How Much Does It Cost to Post a Job on LinkedIn in 2023?
LinkedIn has become the go-to platform for companies to post open roles and source qualified candidates. But how much does it actually cost to post jobs on LinkedIn?
In this guide, we break down LinkedIn’s current job posting prices and packages to help you budget appropriately for your hiring needs.
Benefits of Posting Jobs on LinkedIn
Before digging into costs, let’s review the key advantages LinkedIn job posts offer:
- Targeting — Focus your post visibility to specific members based on location, skills, experience, titles, and more.
- Brand Building — Showcase your employer brand and culture to attract top talent.
- Applicant Volume — Leverage LinkedIn’s huge professional network to boost application numbers.
- Candidate Quality — Engage high-quality prospects you may not reach on other job sites.
- Simplified Process — Direct apply lets candidates submit resumes easily through the post.
- Performance Analytics — Gain insights on views, clicks, applicants, and other metrics to refine your recruitment strategy.
LinkedIn Job Post Duration Options
The first factor determining LinkedIn job ad costs is the duration you want your post to run:
- **30 Days** — The standard and most affordable posting period.
- **60 Days** — Extended 2 month listing.
- **90 Days** — 3 months maximum listing duration.
- **Custom** — Flexible schedule purchased in daily ad increments as needed.
Longer ad campaigns sustain exposure over time as candidates continue searching, but 30 days provides adequate visibility for most employers’ needs.
Targeting Your LinkedIn Job Ad Audience
You can narrowly target your ad’s visibility to only the most relevant candidates using parameters like:
- Location — Country, state, region, radius from a zip code
- Industry — Healthcare, finance, retail, etc.
- Experience Level — Manager, executive, entry level, etc.
- Job Functions — Engineering, marketing, product, etc.
- Specific Skills — Individual skill tags, keywords, certifications
More targeting options generally result in lower ad rates. Generic blasts are costly.
What Impacts Costs of LinkedIn Job Ads
Several factors influence how much you will pay:
- Location — Major metro areas cost more than rural regions
- Competition — Premium pricing for high demand roles and skills
- Audience Size — Narrowly targeted ads are most affordable
- Number of Roles — Multi-job ad bundles can offer bulk discounts
For niche skills or roles in major hubs like tech in Silicon Valley, rates are higher based on competition and demand.
LinkedIn’s Job Posting Billing Models
LinkedIn provides two billing models with different pros and cons:
Impression-Based Pricing
- Pay per 1000 impressions or views your job ad receives.
- Provides flexibility to maximize your budget efficiency.
- However, minimum number of impressions must be purchased upfront.
- Average applicant cost per click is only calculated after the full ad run.
Impression-Based Example
* 150,000 impression minimum purchase
* $750 budget
* 150,000 impressions achieved
* 750 clicks @ $1 per click
* 3 applicants generated
* ~$250 per applicant
Pay-Per-Click (PPC) Pricing
- Only pay when someone clicks your job ad.
- Very predictable cost per applicant control.
- Rate per click varies based on targeting factors.
- Some minimum budget requirements may still apply.
PPC Example
* $5 CPC rate based on targeting
* 300 clicks achieved
* $5 x 300 clicks = $1500 total spend
* 8 applicants generated
* ~$190 per applicant
As shown above, the model that achieves the best efficiency depends on results. Evaluate both options.
Additional Potential LinkedIn Job Ad Costs
- Sponsored Content to extend reach into feed
- Premium Postings for 100% exposure and analytics
- Charging application fees to recover costs
But most needs are met via the core ad duration packages purchased.
Evaluating the Investment
While LinkedIn job ads do incur costs, the benefits often outweigh the expenses:
- Lower recruiting costs per hire by focusing efforts
- Wider talent pool beyond other job board limits
- Company branding to future candidates
- Valuable applicant analytics for optimizing
For niche or hard-to-fill roles, access to LinkedIn’s unmatched candidate pool can justify the costs as a wise investment in your hiring process.
In summary, while opaque at first, LinkedIn’s job ad pricing becomes straightforward when you select the right duration and audience targeting options for your needs. For showcasing your employer brand and engaging coveted candidates, LinkedIn remains a top channel for recruitment budgets.
Let me know if you have any other questions on optimizing your LinkedIn job postings!
