How Much Does It Cost to Advertise a Job in Australia?
The short answer: a single job ad on Australia's largest job board typically costs a few hundred dollars, but the exact price is not fixed — it varies by role title, classification, location and current market demand. Bulk ad budgets are published from around $3,700+GST for 8–10 ads. Smaller job boards charge a flat rate; Jobs In Perth is $29 per listing.
Why you can't get a straight price
The reason "how much does a job ad cost" is such a common search is that the biggest platforms don't publish a single number. SEEK's own help documentation states that ad pricing works on a market demand model, with prices varying depending on the role title, classification and location of the ad.
The practical consequence is uncomfortable: the harder a role is to fill, the more competition there is for candidates, and the more the ad costs. You pay most exactly when hiring is hardest.
What the published figures actually say
SEEK publishes ad budget tiers for employers who hire regularly. At the time of writing those are advertised from approximately $3,700+GST for 8–10 ads, $5,000+GST for 11–15 ads, and $7,500+GST for 17–25 ads. That works out at roughly $300–$460 per ad depending on tier.
These figures change, so treat them as an order of magnitude rather than a quote. The point is the scale: for a small business filling two or three roles a year, per-ad pricing at that level is a meaningful cost.
The full cost of hiring, not just the ad
The ad is rarely the largest number. A realistic Australian hiring budget includes:
- Job advertising — $29 to $500+ per listing depending on platform
- Recruitment agency fees — typically 12–20% of first-year salary, so $8,400–$14,000 on a $70,000 role
- Internal time — screening, interviewing and reference checks, easily 10–20 hours
- Onboarding and ramp-up — the largest hidden cost, and the one that hurts most if the hire doesn't work out
Seen against agency fees, the advertising decision is comparatively small. Seen against a $29 listing, a $400 ad is a 14x difference for the same job.
Cheaper ways to advertise a job
Flat-rate job boards
Smaller and regional boards charge a fixed price regardless of role or demand. Jobs In Perth is $29 for a 30-day listing, $69 featured, $199 premium. The trade-off is audience size: a Perth-focused board reaches Perth candidates, not a national audience.
Free channels
Your own website, LinkedIn, industry Facebook groups and staff referrals cost nothing. They reach the audience you already have, which is fine for common roles and useless for specialist ones.
Government services
Workforce Australia lets employers list vacancies at no cost, and is worth using alongside a paid listing rather than instead of one.
What actually determines whether an ad works
Spend matters less than most employers expect. Three things move applicant quality more than price:
- A salary range in the ad. Ads without one get fewer and worse-matched applications, because candidates self-select out rather than waste time.
- A specific job title. "Diesel Fitter — FIFO 2/1 Pilbara" outperforms "Maintenance Opportunity" every time, because that is what people actually search.
- A short application process. Every extra step loses candidates.
Benchmark your salary before you write the ad — our Australian salary guides cover typical pay by role and experience level.
Which option is right for you?
- Hiring one or two local roles a year: a flat-rate regional board plus free channels
- Hiring continuously: a bulk ad budget on a major board starts to make sense
- Hiring a genuinely scarce specialist: an agency, despite the fee — the cost of the role staying open is higher
Prices cited are as published at the time of writing and change regularly. Check current pricing with each provider.
Post a job on Jobs In Perth from $29 — flat pricing that doesn't move with demand.