Find the true cost of labor for a job — crew size × hours × rate, plus the burden (taxes, insurance, benefits) most people forget.
Labor burden (payroll taxes, workers' comp, insurance, benefits) often adds 20–40% to base wages — leaving it out is why jobs lose money. Estimate only.
Base wages are only part of it. Payroll taxes, workers' comp, insurance, and benefits — the "burden" — add 20–40% on top. Pricing off the bare hourly rate is one of the most common ways a job quietly loses money.
Total labor = workers × hours × rate × (1 + burden %)
Employer payroll taxes, workers' compensation, liability insurance, and any benefits — everything you pay beyond the wage itself.
It varies by trade and state; 20–40% is common. Work out your own from last year's totals for the most accurate number.
Related: job cost calculator · labor cost percentage calculator · overtime pay calculator · all free calculators.
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Yes. The Labor Cost Calculator is completely free, runs in your browser, and never asks for a signup, email, or download. Enter your numbers and the result updates instantly.
It uses standard formulas and recalculates the moment you change a value, so the math is exact for the inputs you enter. Treat the result as a reliable planning estimate; for decisions with legal or tax consequences, confirm the figures with a qualified professional.
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Last reviewed: September 2026. Free to use, no signup — Labor Cost Calculator by ToolWise Digital.
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