About
Cost of Hiring is an independent editorial project for people planning to hire in the United States. We research what an employee, a contractor or a recruitment process can cost, then show the assumptions behind the estimate. Our numbers are planning ranges, not quotes or promises about what your business will pay.
Why this exists
A salary is easy to put in a budget. Employer payroll taxes, benefits, equipment, interviewing time and the effect of an empty role are less obvious. Leaving them out can make an affordable hire look cheaper than it really is. We built this site to put those costs in one place and make the uncertainty visible before an offer is made.
Who it is for
The site is for founders, small business owners and hiring managers who need a starting point for a hiring budget. It can also help a team compare a temporary contractor with a permanent employee, or understand why filling a role costs more than a job advert. You do not need a finance background to use the calculators. You do need to check your own tax rates, benefits choices and local requirements before making a decision.
How we differ from vendor calculators
A vendor or recruiter calculator may be useful, but it can sit alongside a sales process. Ours does not ask for your contact details, recommend a recruiter or pass your information to a supplier. We separate recurring employment costs from the one off cost of recruiting, and explain what is excluded. Wide ranges reflect differences in location, benefits and hiring processes rather than suggesting one precise total fits every employer. You can change the inputs and read the reasoning without speaking to a sales team.
How we make money
Display advertising only. No sponsorships, no lead resale, no referral fees, no affiliate commissions. If a staffing firm or benefits broker wants to change what we publish, there is no mechanism for them to do it. The full policy is on our methodology page.
Who writes this
The Cost of Hiring editorial team researches and reviews the content. We use published government data, payroll tax tables, benefits surveys and practitioner reported figures to build estimates. Our editorial standards explain our quarterly review schedule, correction process and separation of advertising from editorial decisions. The methodology sets out the model assumptions and exclusions. Nothing here replaces tax, legal, accounting or employment advice.
Get in touch
Corrections, data submissions and press enquiries are all welcome through our contact page. Reader submitted data is the fastest way our ranges get better.