Employer Costs for Employee Compensation

Employer costs for employee compensation for civilian workers averaged $40.90 per hour worked in March 2022, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported June 16, 2022. Wages and salaries cost employers $28.16 and accounted for 68.8 percent of total compensation, while benefits cost $12.74 and accounted for the remaining 31.2 percent. Total compensation costs for civilian workers were $15.60 at the 10th wage percentile, $31.39 at the 50th (median) wage percentile, and $78.58 at the 90th wage percentile.

Total employer compensation costs for private industry workers averaged $38.61 per hour worked in March 2022. Wage and salary costs averaged $27.19 and accounted for 70.4 percent of employer costs, while benefit costs were $11.42 and accounted for 29.6 percent. Total compensation costs for private industry workers were $14.97 at the 10th wage percentile, $28.60 at the 50th (median) wage percentile, and $74.46 at the 90th wage percentile.

State and local government employer costs averaged $55.47 per hour worked in March 2022. Wages and salaries averaged $34.32 per hour worked and represented 61.9 percent of total compensation costs, while benefit costs averaged $21.15 and accounted for the remaining 38.1 percent. Total compensation costs for state and local government workers were $24.05 at the 10th wage percentile, $52.13 at the 50th (median) wage percentile, and $93.14 at the 90th wage percentile.

In March 2022, inflation-adjusted (constant dollar) private wages and salaries were $12.23 at the 10th wage percentile, $20.12 at the 50th (median) wage percentile, and $50.61 at the 90th wage percentile.

In March 2013, inflation-adjusted (constant dollar) private wages and salaries were $10.11 at the 10th wage percentile, $19.01 at the 50th (median) wage percentile, and $47.96 at the 90th wage percentile.

This article copied from the US Bureau of Labor Statistics’ news release issued June 16, 2022. To read the full release and charts issued, CLICK HERE.