Resource · Benchmark Report
Time-to-Fill Benchmark Report (2026)
How long roles actually take to fill in 2026, by function, compiled from public hiring benchmarks. Each role is set against BEG's 23-35 day permanent placement average.
How long does it take to fill a role in 2026?
Across the roles below, average time-to-fill runs from roughly 40 to 90 days. The harder a skill is to source and the more senior the seat, the longer an open role stays open, and every one of those days is a day the work is not getting done.
| Role / Function | Typical days-to-fill | BEG average |
|---|---|---|
| Software Engineer | 45 - 60 days | 23 - 35 days |
| Controller / Accounting Manager | 50 - 70 days | 23 - 35 days |
| Cybersecurity Analyst | 55 - 80 days | 23 - 35 days |
| Nurse Practitioner | 40 - 55 days | 23 - 35 days |
| Registered Nurse | 40 - 60 days | 23 - 35 days |
| Attorney | 60 - 90 days | 23 - 35 days |
| Sales Representative | 40 - 55 days | 23 - 35 days |
| Skilled Trades (Electrician, HVAC) | 45 - 70 days | 23 - 35 days |
| Manufacturing Engineer | 50 - 75 days | 23 - 35 days |
| Executive / Director (VP, CFO) | 70 - 120 days | 23 - 35 days |
Ranges are national and indicative. The BEG column reflects our average from discovery call to placed hire.
Why does the open seat cost more than the search?
An open role does not just delay a hire, it drains the team around it. Every extra week of a vacant seat adds lost output, overtime, missed revenue, and burnout on the people covering the gap. At 60 to 90 days, the cost of the vacancy usually dwarfs the cost of the search itself. Compressing time-to-fill is the single highest-leverage move most hiring managers can make.
Methodology and sources
These are indicative 2026 national ranges, not guarantees. Actual time-to-fill varies by metro, seniority, skill scarcity, hiring-process steps, and how competitive the market is for that role. Ranges were compiled from public hiring benchmarks and published labor and recruiting data, including the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, SHRM, LinkedIn, and published industry time-to-fill studies. The BEG average reflects our milestone-based permanent placement process. For a read on a specific role and location, book a call and we will share what we are seeing in live searches.
Need to fill a role faster than the benchmark?
BEG fills permanent roles in 23-35 days at roughly 50% less than contingency, with a 45-day replacement guarantee.
See how we cut time-to-fill with our permanent job placement service, or benchmark pay with the BEG Salary and Hiring Guide.