TrueHireCost

Employee Cost Calculator

Employee Cost by Industry - 20 Industry Employee Cost Guides

A directory of TrueHireCost industry employee cost guides for 20 major U.S. industries. Each guide has a pre-configured calculator, workers’ comp rates, salary ranges, benefits, and burden multipliers for technology, healthcare, construction, and more.

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Employee Cost Guides for 20 Major U.S. Industries

Each industry guide includes a pre-configured calculator, the representative workers’ comp class rate, salary range and median, monthly benefits, 401(k) match, overhead, turnover and time-to-hire benchmarks, and a compliance checklist. Select an industry to calculate its fully loaded employee cost.

Technology & SoftwareThe technology sector continues to grow with AI, cloud, and cybersecurity demand, though hiring has cooled from 2021 peaks and favors senior talent.…Median $120,000 · 1.35× loadedHealthcareHealthcare is the fastest-growing U.S. employment sector, driven by an aging population and chronic staffing shortages in nursing and primary care.…Median $85,000 · 1.32× loadedConstructionConstruction hiring is steady but constrained by skilled-labor shortages, with infrastructure spending supporting demand through 2026.…Median $65,000 · 1.45× loadedRetailRetail hiring is shifting toward e-commerce fulfillment and experiential store roles as brick-and-mortar footprints stabilize.…Median $38,000 · 1.25× loadedManufacturingManufacturing is reshoring driven by CHIPS Act and defense demand, but a persistent skilled-trades gap limits hiring speed.…Median $62,000 · 1.4× loadedFinance & BankingFinance hiring is steady in compliance, risk, and fintech, offset by consolidation in traditional branch banking.…Median $95,000 · 1.38× loadedEducationEducation hiring is stable but faces teacher shortages in math, science, and special education, with growing ed-tech demand.…Median $60,000 · 1.28× loadedHospitalityHospitality hiring has rebounded post-pandemic but remains constrained by labor shortages in food service and lodging.…Median $42,000 · 1.27× loadedTransportation & LogisticsE-commerce growth sustains logistics hiring, with a chronic truck-driver shortage and rising warehouse automation.…Median $68,000 · 1.34× loadedProfessional ServicesProfessional services hiring is steady, driven by digital transformation consulting and regulatory compliance work.…Median $100,000 · 1.33× loadedReal EstateReal estate hiring is sensitive to mortgage rates, with brokerage staffing contracting in high-rate environments.…Median $65,000 · 1.3× loadedAgricultureAgriculture hiring is seasonal and increasingly reliant on H-2A guest workers amid domestic labor shortages.…Median $45,000 · 1.31× loadedEnergyEnergy hiring is shifting toward renewables and grid modernization, supported by Inflation Reduction Act incentives.…Median $90,000 · 1.36× loadedTelecommunicationsTelecom hiring is focused on 5G and fiber buildout, with steady demand for field technicians and network engineers.…Median $85,000 · 1.33× loadedMedia & EntertainmentMedia hiring is shifting toward streaming and digital content, with volatile project-based production staffing.…Median $75,000 · 1.31× loadedNonprofitNonprofit hiring is steady in healthcare and social services, constrained by grant funding cycles.…Median $55,000 · 1.27× loadedGovernment & Public SectorGovernment hiring is steady but slow, with retirements creating openings and strong benefits offsetting lower base pay.…Median $65,000 · 1.3× loadedLegal ServicesLegal hiring is stable at large firms, with growing demand in litigation, IP, and regulatory practice areas.…Median $115,000 · 1.34× loadedConsultingConsulting hiring is steady, led by digital transformation, cybersecurity, and ESG advisory practices.…Median $120,000 · 1.35× loadedE-commerceE-commerce hiring is strong in fulfillment and digital roles, with multi-state nexus compliance a growing burden.…Median $80,000 · 1.33× loaded

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the fully loaded cost of an employee?

The fully loaded cost of an employee is the total annual cost to employ them: base salary plus employer payroll taxes (FICA, FUTA, SUTA), workers’ compensation, benefits, and overhead. Using TrueHireCost’s current default assumptions, an $80,000 employee has an estimated annual employer cost of approximately $101,207. Actual costs vary by state, benefits, workers’ compensation, retirement contributions, and overhead. Under those defaults the loaded multiplier is about 1.27× base salary ($101,207).

How is the fully loaded employee cost calculated?

TrueHireCost adds employer FICA (7.65%), federal and state unemployment tax, workers’ comp (varies by state and industry), benefits, and overhead to the base salary. You can adjust each input for any U.S. state and industry.

What employer taxes do I pay on top of salary?

Employers pay 7.65% FICA (6.2% Social Security + 1.45% Medicare), FUTA (up to 0.6% on the first $7,000), state unemployment (SUTA), and state disability insurance where applicable.

Is the TrueHireCost calculator free?

Yes. The TrueHireCost employee cost calculator is free to use, requires no sign-up, and works for all 50 U.S. states and 20 major industries.

For Estimation Purposes Only

TrueHireCost provides cost estimates for informational purposes only and is not professional tax, legal, or HR advice. Actual employer costs vary by experience rating, industry classification, carrier, and jurisdiction. Consult a qualified CPA, tax advisor, or HR professional before making hiring or payroll decisions.