Can You Ask a Recruiter What Google Is Actually Paying for You on OPT STEM OPT?

Yes you can ask and you should — but most recruiters will avoid giving you a straight answer because once you know what the client is paying it becomes harder for them to justify offering you less. A general rule is that staffing companies mark up somewhere between 40 to 60 percent above what they pay you. So if you are being offered 50 dollars an hour for a role at Google there is a reasonable chance the client is being billed somewhere between 70 and 80 dollars an hour for your work. Knowing this gives you real leverage when negotiating.