https://prestigestaffing.jobs.net/
http://www.professional-insight.com/
These are all reputable agencies that don’t submit your resume without your permission. They will tell you the salary range up front and once you talk to them, they will tell you the name of the company.
As far as relocation. Probably not, but if you’re a good developer and not finding jobs quickly in your market. You need to relocate anyway.
It’s neved taken me longer than a month to find a job as a developer in over 20 years - always paying more.
I moved from a small town the week after I graduated from college in the mid 90s because I knew there were no jobs there.
The salary survey posted by Matrix jibes with my experience at least for Atlanta.
I just picked a random city -Boston - and Google’d “Boston software recruiters”. I found two or three just now.
Even with the job boards, recruiters post jobs thier and instead of sending your resume, talk to them. If you have the skills, and interview well, they will be more than happy to work with you. They get a 20% finders fee from the company you are eventually hired through and it doesn’t affect your salary.
If they won’t give you the information for the hiring company when you ask - don’t deal with them. Also, don’t be shady. Don’t go behind the recruiters back, make sure you aren’t being submitted by more than one company and make sure they always ask before they submit your resume.
The general rule of thumb is not to tell them your current salary. I’ve never gone by that rule. I always tell them the minimum salary I want - and no “target compensation” and bonuses don’t count - and don’t waste my time discussing any company that can’t meet my requirements.
I’ve had them negotiate on my behalf after a company was interested for more than the salary the company offered. The more I make the more they make.