Facebook Ads Insights Tool

Facebook Ads Cost Per Purchase Benchmarks for HR & Staffing in United States

See how your purchase costs compare. Explore ecommerce conversion cost benchmarks by industry, region, and campaign type

Cost Per Purchase for HR & Staffing in United States

October 2024 - October 2025

Insights

Detailed observation of presented data

Key takeaways

  • This analysis looks at cost per purchase trends for industry HR & Staffing and target country United States compared to the global trend; the analysis is based on $3B worth of advertising data from our dataset, which provides strong directional benchmarks.
  • Overall level: The selected series averages 49.46, slightly above the global baseline average of 47.82 (+3%). However, the median is just 2.74, showing the average is skewed by a few extreme spikes.
  • Volatility: Selected data is highly volatile (median month-to-month absolute change ≈ 37%) versus a very stable baseline (~2–3%).
  • Seasonality: A pronounced Q4 surge appears in the selected data (notably November), while the baseline shows only a mild Q4 uplift. Costs then drop sharply in Q1 for the selected series. A distinct spike also appears in June.
  • Trend direction: From the first to last month, the selected series falls about 95.9%, while the baseline declines 30.8%.

What the dataset covers

  • Metric: cost per purchase (median by month)
  • Industry: HR & Staffing
  • Country: United States
  • Baseline: global benchmark across all industries and countries

Trends in the selected data

  • Average and median: Average 49.46; median 2.74 (8 of 12 months are below 5).
  • Highs and lows: High at 261.31 in November 2024; secondary spike at 148.99 in June 2025. Low at 1.80 in August 2025.
  • Month-to-month movement: Large swings, including +330.7% from October to November 2024, -97.1% from December to January, +4,552% from May to June, and -98.7% from June to July.
  • Start-to-end change: From 60.67 in October 2024 to 2.48 in September 2025 (−95.9%).
  • Seasonal patterns: Strong Q4 elevation (October–December average 141.80), followed by a much lower Q1 (January–March average 2.41). Mid-year includes a sharp June spike.

How it compares to the global baseline

  • Level comparison:
  • Overall: Selected average 49.46 vs baseline 47.82 (slightly above market).
  • Q4: Selected average 141.80 vs baseline 47.13 (around 3.0x the global level; clearly above market).
  • Q1: Selected average 2.41 vs baseline 52.94 (well below market).
  • June 2025: 148.99 vs baseline 46.96 (about 3.2x above market).
  • Late summer/early fall (Jul–Sep 2025): 1.92–2.48 vs 32.29–46.21 (well below market).
  • Volatility: Selected median month-to-month absolute change ≈ 37% vs baseline ≈ 2.37%—the selected series is far more erratic.
  • Baseline highs/lows: Baseline peaks at 53.89 (February 2025) and reaches a low of 32.29 (September 2025), showing moderate seasonality and a late-summer dip.

Seasonality and calendar effects

  • Q4 uplift: The selected United States HR & Staffing series shows a sharp Q4 rise—especially in November—consistent with elevated holiday-period costs often seen in Facebook Ads benchmarks.
  • Stabilization and dip: The selected series compresses dramatically in Q1 and again through late summer, while the baseline displays steadier pricing with a softer downturn by September.

Understanding cost per purchase benchmarks on Facebook Ads in industry HR & Staffing and United States helps advertisers make more efficient budget and creative choices.

Understanding the Data

Insights & analysis of Facebook advertising costs

Facebook advertising costs vary based on many factors including industry, target audience, ad placement, and campaign objectives. In the HR & Staffing industry, Facebook ad costs can be influenced by seasonal trends and market competition. For campaigns targeting United States, advertisers often face higher costs due to high competition and purchasing power. Different campaign objectives lead to varying costs based on how Facebook optimizes for your specific goals. The data shown represents median values across multiple campaigns, and individual results may vary based on ad quality, audience targeting, and campaign optimization.

Why we use median instead of average

We use the median CTR because the underlying distribution of click-through rates is highly skewed, with a small share of campaigns achieving extremely high CTRs. These outliers can inflate a simple average, making it less representative of what most advertisers actually experience. By using the median—which sits at the midpoint of all campaigns—we provide a more rigorous and realistic benchmark that reflects the true underlying data model and helps you set attainable performance expectations.

Key Factors Affecting Facebook Ad Costs

  • Competition within your selected industry and audience demographics
  • Ad quality and relevance score – higher quality ads can lower costs
  • Campaign objective and bid strategy
  • Timing and seasonality – costs often increase during holiday periods
  • Ad placement (News Feed, Instagram, Audience Network, etc.)

Note: This data represents industry median values and benchmarks. Your actual costs may vary based on specific targeting, ad creative quality, and campaign optimization.

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The data behind the benchmarks

All data is sourced from over $3B in Facebook ad spend, collected across thousands of ad accounts that use Superads daily to analyze and improve their campaigns. Every data point is fully anonymized and aggregated—no individual advertiser is ever exposed.

This dataset updates frequently as new ad data flows in. It will only get bigger and better.

United States Advertising Landscape

National Holidays

Jan 1New Year's Day
Jan 20Martin Luther King Jr. Day
Feb 17Presidents' Day
May 26Memorial Day
Jun 19Juneteenth
Jul 4Independence Day
Sep 1Labor Day
Oct 13Columbus Day
Nov 11Veterans Day
Nov 27Thanksgiving Day
Dec 25Christmas Day

Key Shopping Season

Late November (Thanksgiving & Black Friday weekend), December (Christmas), Back-to-school (July–September), Summer travel season (Memorial Day onwards)

Potential Advertising Impact

CPM and CPC might rise around major holidays like Memorial Day, Independence Day, and Labor Day, especially in travel and entertainment. Black Friday/Thanksgiving weekend triggers massive spikes in retail ad competition. December ad demand typically peaks—retail campaigns require significantly higher budgets. Back-to-school promotions drive increased competition. Juneteenth may see regional engagement rise.

What's a healthy cost per purchase for ecommerce brands?

It depends on your product price and margins. Most brands aim for $10 to $50. For higher-ticket products, a higher CPA may be acceptable as long as you're maintaining a strong return on ad spend.

How does product price impact CPA benchmarks?

Higher-priced products typically have a higher CPA because people take longer to convert. That's not necessarily a problem if your margin can support it. You should measure CPA in context with AOV and LTV.

Why are my purchase costs going up despite stable ROAS?

Your AOV may be increasing, which helps maintain ROAS even if CPA rises. You could also be facing higher CPMs, lower conversion rates, or creative fatigue.

Should I use manual bidding to control CPA more effectively?

Manual bidding can help if you're struggling to stay within target CPA. It's best used by experienced advertisers who can monitor performance and adjust regularly. It gives more control, but also requires more effort.

How do I scale spend without letting CPA skyrocket?

Increase budget gradually, rotate creative often, and avoid overlapping audiences. Scaling too quickly can lead to audience saturation and rising CPAs.