Contingency fees are, generally, for lower level positions and retained fees for higher level searches. According to industry standards, fees, contingency or retained, range from 25 to 33 percent of the hire's first year compensation, which includes sign-on bonus, if any, base pay and estimated bonus or commission, if any. As you look at the many paths available to you to attain your ideal position, getting an interview with a headhunter is the least likely to move you closer to your goal. Even if you should talk your way into a courtesy interview, it is not likely to be a fruitful exercise, as these recruiters are focused on finding candidates who exactly match the qualifications specified by their clients, not on finding jobs for even the most talented people. One way, which is how you are most likely to find your next position, is networking.
Advertising is another.
Research, through a variety of methods, including the internet and trade associations and other directories, plays a major role in locating candidates. People feel flattered when the headhunter calls. On the other hand, if you are not called, it doesn't mean that you are not the best in your field.