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Cost of Vacancy Calculator

See what an open role is costing your business for every day it stays unfilled, then start the clock and watch it climb, day by day.

This vacancy, day by day
$0.00
Day 0 Reset
Chime every $5,000 lost, cash register every $25,000. The clock replays your vacancy day by day.

Your numbers

Median time-to-fill is about 39 days (SHRM 2026)
Below 1 for junior roles, above 1 for senior or revenue roles
Cost of this vacancy
 
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How is the cost of vacancy calculated?

Work out revenue per employee (annual revenue divided by headcount), divide by 261 Australian working days for a daily value, then multiply by the number of days the role is open and a role-level factor. The result estimates the value lost while the seat is empty.

Where Compono fits

Speed only helps if the person you rush in actually fits. The fastest way to make a vacancy more expensive is to fill it with the wrong person and start the clock again. Compono Hire handles the tracking and process your applicant tracking system (ATS) already covers, then adds culture-fit and behavioural data so you can move quickly and still hire someone who lasts. The Coffee Club used Compono Hire to keep hiring consistent across 400 outlets.

See how it works

How it's calculated

Cost of vacancy estimates the revenue a role would normally generate while it sits empty. We take your annual revenue divided by employees to get revenue per employee, divide that by 261 Australian working days to get a daily figure, then multiply by the days the position has been open and a role-level factor (senior and revenue-generating roles carry a higher factor). The default of 39 days open reflects the SHRM 2026 median time-to-fill for non-executive roles.

New to the term? Read the plain-English definition of cost of vacancy in the HR Glossary.

Common questions

What is the average time to fill a role?

The SHRM 2026 median time-to-fill is about 39 days for non-executive roles, which is the default in this calculator. Senior and specialist roles usually take longer, so adjust the days-open input to match your situation.

Why does the role level matter?

A vacant role that directly drives revenue or leads a team costs more per day than a support role. The role-level factor scales the daily cost up or down so the estimate reflects the real impact of that specific seat.

Is cost of vacancy the same as cost per hire?

No. Cost per hire is what you spend to recruit someone. Cost of vacancy is what you lose while the role sits empty before they start. Both belong in a full picture of what hiring slowly really costs.

This page is general information, not legal advice. We check figures annually and update them on a best-efforts basis, but employment rules change and we cannot promise everything here is current or complete. Before you act on it, confirm the detail with the relevant authority in your country or your own adviser. Last reviewed July 2026.