Labor cost calculator
Your real cost per hour isn't the wage — it's the wage plus taxes and benefits. Here's the true number.
Cost per hour
$31.25
True labor cost
$3,750.00
Labor cost is only as accurate as your hours. BriefQR makes the hours real — captured at the punch, not estimated after the fact.
Start free trial →Frequently asked
- What is labor burden?
- Labor burden is everything you pay on top of the wage: payroll taxes, workers' comp, benefits, paid time off, and overhead. As a percentage of wage it typically runs 20–40%, higher in trades with heavy insurance.
- What burden percentage should I use?
- Use your own figures if you have them. As a rough guide, many general employers land around 25%, construction around 40% (insurance-heavy), and restaurants around 20%. The industry presets set a starting point you can edit.
- Why does accurate time tracking matter for labor cost?
- Every padded or mis-recorded hour is multiplied by your fully-loaded rate, not just the wage. Capturing real hours at the punch keeps the biggest line in your budget honest.
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