Staffing Rate Calculator

Burden, bill rate, markup, and 1099 vs W2 — every staffing calculation in one free tool.

Social Security + Medicare (7.65%)

Federal unemployment (effective 0.6%)

Health, retirement, etc.

$37.34/hr

Fully burdened rate

24.4%

Burden added

$77,657

Annual cost

Burden breakdown

Employer FICA (Social Security + Medicare)7.7% · $2.30/hr
Federal Unemployment (FUTA)0.6% · $0.18/hr
State Unemployment (SUI)2.7% · $0.81/hr
Workers' Compensation1.5% · $0.45/hr
Benefits (health, retirement)8.0% · $2.40/hr
Overhead (PTO, equipment, admin)4.0% · $1.20/hr
Total burden24.4% · $7.34/hr

A $37.34/hr fully burdened rate is real money per placement. Skillora's AI screens every candidate so you only pay for the right ones.

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Estimates only, using editable 2025 US defaults. Tax and insurance rates vary by employer, classification, and locality — verify with a licensed accountant before relying on these figures.

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The math is the easy part. Screening the candidates isn't.

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Running a staffing or recruiting agency means living in spreadsheets: what does this contractor actually cost, what should we bill the client, and is the margin worth it? This free staffing rate calculator answers all of it in one place — fully burdened labor rate, 1099 vs W2, bill rate, and markup — with editable 2025 US tax defaults so the numbers start realistic.

Pick a tab, adjust the rates to match your business, and get instant results you can act on. Need a state-specific breakdown? Use the labor burden and 1099 vs W2 calculators, which template across all 50 states and DC with local SUI and income-tax estimates.

Four Calculators, One Engine

Fully Burdened Rate

Add payroll taxes, workers comp, benefits, and overhead to a pay rate to find the true cost of an employee.

1099 vs W2

Compare employer cost and worker take-home side by side, and find the 1099 rate that matches a W2 offer.

Bill Rate

Turn a pay rate plus burden and markup into the rate you bill the client — and see your gross profit.

Markup

Convert between markup and margin instantly and see the resulting bill rate.

More Free Staffing Calculators

1099 vs W2 Calculator

Compare employer cost and worker take-home.

Labor Burden Calculator

Find the fully burdened cost of an employee.

Bill Rate Calculator

Turn a pay rate into a client bill rate.

Staffing Markup Calculator

Convert between markup and margin.

Time-to-Hire Calculator

Benchmark your hiring speed and cost of delay.

Frequently Asked Questions

What does the staffing rate calculator do?
It combines four staffing math tools in one: a fully burdened labor rate (labor burden) calculator, a 1099 vs W2 comparison, a bill rate calculator, and a markup-to-margin converter. Switch tabs to use whichever you need.
Is the staffing rate calculator free?
Yes. Every calculator is free, requires no sign-up, and runs instantly in your browser. Nothing you enter is stored.
Where do the default tax rates come from?
Fields are pre-filled with 2025 US federal defaults — employer FICA 7.65%, FUTA 0.6%, self-employment tax 15.3%, and typical workers comp and benefits loads. Every field is editable, and state-specific pages pre-fill state SUI and income-tax estimates.
What is the difference between markup and margin?
Markup is profit as a percentage of your cost (pay rate). Margin is profit as a percentage of the bill rate. A 50% markup equals a 33.3% margin. The Markup tab converts between them instantly.
Can I rely on these numbers for payroll or taxes?
These are planning estimates, not tax advice. Real payroll tax, SUI, and workers comp rates vary by employer, classification, and state. Verify with a licensed accountant before relying on the figures.