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What Does Your Crew Really Cost?

Most contractors bid using the hourly wage. The real number is 35-50% higher. Find your true burden rate.

1.5–2×
Typical burden multiplier
$15K+
Hidden cost per worker/year
72%
Contractors underestimate it

💰 Base Pay

What you pay the worker directly

What you pay them per hour
$ /hr
Average scheduled hours
hrs
Minus holidays & vacations
wks
At 1.5× rate
hrs

🏛️ Employer Taxes & Insurance

Mandatory costs on top of wages — these add up fast

Employer share: 7.65% of wages
%
Federal + state unemployment tax
%
Construction trades: typically 5-15%
%
Annual cost allocated per crew member
$ /yr

🏥 Benefits

Skip any that don't apply

Employer contribution per year
$ /yr
Annual employer match
$ /yr
Paid days off per year (holidays + PTO)
days
Phone, uniforms, bonuses, etc.
$ /yr

🚛 Equipment & Overhead Per Worker

Costs that exist because this person works for you

Truck, gas, insurance, maintenance per year
$ /yr
Annual tool cost per worker
$ /yr
Safety courses, licenses, etc.
$ /yr
Payroll processing, accounting, per worker
$ /yr

⏱️ Non-Productive Time

You pay for this time but can't bill it

Daily unbillable travel to/between sites
hrs/day
Daily load, unload, organize
hrs/day

📊 Your True Crew Cost

Base Hourly Wage
$30.00
What you think it costs
True Hourly Cost
$48.72
What it actually costs
Hidden Cost Per Hour
$18.72
62% more than the wage
Total Annual Cost
$93,542
vs $57,600 base pay
Your Burden Rate Multiplier
1.62×
For every $1 in wages, you actually spend $1.62
1.0× (wages only) 1.5× (typical) 2.0× (heavy burden) 2.5×+

Annual Cost Breakdown

💡 What This Means for Your Bids

🎯 Bid Check: Are You Charging Enough?

Enter your billing rate to see if you're covering costs

What you charge clients per hour for this person's work
$ /hr
Your desired margin after all costs
%

Stop Guessing. Start Tracking.

JobHammers tracks crew time automatically from WhatsApp voice notes. Know your true costs in real time—not at the end of the job.

See How It Works →