Job description template
Reviewed Sep 28, 2026 BLS OEWS May 2025 pay data, O*NET tasks, state rules cited to official sources How we verify
Not a substitute for the advice of an attorney. General information; laws vary by state. Terms of use
This job description template builds a complete job posting in three steps and downloads it as a Word (.docx) or PDF file, free and with no sign-up.
Its market pay ranges are BLS OEWS May 2025 estimates, downloaded from bls.gov on Sep 28, 2026. 2 states and DC have a rule verified on the Desk that requires pay information in job postings, checked against official sources on Sep 28, 2026.
Fill in the job description
Your job description is ready
Open the file, fill anything still in [brackets], and check the pay range and the state notes before you post it. When you have chosen someone, the next document is the offer letter.
Where the pay range and the duties come from
Pay ranges come from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (BLS OEWS) May 2025 estimates, released May 15, 2026, for 830 occupations in the 50 states and DC and 521 metro and nonmetro areas, as downloaded from bls.gov on Sep 28, 2026. Duty suggestions are core task statements from the O*NET 31.0 Database (U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration), used under the CC BY 4.0 license. 2 states and DC have a rule verified on the Desk that requires pay information in job postings (California, District of Columbia and New York), checked against official sources on Sep 28, 2026.
The full job description template
This is the whole template as it downloads, with the fields in [brackets]. Copy it into your own editor if you prefer, or fill it in above.
[Job title]
Job summary
[Job summary (2 or 3 sentences)]
What you will do
- [Main duty]
- [Main duty]
- [Main duty]
What you bring
- [Requirement]
- [Requirement]
- [Requirement]
Pay and benefits
[Pay range]
Benefits: [Benefits]
Schedule and location
- Schedule: [Schedule and hours]
- Work location: [City, state and work type]
About us
[About the company]
How to apply
[How to apply]
[Company name] is an equal opportunity employer and welcomes applications from all qualified candidates.
[Company name] welcomes applicants with arrest or conviction records.
How to write a job description
- Use the job title people actually search for, not an internal name. The occupation match in step 1 shows the standard titles.
- Write a summary of 2 or 3 sentences: what the job is for, who it reports to and where it is done.
- List 5 to 8 main duties, each starting with a verb. The O*NET task statements of the occupation are a good first list; keep only what the job really involves.
- Keep requirements short and separate what is required from what is a plus. Every extra requirement narrows the pool of applicants.
- Give a pay range and the main benefits. Step 2 shows the BLS market range for the occupation and the rule on pay in job postings that we have verified for your state.
- State the schedule, the hours and whether the work is on-site, hybrid or remote.
- Say exactly how to apply, what to send and by when.
- Before you post, read the notes in step 2 on questions about pay history and criminal records for your state.
Job description examples
Three complete postings with fictional company names. Replace every detail with your own.
Customer Service Representative job description example (Texas)
A filled-in job posting for a fictional company. The pay range is the BLS OEWS May 2025 estimate for Customer Service Representatives in Texas: 25th to 75th percentile, $17.03 to $23.22 an hour (BLS OEWS). It is market data, not a legal requirement or advice on what to pay. The duties are O*NET task statements for the occupation.
Customer Service Representative
Job summary
Harbor Supply Co. is hiring a customer service representative to answer customer calls and emails about orders, returns and delivery. The role reports to the customer service lead.
What you will do
- Confer with customers by telephone or in person to provide information about products or services, take or enter orders, cancel accounts, or obtain details of complaints.
- Keep records of customer interactions or transactions, recording details of inquiries, complaints, or comments, as well as actions taken.
- Check to ensure that appropriate changes were made to resolve customers' problems.
- Contact customers to respond to inquiries or to notify them of claim investigation results or any planned adjustments.
- Determine charges for services requested, collect deposits or payments, or arrange for billing.
What you bring
- Clear written and spoken English
- Comfortable with a computer, email and an order system
- 6 months of customer-facing work is a plus
Pay and benefits
Pay range: $17.03 to $23.22 per hour.
