David prices every Beacon search based on actual search difficulty, not a flat rate card.
Fees are almost always a percentage of first-year base salary. The range is wider than most companies expect, and the reasons for the spread are worth understanding before you sign anything.
See the breakdown| Role level | Typical fee | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Software Engineer / IC | 15-20% | Larger candidate pool, faster searches |
| Engineering Manager | 18-22% | Fewer qualified candidates, higher stakes |
| VP of Engineering | 20-25%+ | Scarce pool, longer diligence, executive-level search |
| AI/ML/Data specialist | 18-22% | Highest current demand relative to supply |
Scarcity is the biggest driver, not seniority alone. A hard-to-find AI/ML specialist can command a similar fee to a VP search, because the pool of qualified people is just as thin. Geographic constraints, required domain experience (healthcare, fintech, regulated industries), and urgency all push the number up. A broad, well-defined role with a large candidate pool pushes it down.
The fee should track the difficulty of the search, not just the title on the offer letter. A niche AI/ML search can be harder to fill than a generalist VP search.
David prices every Beacon search based on actual search difficulty, not a flat rate card.
Book a 15-minute call and we'll give you a straight answer, not a range.
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