Pricing guide
How much does a resume writer cost?
Short answer: most one-to-one resume writers in the US charge $500 to $1,500 for a resume, and packages that also cover LinkedIn, cover letters, and a personal site run higher. Below is what actually moves that number, when paying for it makes sense, and when it does not.
Written by Andrea Schell, who has been writing resumes one-to-one for ten years. My own prices are on this page, so you can see exactly where I sit.
What you get at each price point
Free templates and builders
$0 to $30/mo
Good fit if: You have a straightforward career path, one target role, and time to do the writing yourself.
Watch for: You still have to decide what matters and how to say it. Subscription builders often keep billing you after you land the job.
Marketplace and gig writers
$50 to $250
Good fit if: You want a formatting cleanup and a second pair of eyes.
Watch for: Usually no live conversation, so the writer works from what your old resume already says. Leadership stories rarely surface on their own.
One-to-one professional writers
$500 to $1,500
Good fit if: You are changing direction, stepping up a level, or cannot explain your own value out loud yet.
Watch for: Ask how much live time you get, who does the writing, and whether revisions cost extra.
Executive and multi-document packages
$1,500 to $5,000+
Good fit if: You need a resume, LinkedIn, cover letter, and often a personal site that all say the same thing.
Watch for: Higher prices are not automatically deeper work. Look at the process, not the tier name.
Ranges reflect what independent writers and firms publicly advertise in the US market. Prices move with the writer's experience, how much live coaching is included, and how many documents you need.
For comparison
What I charge
Every package starts with a free 20-minute consultation, includes two live calls, and takes 1 to 2 weeks at the pace you set.
$700
The Resume
Resume only
$1,200
The Perfect Duo
Resume + LinkedIn
$1,400
The Triple Threat
Resume + LinkedIn + cover letter
$2,100
The Complete Package
Resume + LinkedIn + cover letter + personal website
Is a resume writing service worth it?
It comes down to whether your problem is the writing or something else entirely.
Usually worth it when
- You have been applying for a while and hearing nothing back.
- Your experience does not fit a tidy job title, so recruiters cannot place you.
- You are moving industries and your resume still speaks the old language.
- You are stepping into leadership and undersell yourself on paper.
- Writing about yourself makes you shrink, and you know it.
Probably not yet when
- You have not decided what kind of role you actually want.
- You need one small formatting fix and nothing else.
- You are being hired through a referral pipeline where the resume is a formality.
If that is where you are, say so on the consult and I will tell you straight.
Six questions to ask before you pay anyone
- 1How much live time do I get with you, and is it a call or a questionnaire?
- 2Who writes the words, a person or a tool?
- 3How many rounds of revisions are included, and what triggers an extra fee?
- 4Do I get an editable file, or only a PDF I cannot update?
- 5Will you teach me how to tailor it myself later?
- 6How long does the whole process take from first call to final file?
Common questions about cost
How much does a professional resume writer cost?+
Most one-to-one resume writers in the US charge somewhere between $500 and $1,500 for a single resume, with multi-document and executive packages running higher. My own resume package is $700, and bundles run from $1,200 to $2,100.
Are resume writing services worth it?+
They earn their keep when the problem is how you are talking about your experience, not how the document is formatted. If you are getting interviews and simply not converting them, the money is better spent on interview coaching.
Why do prices vary so much?+
Almost all of the difference is live human time. A $75 resume is usually a reformat of what you already wrote. A $700 resume includes a long conversation where the material gets found in the first place.
Is a resume writing service tax deductible?+
That depends on your country and situation, and it has changed for US filers in recent years. Ask your accountant rather than taking a resume writer's word for it.
What do I actually get for the price?+
With me: a 60 to 90 minute kick-off call, a 30 minute review call, confidence coaching, an editable Word file, a polished PDF, and email or text support along the way.
Do you offer refunds?+
The free 20-minute consult exists so we can both decide if we are a fit before any money changes hands. Once we begin, you are paying for the process and delivery.
Not sure which one you need?
Book a free 20-minute consultation and we will work out the right fit together.