30% of the new hire's first year salary

30% of the engineer’s first year salary.

It varies based on where you are and the specifics of the deal. 15–30% of the first year‘s salary is normal in my experience.

As someone that has tried to do it myself, and then hired a couple recruiters, that money is well justified.

Think of all the engineers that hate recruiters. A recruiter has to talk to those folks every day.

you realize it doesn't come out of the employee's salary, right? the company has to cough it up separately.

It actually does come out of your signing bonus if you don't ask for it.

Signing bonuses are not the norm in most places. There are many companies who would pay 30% to a recruiter but not even 1% to an employee.