Benefits: Paid time off and health insurance.
Schedule and location
- Schedule: Monday to Friday, 8 am to 5 pm
- Work location: Texas (on-site)
How to apply
Send your resume and a short note to the hiring manager. We reply to every applicant within two weeks.
Harbor Supply Co. is an equal opportunity employer and welcomes applications from all qualified candidates.
This page includes information from the O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA.
Medical Assistant job description example (Florida)
A filled-in job posting for a fictional company. The pay range is the BLS OEWS May 2025 estimate for Medical Assistants in Florida: 25th to 75th percentile, $18.19 to $22.50 an hour (BLS OEWS). It is market data, not a legal requirement or advice on what to pay. The duties are O*NET task statements for the occupation.
Medical Assistant
Job summary
Palm Family Clinic is hiring a medical assistant to support two physicians with patient intake, vital signs and scheduling.
What you will do
- Interview patients to obtain medical information and measure their vital signs, weight, and height.
- Clean and sterilize instruments and dispose of contaminated supplies.
- Record patients' medical history, vital statistics, or information such as test results in medical records.
- Explain treatment procedures, medications, diets, or physicians' instructions to patients.
- Prepare treatment rooms for patient examinations, keeping the rooms neat and clean.
What you bring
- Medical assistant training program completed
- CPR certification, or willing to get it in the first month
- Friendly and organized with patients
Pay and benefits
Pay range: $18.19 to $22.50 per hour.
Benefits: Paid time off and a uniform allowance.
Schedule and location
- Schedule: Monday to Thursday, 7:30 am to 6 pm
- Work location: Florida (on-site)
How to apply
Apply with your resume and one reference. Interviews are held on site.
Palm Family Clinic is an equal opportunity employer and welcomes applications from all qualified candidates.
This page includes information from the O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA.
Software Developer job description example (California)
A filled-in job posting for a fictional company. The pay range is the BLS OEWS May 2025 estimate for Software Developers in California: 25th to 75th percentile, $136,990 to $216,670 a year (BLS OEWS). It is market data, not a legal requirement or advice on what to pay. The duties are O*NET task statements for the occupation.
Software Developer
Job summary
Northlight Software is hiring a software developer to build and maintain the web application our customers use every day. The role reports to the engineering lead.
What you will do
- Analyze user needs and software requirements to determine feasibility of design within time and cost constraints.
- Develop or direct software system testing or validation procedures, programming, or documentation.
- Confer with systems analysts, engineers, programmers and others to design systems and to obtain information on project limitations and capabilities, performance requirements and interfaces.
- Modify existing software to correct errors, adapt it to new hardware, or upgrade interfaces and improve performance.
- Prepare reports or correspondence concerning project specifications, activities, or status.
What you bring
- 2 or more years building web applications
- Experience with a modern programming language and SQL
- Clear written communication
Pay and benefits
Pay range: $136,990 to $216,670 per year.
Benefits: Health, dental and vision insurance, and paid time off.
Schedule and location
- Schedule: Full-time, flexible hours with core hours of 10 am to 3 pm
- Work location: California (hybrid)
How to apply
Send your resume and a link to code you wrote. We reply within 10 business days.
Northlight Software is an equal opportunity employer and welcomes applications from all qualified candidates.
This page includes information from the O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA.
Pay range in job postings: what states require
2 states and DC have a rule verified on the Desk that requires pay information in job postings (California, District of Columbia and New York), checked against official sources on Sep 28, 2026. A state missing from this list is not verified on the Desk yet, which is not the same as having no rule. City and county rules are not covered here.
- California: Include the pay scale for the position in any job posting (employers with 15 or more employees); provide the pay scale to an applicant upon reasonable request (Cal. Lab. Code 432.3(c)(3); verified Sep 28, 2026).
- District of Columbia: State the minimum and maximum projected salary or hourly pay in all job listings and position descriptions advertised; disclose the existence of healthcare benefits before the first interview (D.C. Code 32-1453.01(a)(1); verified Sep 28, 2026).
