Cost of Hire Calculator
Use this calculator to work out mandatory employer on-costs for senior and professional hires in six countries. It turns your salary figure into a clearer total employment cost.
What the calculator includes
The calculator adds the charges an employer must pay on top of gross salary. For a US hire that means Social Security, Medicare, federal unemployment tax and an editable state unemployment estimate. For Canada it covers CPP, CPP2 and EI, or the Quebec equivalents. The UK figure includes employer National Insurance and the minimum auto-enrolment pension. Ireland covers PRSI and MyFutureFund, Australia the Superannuation Guarantee, and New Zealand KiwiSaver and an average ACC levy. Payroll taxes that depend on your total payroll, such as Australian payroll tax or provincial health taxes, appear as notes. Benefits like health insurance are not included.
On a senior salary the UK usually costs the most on top of pay, because employer National Insurance is 15% on almost all earnings and has no upper limit. Ireland (11.40% PRSI plus 1.5% MyFutureFund) and Australia (12% superannuation, capped at A$270,830) come next. In the US the 6.2% Social Security charge stops at $184,500, so the rate falls on high salaries, while Canada caps CPP and EI at modest earnings levels. New Zealand is usually the lowest, with 3.5% KiwiSaver and an average ACC levy below 1%.
Sources
- US: irs.gov
- United Kingdom: gov.uk
- Ireland, PRSI: gov.ie
- Ireland, MyFutureFund: myfuturefund.ie
- Australia: ato.gov.au
- New Zealand, KiwiSaver: ird.govt.nz
- New Zealand, ACC: acc.co.nz
- Canada, CPP: canada.ca
- Canada, EI: canada.ca
Questions employers ask
What employer costs must I pay for a US employee in 2026?
For a US hire you pay 6.2% Social Security up to $184,500, 1.45% Medicare with no cap, and 0.6% FUTA on the first $7,000. State unemployment tax varies by state and is also due. These costs apply in addition to salary.
How does Employment Allowance reduce UK employer National Insurance?
The UK charges employer National Insurance at 15% above £5,000 per employee. Employment Allowance can reduce your total National Insurance liability by up to £10,500 each year. You should apply it before calculating your final cost.
What is the employer PRSI rate in Ireland from 1 October 2026?
From 1 October 2026 employer PRSI is 11.40% for most pay. For weekly pay up to €552 the rate is 9.15%. MyFutureFund auto-enrolment adds 1.5% on annual pay up to €80,000. MyFutureFund has applied since 1 January 2026.
What employer costs apply in Australia in 2026-27?
Australia requires Superannuation Guarantee of 12% on annual earnings up to A$270,830. State payroll tax may also apply above each state's threshold. Check your state threshold before budgeting. These are the main mandatory costs on top of salary.
How does CPP2 work for a Canadian employer in 2026?
Canada's first CPP is 5.95% on earnings between C$3,500 and C$74,600. CPP2 is an extra 4% on earnings up to C$85,000. EI is 2.282% on earnings up to C$68,900. Quebec has its own QPP rate of 6.30%.
Do the results include health insurance and other voluntary benefits?
No. The calculator only covers mandatory employer on-costs required by statute in each country. Health insurance and other voluntary benefits are not included. You need to add those costs separately when you build your total employment budget.
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