Employee Total Cost Calculator
True cost of an employee beyond salary.
Enter your values
Enter the base salary in $/yr.
Enter the payroll tax & benefits burden in %.
Enter the overhead per employee in $/yr.
Results update instantly as you type — no submit needed. Your values are remembered on this device, and the shareable link reopens the calculator with exactly these numbers.
- Fully loaded annual cost
- $87200
- Burden cost
- $18200
- Load multiplier
- 1.34x
- Monthly cost
- $7266.67
Quick answer
Fully loaded employee cost is typically 1.25 to 1.4 times base salary once taxes, benefits and overhead are included.
total cost = salary x (1 + burden rate)
At a glance
| What it does | True cost of an employee beyond salary. |
|---|---|
| Category | Business |
| Inputs needed | Base salary, Payroll tax & benefits burden, Overhead per employee |
| Main output | Fully loaded annual cost |
| Formula | total cost = salary x (1 + burden rate) |
| Cost | Free — no sign-up, no download |
How to use the Employee Total Cost Calculator
- 1Enter the employee's base salary.
- 2Enter the payroll tax and benefits burden as a percentage.
- 3Add any per-employee overhead like equipment or office space.
Inputs explained
- Base salary($/yr)
- Enter the base salary in $/yr.
- Payroll tax & benefits burden(%)
- Enter the payroll tax & benefits burden in %.
- Overhead per employee($/yr)
- Enter the overhead per employee in $/yr.
Worked example
Using the values the calculator loads with:
Inputs
- Base salary65000 $/yr
- Payroll tax & benefits burden28 %
- Overhead per employee4000 $/yr
Results
- Fully loaded annual cost$87200
- Burden cost$18200
- Load multiplier1.34x
- Monthly cost$7266.67
Frequently asked questions
What is included in burden?
Employer payroll taxes, health insurance, retirement match and paid time off accrual.
Why does this matter for pricing?
Service businesses should price work using fully loaded cost, not just salary.
What do I need to enter into the Employee Total Cost Calculator?
Just 3 values: base salary, payroll tax & benefits burden, overhead per employee. Every field starts with a realistic example, so you can change one number at a time and watch the result update instantly.
How does the Employee Total Cost Calculator work out the answer?
Fully loaded employee cost is typically 1.25 to 1.4 times base salary once taxes, benefits and overhead are included. It applies the formula total cost = salary x (1 + burden rate) and shows the working so you can check each step by hand.
Is the Employee Total Cost Calculator free, and do I need an account?
It is completely free with no sign-up, no download and no usage limit. Everything is calculated in your browser, so the numbers you type never leave your device.
Results are estimates for general information. For medical, legal, structural or financial decisions, confirm with a qualified professional.