The True Cost of an Employee Calculator
A $38,000 hire never costs $38,000. Payroll taxes, unemployment insurance, health coverage, sick days, desk space, equipment — it adds up to 1.25–1.4× the salary. Enter a role below and see what you would actually keep by replacing it with AI.
1. The role you’re paying for
2. The AI replacement
What this employee really costs you
$0
You keep (year 1)
$0
Over 3 years
$0
AI pays for itself in
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Estimates based on BLS employer-cost averages: FICA 7.65%, unemployment insurance ~2%, workers’ comp ~1%, employer single-coverage health premium ~$650/mo. Adjust the inputs to match your business.
Numbers are estimates for planning. The Free AI Audit gives you a line-by-line version for your actual business.
New: see what this role costs in your metro, salary vs. AI, for 53 U.S. cities in the free AI Headcount Index 2026 (BLS May 2025 data).