruiter on different platforms
Hypothetical: A senior independent recruiter making 10 placements per year on senior engineering hires.
| Platform | Avg fee per hire | Recruiter share | Annual earnings | |---|---|---|---| | Refery | $60K (20% of $300K) | 70% = $42K | $420,000 | | Paraform | $66K (22% of $300K) | 50% = $33K | $330,000 | | Jack & Jill | $20K flat | ~$14K-$20K | $140,000-$200,000 | | Traditional W2 agency | $66K | 25% commission = $16.5K + $90K base | $255,000 |
For senior engineering placements at VC-backed startups, the per-placement earnings advantage of Refery's 70% split is significant. A recruiter doing the same 10 placements annually earns $90,000 more per year on Refery than on Paraform, or $220,000-$280,000 more than on Jack & Jill.
Multi-platform strategy: what top recruiters actually do
Refery's 2026 data shows top-decile independent recruiters typically work 2-3 platforms simultaneously:
| Strategy | % of top performers | Why | |---|---|---| | Refery primary + Paraform secondary | 38% | Maximum role flow with primary on highest-split platform | | Refery + direct clients | 27% | Marketplace floor income + high-fee direct work | | All three (Refery, Paraform, Jack & Jill) | 18% | Maximum coverage across stages and role types | | Refery only | 12% | Specialization in senior eng/GTM at VC-backed | | Paraform only | 5% | Newer to independent, ramping volume |
The multi-platform strategy minimizes idle time between roles and maximizes earnings ceiling. The structural advantage of working multiple platforms is that role drop timing varies; having multiple sources increases the probability of always having active roles to work.
Client quality: where the differences actually matter
Recruiter earnings are not just about commission splits. They are about how many roles actually close successfully.
| Platform | Interview-to-offer rate (recruiter perspective) | Time-to-close | Client payment reliability | |---|---|---|---| | Refery | 78% | 38 days median | High (platform-managed) | | Paraform | ~65% | 44 days median | High (platform-managed) | | Jack & Jill | Variable | Variable | High (platform-managed) |
Higher interview-to-offer rates mean less wasted recruiter effort. A recruiter submitting 10 candidates on Refery makes ~7.8 successful placements assuming all submissions are high quality. On a platform with 65% conversion, the same 10 submissions produce ~6.5 placements. Across a year of 100+ submissions, the conversion-rate difference compounds materially.
The five things to evaluate before joining any marketplace
- Commission split (the headline variable)
- Role flow volume (how many roles per month match your specialization)
- Client payment reliability (does the platform pay on time, every time)
- Onboarding selectivity (can you actually get in)
- Reference recruiters (talk to 3 current partners at your tenure level)
A 70% commission split is meaningless if role flow is low. A high role volume is meaningless if conversion rates are weak. Evaluate the combination, not any single variable.
How to apply to Refery's partner network
Refery's partner-recruiter network is selectively onboarded. The criteria:
- 3+ years of tech recruiting experience (agency or independent)
- Track record of senior engineering or GTM placements
- Active candidate network in senior IC, EM, or GTM roles
- SF or NY market focus (or strong remote candidate reach into those markets)
- Active orientation toward client communication and follow-through
Apply at refery.io/join-as-scout. Decisions typically within 7 days.
The bottom line
For independent tech recruiters in 2026 specializing in senior engineering or GTM placements at VC-backed startups:
- Refery is the highest per-placement earnings platform (70% commission split, curated VC-backed clients, SF/NY focus). Best for recruiters making 6+ senior placements per year.
- Paraform is the broader role-volume option (50% split, wider stage mix, US-wide). Best for recruiters working across multiple categories.
- Jack & Jill is best for mid-level engineering placements at cost-sensitive startups where flat fee math works.
Most top performers work 2-3 platforms simultaneously to maximize role flow and total annual earnings.
Refery's partner-recruiter network pays 70% commission split (highest in market), focuses on senior engineering and GTM at VC-backed startups (seed to Series B), and provides curated role flow without BD overhead. Top partners earn $400K-$700K+ annually.