EMPLOYER COSTS FOR EMPLOYEE COMPENSATION - MARCH 2020
Employer costs for employee compensation for civilian workers averaged $37.73 per hour worked in March 2020,
the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. Wages and salaries cost employers $25.91 while benefit
costs were $11.82. Total compensation costs for civilian workers were $13.15 at the 10th wage percentile,
$28.40 at the 50th (median) wage percentile, and $74.17 at the 90th wage percentile. (See tables A and 1.)
State and local government worker compensation costs for employers averaged $52.45 per hour worked in March
2020. Wages and salaries averaged $32.62 and accounted for 62.2 percent of employer costs, while benefit costs
averaged $19.82 and accounted for 37.8 percent. Total compensation costs at the 50th (median) wage percentile
were $50.06. (See tables A and 1.)
Total employer compensation costs for private industry workers averaged $35.34 per hour worked.
* Wages and salaries averaged $24.82 per hour worked and accounted for 70.2 percent of employer costs.
* Benefit costs averaged $10.53 per hour worked and accounted for the remaining 29.8 percent.
* Median (50th wage percentile) employer costs per employee hour worked were $26.00 for total
compensation, $18.05 for wages and salaries, and $7.95 for benefits. (See tables A and 1.)
Total compensation costs for private industry workers ranged from $12.62 at the 10th wage percentile to $69.32
at the 90th wage percentile.
* Wages and salaries were $10.32 per hour worked at the 10th wage percentile and $47.29 at the 90th wage
percentile.
* Total benefit costs ranged from $2.30 at the 10th wage percentile to $22.04 at the 90th wage percentile.
(See table A.) For more information on average compensation costs within specified wage percentiles, see
www.bls.gov/ect/compensation-percentile-estimates.htm.
