How Much Does a Professional Resume Service Cost [2025]
Unless you're already a professional writer, most people have little to no experience writing a resume. You scramble through some online guides, look at a few examples, and then sit down to write your own. The result is often a poor shadow of what a professional resume writer can achieve.
Ask yourself, would you hire a plumber to fix your shower? An accountant to do your taxes? Or a doctor to inspect a rash? Of course, you would. We trust professionals to deliver the best results. Yet, most of us leave our career trajectory up to the whims of our own writing skills. It's bizarre!
The big question is, how much does a resume writer cost? With a smart investment, you can land your dream job – hiring a resume writer pays for itself.
In this guide:
⟩ Why Hire a Professional Resume Writer
⟩ How Much Do Professional Resume Services Cost
⟩ Finding the Best Professional Resume Writers
What is Resume Writing?
Resume writing is the art of… well, writing a resume. It's about taking your experience, skills, and personality and distilling it down into a side (or two) of paper.
Think about the steps your resume must pass through:
1. The resume must not be eliminated by an applicant tracking system (ATC). It must contain the relevant keywords and technical jargon to stay in the game during this screening process. Considering that almost three-quarters of resumes are never seen by a person, you can see the value of getting through this step.
2. It must appear suitable to the recruiter at a glance. Most recruiters don't have time to read each resume in-depth, even after an ATS screens them. As such, the poorly formatted, poorly worded resumes get scrapped first.
3. Lastly, the resume must hold up under a closer reading. When your resume finally gets evaluated for its actual content, it must grab the reader's attention, impress them with your credentials, and prove why you're a candidate worth interviewing.
Resume writing isn't just writing for one of these steps; it's writing for all of them. Think you can handle it? Do you know which keywords to include? Can you write a killer opening statement? Are your bullet points refined to perfection? If not, you're guaranteed to lose out on some jobs.
Resume writers balance each of these steps, crafting a resume that passes seamlessly through every stage – assuming you're qualified for the position.
Why Hire a Professional Resume Writer
We trust almost every aspect of our lives to professionals. Unless we've got a specific skill set in writing, it's almost guaranteed that you're not going to do a better job than a professional resume writer. So, the question is, how much do you want that job?
There's a common issue for people. We don't like to blow our own trumpet – or even when we do, we often struggle to know which achievements to highlight. Resume writers are experts in plucking the most relevant achievements from your career and education, sprinkling a healthy dose of keywords, and distilling them down to some punchy bullet points. It's a joy to read!
Consider these other benefits:
· They Know What Works: Resume writers are pros at crafting resumes that grab attention. They understand industry standards, ATS systems, and exactly what recruiters want to see, so you don't have to guess.
· Less Stress, More Success: Writing the perfect resume is tough. Letting a professional handle it saves you hours of stress, and you can focus on what matters most—prepping for interviews and finding your dream role.
· Tailored Just for You: A professional writer doesn't just list your experience; they turn it into a powerful story that highlights your strengths, aligns with your goals, and screams, "Hire me!"
· Stand Out Like a Star: In a sea of bland, generic resumes, a professionally written one makes you shine. It's your secret weapon to leave a lasting impression and landing more callbacks.
Why settle for second best? If you wouldn't, why would your prospective employer? Think of your resume as an advertising campaign for a product. You're trying to sell yourself in the best way possible. That's what professional resume writers do – they make you look good.
Plus, consider the lifetime benefits to your income. For a nominal fee, you can get your dream position, which is likely to pay more than your current salary (along with a big boost to your happiness). Stretch that out over your career, including all future promotions, and it's one of the best cost-benefit results you could imagine.
Professional resume services vary by location. Check our Austin resume writer or Napa resume writer for tailored services in your area.
How Much Do Professional Resume Services Cost
Let's get to it: what can you expect to pay? Like most professions, you get what you pay for. The higher the quality of the writer, the more the final result costs. The average cost for a resume writer is between $500 to $600.
Of course, this breaks down into several different categories depending on the size and complexity of your resume. The basic categories include:
· Entry Level. If you're new to the job market or have less than 5 years of experience, your resume is likely to be pretty limited. Such applicants might pay around $200 for a resume writer.
· Professional Level. If you've got 5-15 years' worth of experience, it becomes increasingly difficult to be concise and to the point. You need a resume writer who can summarize your career while adding the relevant keywords. You might expect to pay $200 to $600.
· Executive Level. The competition couldn't get any tougher. Applying for a senior-level management or C-suite position requires a resume writer who is at the top of their game. You could pay anywhere from $500 to $2,000+.
Such services only cover your initial resume – you might need a cover letter, professional biography, or a new LinkedIn profile. Every addition will increase the final cost. Then, there are specialist resumes like an academic resume or federal resume. Many resume writers won't have experience in these areas, thereby driving up the final cost.
Is It Worth the Money?
That really depends on the job. If you're applying for a job with limited competition, spending $500 on a new, updated resume might seem like a waste of money. After all, your chances of an interview are extremely high.
On the other hand, if you're a recent graduate, you're moving up to the next level in your career, or you're considering a career change, an expert resume writer might work wonders.
