Job posting template for hourly jobs
A good hourly job post answers the questions a candidate has before they apply: what the job is, what it pays, when the shifts are and where. Here is a template you can copy and fill in, a finished example, the wording to avoid and a short checklist to run before you post.
The template
Copy each section into your post and replace the brackets. Cut any line that does not apply to the role.
Job title
[Role] at [business name]. Use the plain title people search for, such as line cook, barista, warehouse associate or cashier.
Pay
[Pay range] per hour, plus [tips, shift differential or other pay, if any]. Paid [weekly or every two weeks].
Schedule
[Full time or part time]. [Days] from [start time] to [end time]. [Weekends or holidays, if needed]. Start date: [date].
Location
[Street address or neighborhood], [city]. [Near which transit stop, or parking available].
About the job
One or two sentences on what the business is and what a normal shift looks like.
What you will do
Four to six short lines, each starting with a verb: greet guests, prep the line, pick and pack orders, restock shelves, close out the register.
What you need
Only the true requirements: availability for the shifts above, any license or certification the role legally needs, the physical tasks (for example, lift 50 lb or stand for a full shift) and authorization to work in the U.S.
Nice to have
Experience or skills that help but are not required. Keep this short so good candidates do not rule themselves out.
How to apply
How to apply, what happens next and how soon you reply. For example: apply in one tap and we will message you within a day to set a short interview.
How to fill it in, section by section
1. Use a title people actually search for
Candidates look for hourly work by role and place: "server near me", "warehouse jobs in Denver". A title like "Rockstar Team Member" does not match any of those searches. Use the plain role name, and if the role has a level or a shift, add it: "Overnight stocker" or "Lead barista".
2. Put the pay range near the top
Pay is the first thing most hourly candidates want to know, and a post without it gets skipped. Give a real range for the role, say whether tips or differentials are on top, and say how often people get paid. Some states and cities require a pay range in job posts, so it is also the safe default.
On ShowUp, every post shows a pay range before it can go live, and the post check compares it with the local market for the role.
3. Be exact about the schedule
"Flexible hours" means different things to different people. Say which days and which times, whether weekends are required, and when the job starts. Candidates who already work another job or have family commitments can tell right away if it fits, and the ones who apply are the ones who can work the shifts.
4. Say where the job is
Hourly workers often weigh the commute as heavily as the pay. Give the address or at least the neighborhood, and mention transit or parking. If the job moves between sites, say so and say how far people may travel.
5. Describe a real shift
List what the person will actually do in a normal shift, in short lines that start with a verb. Include the hard parts: standing all day, lifting, cold storage, early starts or late closes. Being honest up front means fewer people leave in the first week because the job was not what they expected.
6. Keep requirements to the real ones
Long requirement lists make good candidates rule themselves out. Keep the must-haves to what the job truly needs, and move the rest to "nice to have". If a role needs a food handler card or a license, say so. If it involves physical work, describe the task ("lift 50 lb") instead of the person ("able-bodied").
7. Make applying easy, and say what happens next
Every extra step between the post and the application loses people, especially on a phone. Ask for the basics first and leave the rest for the interview. Then tell candidates what happens after they apply and how soon they will hear back. A clear next step is also the first step in cutting no-shows later.
A filled-in example
Line cook at [restaurant name]
Pay: [pay range] per hour, plus a share of tips. Paid weekly.
Schedule: part time, Thursday to Sunday, 3 pm to 11 pm. Start date: [date].
Location: [address], [neighborhood]. Two blocks from the [stop name] stop, street parking.
About the job: we are a busy neighborhood restaurant with a small kitchen team. A normal shift is prep, a dinner rush and closing down the line.
What you will do: prep ingredients before service, cook from tickets on the grill and fry stations, keep your station clean and stocked, help close and clean the kitchen.
What you need: available for the shifts above, a food handler card (or able to get one before your first shift), able to stand for a full shift and lift 40 lb, authorized to work in the U.S.
Nice to have: line or prep experience in any kitchen.
How to apply: tap Apply. We reply within a day and set a short interview in the kitchen.
Not sure what range to put in the pay line? Check the going rate for the role and city with the free hourly pay checker.
Wording to leave out
Some phrases put off good candidates, some can break equal opportunity rules, and some look like the scams that make job seekers wary of every post. Leave these out:
Age wording
Words like "young", "under 30" or "recent grads only" screen by age. Describe the work instead.
Gendered titles
"Waitress", "hostess" or "salesmen" suggest the job is for one sex. Use neutral titles such as server, host or sales associate.
Origin or citizenship screens
"Native English speakers" or "citizens only" are generally not allowed unless a law requires it. Say "authorized to work in the U.S." instead.
Asking applicants to pay
Fees for training, kits, uniforms or background checks are a classic scam pattern, and real employers do not ask for them in a post.
Sensitive details in the post
Do not ask for Social Security numbers, bank details or ID photos to apply. Collect those through secure onboarding after hire.
Earnings hype
"Unlimited earning potential" or guaranteed earnings read like a scam. Show the real hourly range.
Checklist before you post
- The title is the plain role name people search for
- A real pay range is near the top, with tips or extras noted
- Days, times and start date are specific
- The address or neighborhood is there, with transit or parking
- Duties describe a real shift, including the hard parts
- Requirements are only the true must-haves
- No age, sex, origin, religion or family-status wording
- No fees and no requests for sensitive details
- Applying is short, and the post says what happens next
- You can reply to applicants the same day
After you post
The post gets people to apply. What happens next decides whether you hire them. Reply the same day where you can, set a short interview or a first shift quickly, and send every detail in writing. Good candidates for hourly jobs often take the first offer that answers them.
How ShowUp helps
ShowUp is built for hourly and shift hiring. When you post a job, the form asks for the title, pay range, tips, schedule and location, every post shows a pay range, and a live post check flags wording that screens by a protected trait or looks like a scam before the post goes live. Applicants apply in one tap, and you can chat, set an interview and send an offer from the same conversation. If you would rather hand the whole shift off, ShowUp Staffed passes it to our staffing team.
Questions
What should a job posting include?
For an hourly job: the plain job title, the pay range, the schedule with days and times, the location, a short description of a real shift, the true requirements, any nice-to-haves and how to apply, including how soon you will reply.
Is there a free job posting template?
Yes. Copy the template on this page, fill in each bracket and cut anything that does not apply. The filled-in line cook example shows what a finished post looks like.
Should I put the pay in a job post?
Yes. Pay is what most hourly candidates check first, and posts without it get skipped. Some states and cities require a pay range in job posts, so showing a real, good-faith range is the safe default.
How long should a job posting be?
Long enough to answer the questions a candidate would ask before applying, and no longer. For most hourly roles, that fits on one phone screen or a little more. Short lines and plain words read better on a phone than long paragraphs.
What words should I avoid in a job post?
Avoid wording that screens by age, sex, national origin, religion or family status, such as "young", "waitress" or "native English speakers". Avoid asking applicants to pay for anything, and do not ask for sensitive details like Social Security numbers to apply.
How is a job posting different from a job description?
A job description is an internal document about the role. A job posting is an ad written for candidates: it leads with pay, schedule and location and makes applying easy. You can build the posting from the description, but write it for the person reading it on a phone.
See also ShowUp for employers, how to hire hourly workers who actually show up, how to reduce interview no-shows and the free hourly pay checker.
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