Employee Cost Calculator
TrueHireCost analysis: how SHRM’s cost-per-hire benchmark (~$4,700) relates to the fully loaded annual employee cost (~$100k+). The ratio, the overlap, and when each metric matters.
Open the CalculatorSHRM’s published cost-per-hire benchmark (~$4,700) measures the one-time cost to fill a role. The fully loaded annual employee cost (~$100k+) measures the ongoing cost to employ someone.
They are not alternatives — they answer different questions. Cost per hire is a recruiting-efficiency metric; fully loaded cost is an employment-budgeting metric. For a representative $80,000 employee, the one-time cost per hire is roughly $4,700 while the recurring annual loaded cost is about $101,207 — a ratio of roughly 22:1.
Both include some onboarding and training cost, but only the loaded cost includes salary, taxes, benefits, and overhead.
Use cost per hire to compare recruiting channels and time-to-fill. Use fully loaded cost to budget headcount and price services. Confusing the two leads to under-budgeting: a $4,700 hire that costs $101,207/year to employ is a very different number.
Every rate and formula is checked against the issuing agency before publication. Last updated 2026-08-24.
IRS
FICA, FUTA tax rate & wage base
U.S. DOL
FUTA credit, federal wage & hour
State Workforce Agencies
SUTA rates, wage bases, new-employer rates
BLS
Industry salary benchmarks & turnover
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).
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.
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.
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.