- New York: Include the compensation or a range of compensation (minimum and maximum annual salary or hourly range the employer in good faith believes accurate) and the job description, if one exists, in every advertised job, promotion or transfer opportunity; commission-only jobs may state that pay is based on commission. Who is covered: Employers with four or more employees, and their employment agents and recruiters (N.Y. Labor Law 194-b(1)(a) and (6)(b); verified Sep 28, 2026).
Other states have pay range rules for job postings that the Desk has not verified yet. Each of these states may require a pay range in job postings; check the official source before you post:
- Colorado: SB19-085 (Equal Pay for Equal Work Act), bill summary on the Colorado General Assembly site (not verified yet)
- Connecticut: Conn. Gen. Stat. 31-40z(b)(8) (not verified yet)
- Delaware: HS 2 for HB 105, 19 Del. C. 709C(h) (not verified yet)
- Hawaii: HRS 378-2.8(a) and (b)(3) (not verified yet)
- Illinois: Illinois Department of Labor, Equal Pay Act: Salary Transparency (not verified yet)
- Maine: 26 MRSA 622-A(2), P.L. 2026, ch. 771 (not verified yet)
- Maryland: Md. Code, Lab. & Empl. 3-304.2(a)(2)(i) (not verified yet)
- Massachusetts: Massachusetts Attorney General's Office, Pay Transparency in Massachusetts (not verified yet)
- Minnesota: Minn. Stat. 181.173, subd. 2(a) (not verified yet)
- New Jersey: NJ Department of Labor and Workforce Development, Pay transparency (N.J.S.A. 34:6B-23) (not verified yet)
- Rhode Island: R.I. Gen. Laws 28-6-22 (not verified yet)
- Vermont: 21 V.S.A. 495p(a)(1) (not verified yet)
- Virginia: Va. Code 40.1-28.7:12 B 5 (not verified yet)
- Washington: RCW 49.58.110(1)(a) (not verified yet)
Step 2 of the generator shows the rule for the state you choose, with the exact words of the law, and warns you when the posting has no pay range where a verified rule asks for one. Questions you should not ask applicants, such as pay history or criminal record, are compared state by state in illegal interview questions by state.
Questions people ask
What is a job description template?
A job description template is a fill-in outline of a job posting: job title, summary, main duties, requirements, pay range and benefits, schedule and location, and how to apply. This one fills in as you type and downloads as a Word (.docx) or PDF file.
What is the difference between a job description and a job posting?
A job description records the role inside the company: duties, requirements and who it reports to. A job posting (or job ad) is the public version written for applicants, with the pay, the benefits and how to apply. This template produces a posting that also works as the internal job description.
Do I have to put a pay range in a job posting?
It depends on the state, and sometimes the city. 2 states and DC have a rule verified on the Desk that requires pay information in job postings (California, District of Columbia and New York), checked against official sources on Sep 28, 2026. Choose your state in step 2 of the generator to see its rule, the law and the official source. City and county rules are not covered here.
Where does the market pay range come from?
From the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics survey, May 2025 estimates. The button fills the 25th to 75th percentile wage for the occupation in the area or the state. It is market data to compare with, not a legal requirement or advice on what to pay. Where BLS does not publish a value, the field stays empty.
Where do the duty suggestions come from?
From the core task statements that O*NET publishes for each occupation. O*NET is sponsored by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration. Tick only the tasks the job really involves and add your own.
Can I download the job description in Word?
Yes. The .docx file opens in Microsoft Word, Google Docs and Apple Pages, and the .pdf is ready to print or attach. Every file carries a short notice in its footer. Nothing you type is sent to us: the file is made in your browser.
How long should a job posting be?
Long enough to answer what applicants look for first: what the job is, what it pays, where and when it is done, and how to apply. Five to eight duties and a short list of requirements usually cover it.
Sources (6)
General information, not legal advice. Not a substitute for the advice of an attorney. This page is for general information only and isn’t legal, financial or tax advice. Laws vary by state and change; check the official source or talk to a qualified professional about your situation. Report an error