True cost of hire
What does that hire really cost you?
Salary is about 60–70% of it. Drag the sliders to see the full annual cost once tax, benefits, recruitment, ramp-up and management time are counted.
True annual cost of this hire
$171,744
That’s $14,312 a month, every month, for a $90,000 salary.
- 1.91×
- of base salary
- $81,744
- on top of salary
- $91
- per productive hour
Where the money goes
| Cost | Per year | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Base salary | $90,000 | 52% |
| Bonus & commission | $13,500 | 8% |
| Tax, super & benefitsFICA — Social Security & Medicare · Unemployment (FUTA + SUTA) · Workers compensation · Health insurance (employer share) · 401(k) match | $20,367 | 12% |
| Recruitment & onboarding | $11,160 | 6% |
| Management & training time | $11,730 | 7% |
| Tools, equipment & workspace | $12,600 | 7% |
| Ramp-up productivity loss | $12,387 | 7% |
| True annual cost | $171,744 | 100% |
The comparison
One hire, at $171,744 a year, is one person’s capacity. A Fullstride engagement is a department: research, calling, campaigns, systems, creative and reporting, from one brief.
Assumptions & sources
- Australia:
- Superannuation Guarantee 12% on ordinary time earnings, capped at the 2026-27 maximum contribution base of $270,830. Payroll tax applied at the selected state's rate on wages plus super, only where the wage bill exceeds the state threshold. Workers compensation is industry- and state-specific — 1% is a placeholder for professional services.
- United States:
- Social Security 6.2% up to the 2026 wage base of $184,500, Medicare 1.45% uncapped, FUTA 0.6% on the first $7,000, SUTA at the entered rate on the first $15,000. Employer health contribution defaults to the KFF 2025 averages ($7,885 single / $20,143 family).
- Productive hours:
- Australia 1,680/yr (38-hour week less 4 weeks annual leave, ~11 public holidays and ~8 sick days). United States 1,880/yr (40-hour week less 2 weeks PTO, 10 holidays and 5 sick days).
- One-off costs:
- Recruitment fee, equipment, training hours and ramp-up productivity loss are amortised across the expected tenure to give a comparable annual figure.
Indicative only. Not tax, legal or financial advice — confirm rates with your accountant and your state revenue office.
Next step
You priced the hire. Now price the department.
Thirty minutes with a senior operator on your market, your sales motion and what a growth function would look like inside your company.