Posting a job on LinkedIn can be an effective way to reach qualified candidates, but it does come at a cost. The price to post a job can range quite a bit depending on the type of job, length of posting, and any additional features. In this article, we’ll break down the key factors that impact the cost of posting a job on LinkedIn.
LinkedIn Job Posting Options
LinkedIn offers three main options for posting a job:
- Basic Job Posting – Free
- Standard Job Posting – Starts at $199 per 30 days
- Premium Job Posting – Starts at $499 per 30 days
The free basic job posting option allows you to create a simple job post that includes basic information like job title, description, and location. This reaches a limited audience and does not allow for targeting specific candidates.
The standard and premium options provide additional features to help target and engage relevant candidates. This includes things like screening questions, company pages, and analytics. The premium option provides the highest level of targeting options and promotion.
LinkedIn Job Posting Pricing
The cost for standard and premium job postings on LinkedIn depends on several factors:
- Length of posting (30 vs 60 vs 90 days)
- Level of job (entry, mid, senior, executive)
- Additional targeting options
- Bundled packages
Here is an overview of the starting price points:
| Posting Type | 30 Days | 60 Days | 90 Days |
|---|---|---|---|
| Standard | $199 | $345 | $445 |
| Premium | $499 | $845 | $1045 |
As you can see, premium job posts cost significantly more than standard. The price also increases the longer the duration of the posting.
For both standard and premium posting options, the cost increases based on the seniority of the job. For example, an executive level role costs more to post than an entry level position. Additional targeting options, like being able to target specific companies, skills, and experience levels, also add to the cost.
Factors That Impact Cost
Now that we’ve looked at the base pricing options, let’s discuss the key factors that impact the actual cost to post a job on LinkedIn:
Job Type and Seniority
As mentioned above, more senior level roles cost more to post. This is because LinkedIn charges more to target those higher value candidates. Posting for an executive level role starts at $795 for a 30 day premium posting, compared to $499 for an entry level position.
Desired Reach and Engagement
How broadly do you want to distribute the job posting? Options like promoted postings that gain additional visibility or messaging candidates directly cost extra.
Duration of Posting
Typically a longer posting period is optimal to allow for a thorough search process. However 30 day postings start around 40% cheaper than a 90 day posting.
Integrations and Bundles
You can reduce costs by bundling job postings and integrating with preferred hiring tools. For example, LinkedIn integrates directly with popular HR platforms and applicant tracking systems.
Location of Candidates
Targeting candidates in some areas of the world costs more. For example, LinkedIn charges a premium to target candidates in Australia and some parts of Europe.
Additional Screening and Targeting
Extensive screening and targeting options to hone in on specific candidates adds to the cost. Screening by skills, experience level, education background, and other factors improves quality but isn’t cheap.
Cost Saving Tips
Here are some tips to help reduce the cost of posting a job on LinkedIn:
- Start with a 30 day standard job posting to test a role for less cost
- Focus targeting to core required skills and experience
- Post up to 3 lower cost standard ads instead of 1 premium
- Partner with staffing agencies who may have discounted volumes
- Negotiate custom bundles if posting high volume
- Use integrations with HR platforms to simplify process
Is LinkedIn Worth the Cost?
At the end of the day, the most important factor is results. Does paying to post a job on LinkedIn deliver? The numbers say yes:
- LinkedIn has over 740 million members worldwide
- 93% of recruiters use LinkedIn to source and vet candidates
- 59% of recruiters have successfully hired through LinkedIn
- LinkedIn jobs see up to 3X more qualified applicants than job boards
For most roles, paying to post on LinkedIn provides significant exposure that would be very difficult to achieve through any other single channel. The quality of candidates makes it worth the investment.
Boost Quality of Hire
LinkedIn is known for attracting more senior, skilled candidates compared to general job boards. The extensive profile data helps refine targeting and improve screening.
Reduce Time to Hire
With LinkedIn recruiting tools integrated into your process, you can shave days or weeks off time to hire. Things like automated screening, one-click communicating, and candidate management streamline hiring.
Lower Cost Per Hire
The boost in applicant quality means you have to sort through fewer unqualified candidates. And you reduce expenses from drawn out vacancies. Better talent leads to reduced turnover costs as well.
Conclusion
Posting jobs on LinkedIn requires a financial investment, but the access to quality candidates makes it worthwhile for most hiring managers and recruiters. Costs range from $199 up to $1045+ for a premium 90 day posting. Factors like seniority of the role, targeting options, and duration impact the overall cost. Following best practices can help manage the investment while maximizing results.
