How much does Indeed cost to post a job? Indeed and Careers Page Guide for Trade Contractors
By Capital Growth Studio · Published · 5 min read
This article explains what Indeed costs and compares job boards with a careers page on your own website. It also shows how a custom application form can filter applicants.
A job board is a website where employers post jobs and job seekers apply. On Indeed, a Sponsored Job is a paid post that gets priority over free posts. A careers page is a section of your own website that lists your open jobs.
As of October 2026, Indeed lets employers post up to three free jobs a month. Each free post stays live for up to 30 days. Indeed has no fixed price list for Sponsored Jobs. You set a daily budget. Indeed then charges you for each click or each started application.
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What do job boards give a small business?
A job board shows your opening to people who search for work. On Indeed, you choose a free post or a Sponsored Job:
- Free post: the post appears in search results. It moves down the results as employers add new jobs.
- Sponsored Job: the post keeps priority over free posts while you pay. Job seekers also get email alerts. Indeed claims, from its own US data, that its Standard plan brings "3X more applications than free."
What do job boards not give you?
A job board brings volume, but volume has hidden costs:
- Many applications to review. Some applicants do not have the license or certification that the job needs. Blackmon Service is an HVAC, mechanical and electrical contractor in the Carolinas. Its director of service uses Indeed, CareerBuilder and Glassdoor. He says he might talk to 30 to 40 applicants to choose one or two (Independent Electrical Contractors, April 2025).
- Your brand and your records. Your post appears next to the jobs of other employers. Applications arrive in the board's dashboard, not in a log that you own.
What is the cost compared with the quality of applicants?
As of October 2026, an Indeed budget is a daily average. Daily spend can go above or below it. But Indeed limits the total spend to:
- 7.5 times your daily budget in one week, on a plan with no end date
- your daily budget times the number of days, on a plan with an end date
A made-up example: a $20 daily budget on a 30-day plan can cost up to $600. With no end date, it can cost up to $150 a week.
The budget pays for clicks and started applications, not for applicants who fit the job. To compare the cost of good hires, follow these steps each quarter:
- Ask each applicant where they saw the job: job board, careers page, Google or referral.
- For each source, count qualified applicants, hires and hires still with you after 90 days.
- Divide the spend of each source by its hires. The result is the cost per hire.
Why have a careers page on your own website?
On a careers page, each open job has its own page. It holds the pay range, benefits, schedule, license and a short application form. The page carries your brand, and each application comes to you.
Google can also list the job in its job search at no cost. As of October 2026, listing providers do not pay Google to appear. Google decides what it shows. Our guide to getting openings into Google's job search covers the setup.
A careers page also has limits. It needs setup and upkeep. On day one, it reaches fewer people than a large job board. So you can use both: your careers page first, then a job board for reach.
How can custom application tools filter applicants?
A custom form on your own website asks your key questions before anyone reviews an application. The form can include:
- required fields for the license and certifications that the job needs
- screening questions, for example about on-call work or a driver's license
- a short form that works on a phone, with no résumé required
- an alert to the hiring manager and an immediate reply to the applicant
- an applicant log in a spreadsheet
As of October 2026, Indeed lists license and certification uploads as a feature of Premium Plus. This beta plan has Indeed's most competitive budget. On your own website, you choose the required fields.
Our guide to writing trade job posts with ChatGPT shows what to check before you publish a post.
Frequently asked questions
Can you post a job on Indeed for free?
Yes, within limits. As of October 2026, employers can post up to three free jobs a month directly on Indeed. Some jobs must be sponsored.
Why have a careers page if you post on Indeed?
The careers page is the part of your hiring that you own. Google can list its jobs at no cost. A job board adds reach, so you can use both.
