Job description template (copy, paste, edit)
Job description template for US employers. US federal rules as of 30 Oct 2026. State and local rules (pay ranges, ban-the-box) vary.
A good job description has eight parts: title, summary, what the person will do, must-have requirements, nice-to-haves, pay and benefits, location and schedule, and an equal opportunity statement. Copy the template below, replace every [placeholder], then delete anything you would not enforce when you screen candidates.
At a glance
- Keep must-haves to what the person needs on day one or within 90 days.
- Show the pay range. Several US states and cities require it; see pay transparency laws.
- Describe the job, not your ideal person. Avoid age, gender or "culture fit" wording.
- Reuse and edit one master template per role family.
The master template
[JOB TITLE] ([LEVEL: Junior / Mid / Senior])
[COMPANY NAME] | [CITY, STATE or Remote (US states: [LIST])] | [Full-time / Part-time / Contract]
PAY AND BENEFITS
Pay range: $[MIN] to $[MAX] per [year / hour], depending on experience and location.
Bonus or commission: [DESCRIBE or "None"].
Benefits: [HEALTH / RETIREMENT MATCH / PAID TIME OFF / OTHER, only what you really offer].
ABOUT THE ROLE
[2 to 3 sentences: why this role exists, who it reports to, what success looks like in 12 months.]
WHAT YOU WILL DO
- [Responsibility 1, starting with a verb, tied to an outcome]
- [Responsibility 2]
- [Responsibility 3]
- [Responsibility 4]
- [Responsibility 5 (stop at 6 to 8)]
WHAT YOU NEED
- [Must-have 1: e.g., [N] years doing [TASK], or equivalent experience]
- [Must-have 2: skill or tool you will test for]
- [Must-have 3: licence or certification only if legally or practically required]
NICE TO HAVE
- [Helpful, not required 1]
- [Helpful, not required 2]
HOW WE HIRE
[Number of interview rounds, any skills assessment, expected timeline, e.g. "Two interviews and a 45-minute work sample; decision within [N] working days of your last interview."]
[If a background check applies: "Offers are conditional on a background check, run only after a conditional offer and with your written consent."]
EQUAL OPPORTUNITY
[COMPANY NAME] is an equal opportunity employer. We consider all qualified applicants without regard to race, colour, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability, veteran status or any other protected status. If you need an adjustment to apply or interview, contact [EMAIL].
TO APPLY
[Apply link or instructions.]How to use it
- Fill the pay section first. If you cannot state a range, you probably have not scoped the role.
- Write responsibilities from the last person's real week, not from a generic list.
- Mark each requirement "must" or "nice". Candidates, especially women and people returning to work, often skip roles where they meet only part of a long list.
- Check the finished text against illegal interview questions: the same cautions apply to the posting.
- Post it. On LiveRec you can post from the Post a job flow and optionally use Draft with AI, then edit. Always verify pay, location and requirements yourself.
Customization notes
| Situation | Change |
|---|---|
| Remote role | List the states you can employ in, and say whether pay varies by location. |
| Hourly role | Say hourly rate, expected hours and whether shifts are fixed. |
| Exempt vs non-exempt | Do not label a role "exempt" in the posting just to avoid overtime. Exemption depends on duties and salary level; see DOL FLSA guidance. |
| Physical requirements | List only essential functions and add "with or without reasonable accommodation". |
| Degree requirement | Use "or equivalent experience" unless a licence requires the degree. |
Level variants
| Element | Junior | Mid | Senior |
|---|---|---|---|
| Scope | Defined tasks with guidance | Owns a workstream | Owns outcomes, sets direction |
| Typical requirement wording | "Learning [SKILL]" | "Proven [SKILL]" | "Has led [PROJECT TYPE]" |
| Add | Mentoring offered | Collaboration | Mentoring others, stakeholder work |
Role-specific templates: United States
Each template has a summary, responsibilities, requirements, how to customize it and how to post it on LiveRec. Duties follow the US Department of Labor's O*NET database.
Role-specific templates: India
Duties follow India's National Classification of Occupations (NCO-2015) and the National Career Service portal.
Guidance on writing from scratch: How to write a job description. Interview questions with scorecards for 20 of these roles are in the interview question bank.
FAQ
Should I include the salary? Yes where law requires it, and generally as a good practice. Rules differ by state and city; check pay transparency laws.
How long should it be? Usually 300 to 600 words. Enough to screen, short enough to read on a phone.
Can I copy a competitor's description? Borrow the structure, not the text. Your duties, pay and requirements are different, and copied lists carry their mistakes.
Is the job description a contract? It is not an employment contract by itself, but it can be evidence of what you said the job required. Keep it accurate.
Next step
Post your role with this template on LiveRec, or copy it into your own system. Then build a scorecard from the "What you need" list.
Related guides
Sources
- EEOC, Prohibited Employment Policies/Practices: https://www.eeoc.gov/prohibited-employment-policies-practices
- US DOL Wage and Hour Division, FLSA overtime and exemptions: https://www.dol.gov/agencies/whd/flsa
- State pay-transparency statutes: see /hiring/pay-transparency-laws, which links each statute (checked 2026-10-30)
This is general information, not legal, tax or immigration advice. Rules change and your situation may differ. Consult a licensed attorney or qualified adviser.