There are two basic types of executive search firms - retained and contingency. Both types of firms are paid by the company that contracts them to perform a search, and not by the professional seeking to make a career change. Retained and contingency firms differ in the manner in which they work with client companies, in terms of the level of executives they place and/or the salary range of the searches they handle.

Retained Executive Search Firms
Retained executive search firms are considered to be consultants to their client organizations, and work on an exclusive contract basis with a specific company. These firms are hired by companies to find a particular executive for a specific position, and are paid a retainer fee during the course of the search process for their consulting expertise. The assignments these firms handle have an annual base salary that starts at a minimum of $75,000 and can reach as high as the multi-million-dollar level. The Repovich-Reynolds Group is a retained executive search firm.

Contingency Executive Search Firms
Contingency search firms fill the gap between entry-level placements and those handled by the retained firms. These firms are paid a fee by companies at the conclusion of the search assignment - their fees are "contingent upon" the successful placement of a professional in a position. The annual base salary typically starts at $30,000 and peaks at about $70,000. These firms tend to handle the bulk of lower- to middle-management assignments.