Should You Put Your Address on a Resume?

You usually do not need to put your full street address on a resume. For most US job applications, your city and state—or a broader metro area—gives an employer enough location context without sharing exactly where you live.

There are exceptions. An on-site job may make your general location relevant. A remote job may still be limited to certain states, countries, or time zones. A government application or an employer's form may ask for a complete address. The right choice depends on the role and where you are in the hiring process.

Use this guide to choose the safest accurate option and format it clearly in your resume header.

Should you put your address on your resume?

In most cases, put your city and state, not your full home address, on your resume. You can use a metro area instead if it communicates the same useful information. You may also leave location off when it is not relevant or when privacy is a priority.

For a legitimate role and trusted application process, follow any specific address instructions. If the job posting or application explicitly requests a full address, enter it in the requested secure field. That does not mean you need to print the same personal information on every copy of your resume.

Use this quick decision guide:

• Local on-site or hybrid role: Include city and state or your metro area.
• Remote role limited by state or country: Include the location that shows you meet the requirement.
• Remote role with set collaboration hours: Add your time zone when it helps clarify availability.
• Confirmed relocation: Name the destination and expected move date.
• Open to moving: Use “Open to relocation” without pretending you already live there.
• Location is irrelevant or privacy is a concern: Leave it off the resume and answer required application fields accurately.
• A legitimate employer requests a full address: In a trusted application process, follow the instructions and use the secure application field when possible.

What address should you put on a resume?

“Address” can mean several different levels of detail. Choose the smallest amount that answers the employer's practical location question.

City and state

City and state is the best default for many US resumes:

It helps an employer understand whether you are near an office or within an eligible hiring area without exposing your street, apartment number, or ZIP code.

Use city and state when:

• The job is on-site or hybrid.
• The posting says local candidates are preferred.
• The remote role hires only in certain states.
• Your location is a straightforward advantage for the role.

Keep the information accurate. Do not list the employer's city as your own location simply to match a keyword or appear local.

Metro area or region

A metro area can work when it is more recognizable than your town or when you want slightly more privacy:

Choose a region that genuinely includes your location. A broad label should clarify where you can work, not create a misleading impression.

Full street address

A complete mailing address usually adds more personal information than a resume needs:

Include it only when a legitimate employer's instructions or a trusted application process requires it. If the hiring team later needs an address for a background check, offer, payroll, or tax documents, provide it through the employer's requested secure process.

No location

You can omit location entirely when it does not help the employer evaluate your fit:

Your resume still needs reliable ways to contact you. Keep your name, phone number, professional email address, and relevant links complete and easy to scan.

Should you put your address on a resume for a remote job?

You rarely need a full street address for a remote role, but “remote” does not always mean “work from anywhere.” An employer may hire only in locations where it can employ and pay people, or it may require overlap with a particular time zone.

Read the posting for phrases such as:

• Remote within the United States
• Candidates must reside in one of the following states
• Must be authorized to work in a specific country
• Core hours in Eastern or Pacific Time
• Occasional travel to a named office

Then give the level of detail that helps show eligibility.

Remote in a specific state

Remote with time-zone context

International remote role

Do not assume that replacing your location with the word “Remote” answers every eligibility question. Your resume can provide context, but the application form is usually where the employer collects the detailed information it needs. For more targeted guidance, see how to build a remote work resume.

How to put relocation on a resume

If you are applying outside your current area, show the employer whether the move is confirmed or only something you are willing to consider.

You have a confirmed destination and date

Use this when the move is settled enough that you can name the destination and a realistic timeframe. You do not need to publish a future street address. If you include a move date, apply the same clear, consistent approach used for other dates on your resume.

You are willing to move for the right role

This is honest and flexible. It avoids implying that a move has already been arranged.

You are targeting one city but have not finalized a move

This format makes both facts clear: where you are now and where you are willing to go. Never substitute a friend or relative's address to appear local.

Before you tailor the resume and application, make sure the destination, timing, and relocation language reflect your actual plans.

Should you include an address on an international CV?

CV and resume conventions vary by country. Some employers expect city and country. Others collect location through the application form or ask for a mailing address later. Privacy norms and anti-discrimination practices also differ.

For an international application:

1. Read the posting and application instructions.
2. Check the normal CV convention for the employer's country.
3. Include city and country when it helps establish location or work-hour fit.
4. Add a time zone if cross-border collaboration hours matter.
5. Provide a full address only when the trusted application process specifically requires it.

Example:

If work authorization or visa status is relevant, answer the employer's application question accurately. Do not assume that your street address proves authorization to work in a country.

Why leave your street address off a resume?

It protects your privacy

A resume can be uploaded to job boards, shared with recruiters, saved in employer systems, or forwarded internally. A full home address reveals more than most readers need during an initial review.

Be especially careful with an unverified recruiter or employer. The Federal Trade Commission's job scam guidance recommends researching the company and being cautious when someone requests personal or financial information before a legitimate hiring process is established.

It reduces unnecessary location detail

Hiring teams usually need to know whether you can work in the role's location—not your apartment number or exact street. City and state, a metro area, country, or time zone can often answer the practical question more clearly.

It can keep the focus off your neighborhood

An exact address can reveal details about a neighborhood, commute, or housing situation that are not evidence of your ability to do the job. Omitting the street address keeps the resume focused on relevant skills, experience, and results.

Do applicant tracking systems need your address?

Do not add a full street address simply because you heard that every applicant tracking system requires one. Employers configure hiring tools and screening processes differently, and many applications collect location in a dedicated field.

The safer approach is to:

• Follow any explicit location requirement in the job posting.
• Include city/state, region, country, or time zone when it proves eligibility.
• Use the same accurate location across your resume and application.
• Avoid stuffing the employer's city or ZIP code into unrelated resume sections.

An ATS-friendly resume is mainly about clear structure, readable text, and relevant content. Follow broader resume best practices without turning your address into a keyword tactic.

Where does your location go on a resume?

Put location in the resume header with your name and contact information. Keep it on the same line as your phone number, email address, or professional links when the layout remains readable.

For example:

Use simple text and common separators. Avoid squeezing the line into a tiny font or adding a large address block that competes with your experience.

Common address mistakes to avoid

• Listing an outdated location: Update the resume before applying, especially if you moved or changed time zones.
• Pretending to be local: Do not use another person's address or claim a move is confirmed when it is not.
• Assuming every remote job is location-free: Check state, country, work authorization, time-zone, and travel requirements.
• Publishing your full address publicly: Remove the street address before uploading a resume to a public profile or portfolio.
• Giving the resume and application conflicting information: Use accurate, consistent details and explain a planned move clearly.
• Ignoring legitimate application instructions: For a legitimate role and trusted application process, a specific address requirement may override general resume advice.
• Using a P.O. box as location proof: A P.O. box can receive mail, but city/state is usually more useful for showing where you can work.

Update your resume location with Teal

Your resume header should help an employer contact you and understand your fit without exposing unnecessary personal information. Choose the location format that matches the role, keep it accurate, and adjust it when you apply in a new market or plan a move.

With Teal's Resume Builder, you can update your contact information, choose a clear resume format, and tailor the rest of the document to the job before you apply.