The verdict in three sentences
For a 600-employee mid-sized aerospace company in Berlin, a custom careers site costs between EUR 10,000 and 25,000 excl. VAT in 2026, plus EUR 2,000 to 5,000 for the ATS connector (Personio, Flatchr, Welcome to the Jungle, Taleez). With premium job ads billed at EUR 400 to 900 each, cutting 30 to 40 ads a year is enough to pay for the project. Companies that invest in job family pages and video testimonials see direct applications double within 12 months.
What a careers site costs in 2026
The HR director must choose between a careers page inside the corporate site, a dedicated site and a solution provided by the ATS vendor. The gaps lie in employer brand content and job search visibility.
| Option | 2026 budget (excl. VAT) | Employer brand content | Synced job ads | Google Jobs visibility | Timeline |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ATS careers page (white label) | EUR 0 to 3,000 | Limited, fixed template | Yes | Partial | 1 to 2 weeks |
| Careers page within corporate site | EUR 4,000 to 9,000 | 3 to 5 pages | Via iframe or feed | Low | 4 to 6 weeks |
| Standard dedicated careers site | EUR 10,000 to 16,000 | Job family pages, values, benefits | Yes, via API | JobPosting markup | 8 to 10 weeks |
| Premium dedicated careers site | EUR 16,000 to 25,000 | + videos, journeys by site and job | Yes, advanced filters | Full markup, city pages | 10 to 12 weeks |
| ATS connector | EUR 2,000 to 5,000 | n/a | Real-time sync | included | 1 to 2 weeks |
| Filming 6 testimonials | EUR 4,000 to 8,000 | Employees, workshops | n/a | n/a | 2 to 3 weeks |
JobPosting markup is decisive: it lets job ads appear in Google Jobs without distribution fees. A careers site without it stays dependent on job boards.
Job boards versus direct applications: the math
| Channel | 2026 unit cost | Applications per ad (aerospace, technical roles) | Cost per application |
|---|---|---|---|
| Premium ad on Indeed or StepStone | EUR 400 to 900 | 15 to 40 | EUR 15 to 45 |
| Specialist job board subscription (annual) | EUR 6,000 to 15,000 | variable | EUR 20 to 60 |
| Recruitment agency | 18 to 25% of annual salary | 5 to 10 shortlisted profiles | EUR 1,500 to 2,500 |
| Employee referral | EUR 500 to 1,500 bonus | 2 to 5 | EUR 200 to 400 |
| Careers site + Google Jobs | amortised site cost | 10 to 30 | EUR 5 to 15 |
| Sponsored LinkedIn Jobs | EUR 10 to 30 a day | 20 to 50 | EUR 10 to 30 |
For hard-to-fill roles (composite technicians, manufacturing engineers, quality inspectors), job family pages detailing the role, indicative salary and work location convert far better than a generic ad.
Mini case study
Sophie, HR director of a 600-employee aerospace company near Berlin, posts 120 ads a year, 80 of them premium at an average EUR 650, i.e. EUR 52,000 a year. She launches a premium careers site at EUR 19,000 excl. VAT, with an ATS connector at EUR 3,500 and 6 videos at EUR 5,500, i.e. EUR 28,000, plus EUR 200 a month for maintenance.
Within 12 months, direct applications rise from 1,800 to 3,600. She cuts premium ads from 80 to 40, saving EUR 26,000 a year, and avoids 2 agency hires at EUR 12,000 each. The EUR 50,000 gain in year one covers the EUR 30,400 investment in about 7 months, as a 2026 order of magnitude.
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FAQ
How much does a careers site cost for a mid-sized company?
EUR 10,000 to 25,000 excl. VAT for a dedicated site, plus EUR 2,000 to 5,000 for the ATS connector. An ATS vendor careers page costs under EUR 3,000 but offers little employer branding.
What timeline should we expect?
About 10 weeks for a dedicated site, video shoot included if scheduled early. The ATS connector plugs in within 1 to 2 weeks.
Will job ads appear on Google Jobs?
Yes, if each ad carries compliant JobPosting markup. Ads then show without distribution fees, usually within 3 to 7 days.
Should we display salaries?
The EU Pay Transparency Directive, due for transposition by June 2026, pushes employers to show salary ranges. Ads with salaries commonly receive 20 to 30% more applications.
How much does maintenance cost?
EUR 150 to 300 a month, including updates and connector monitoring. HR teams publish content and ads on their own.
Let's scope your project. Tell us your ATS, hiring locations and priority roles: we price a careers site between EUR 10,000 and 25,000 excl. VAT, connector optional, delivered in 10 weeks. Detailed quote within 48 h. WhatsApp +221 77 596 93 33.
Mohamed Bah
Fondateur, Kolonell
Passionate about digital and entrepreneurship in Africa, Mohamed has been helping Sénégalese businesses with their digital transformation since 2020. Founder of Kolonell, he believes every SME deserves a professional and accessible online présence.