Each writer goes through all the documents you send them; they highlight the most relevant information and condense it down into your resume. The resume is then formatted correctly to produce a final document that is ready to pass the 6-second test.
The other question is, do you have time to write a resume? It might take a few days to do it properly. If you're busy with your existing job, juggling home responsibilities, or have other time commitments, finding the time to write a new resume might seem like a step too far. Little wonder most people just update their last version and hope for the best.
Ultimately, it's worth asking yourself if you're worth the investment. We spend a few hundred dollars on our car without thinking about it. Some people might spend more than that on a suit or business clothes to look sharp for the interview. Yet, when it comes to spending money on a side or two of career documents, we suddenly start evaluating every dime, dollar, and cent.
But if that investment secures your dream job or higher salary, isn't it worth every penny? Your career deserves it.
Finding the Best Professional Resume Writers
Professional resume writers might promise the earth and deliver a bag of rocks. You want to sidestep any shoddy writers to find the ones who provide value for money. But how? Follow these tips as you evaluate your potential writers:
Ask About Writing Experience
Writing experience is the number 1 factor determining if a resume writer is up to the task. The more resumes they've written, generally, the better they are at it.
Ask about their previous experience:
· What industries have they written for?
· What positions have they written for?
· Do they specialize in a specific type of resume?
· Who is their usual client?
· Are they familiar with your region's job market?
Each of these questions is relevant to your potential success. If a resume writer has no experience with data analytics, then resume keywords like "machine learning," "R programming," or regression analysis" might not feature in your resume.
Furthermore, someone who has only written an entry-level resume is going to struggle to translate their experience to the big leagues. An executive-level resume requires more time, attention, and care to dot the i's and cross the t's.
You could also ask about professional accreditations. While it's not certain that a resume writer will belong to an organization, groups like the Professional Association of Resume Writers add an extra layer of trust.
Look at Previous Examples
The simplest way to gauge past experience is to ask for examples of their work. You might request examples from a similar industry or position to the one you're applying for. Or maybe you're going for a career change and want to see how the writer highlights past experience for the new industry.
Remember, you don't want somebody to just reword what you've already written. What would be the point? You want them to take the information and rewrite the entire resume. You want them to integrate resume keywords, alter the formatting, and reflect your true career accomplishments. You can't do that with a resume-writing service that churns out cookie-cutter content.
Online Reputation
Reputation is everything for a professional resume writer. Look for reviews online at third-party sites like Google, TrustPilot, or SiteJabber to see customer feedback. Sites like Fiverr or Upwork also contain resume writers. The danger here is that some writers are far below a good standard. However, there are plenty of reviews available to help filter through the crowd.
But don't simply rely on customer feedback – it's vital you speak to the writer and share your concerns. They will understand and explain the process.
Pricing Structure
As explained, pricing for resume services varies wildly. It can go from just a few hundred dollars to thousands. But even for each writer, the prices can differ depending on your requirements.
As a rule, entry-level resumes are almost always cheaper than executive-level resumes. You can also expect any additional complexity in the process to add to the price. So, if you're shifting careers or you're applying for an academic position, then it's sure to hike up the costs.
You might also want some other services, including:
· Cover Letter Writing: Your cover letter matters – it's your opening gambit with a recruiter. Asking a resume writer to create a personalized cover letter adds personality and context to your application. It can significantly boost your success rate.
· LinkedIn Profile Optimization: In the modern economy, your LinkedIn profile is almost as important as the resume itself. It's guaranteed that your recruiters will review your profile when considering you as a candidate. Plus, it can even attract interest from headhunters.
· Thank-You Letter Writing: Gratitude goes a long way. Sending a thoughtful follow-up letter reinforces your interest, demonstrates your character, and leaves a strong, lasting impression after the interview.
Ensure you've got a clear idea of costs before commissioning the resume services. After all, you don't want to find yourself stuck with an excess bill upon completion. Nor do you want to miss any hidden costs, e.g., ATS optimization or executive bios. You want a full accounting of the costs at the start.
Quick Takeaways
· Professional Expertise Matters: Most people don't have the necessary expertise to write a solid resume. Resume writers know how to craft resumes that pass ATS systems, attract recruiters, and showcase your strengths effectively. Plus, you get a well-formatted end product that catches a recruiter's eye.
· Cost Varies by Needs: Prices range from $200 for entry-level resumes to $2,000+ for executive positions, with added costs for specialized services. You might pay extra if you require a specialist format, e.g., an academic or federal resume.
· Additional Services Add Value: Cover letters, LinkedIn optimization, and thank-you letters can enhance your job application package and boost your success rate. LinkedIn optimization, in particular, is essential to succeed in the modern job market.
· Time vs. Investment: Hiring a professional saves you time, reduces stress, and increases your chances of landing a higher-paying or dream job. Considering most people are happy to invest in other aspects of their career, the potential lifetime benefits of a quality resume make resume services a worthy investment.
· Choose Wisely: Look for experienced writers, check reviews, and request samples to ensure you get value for money and a standout resume. Always ask the writer multiple questions to gauge their knowledge of your industry.
