What does an employee cost? – calculator
Pricing your jobs off the salary? Then you are charging too little. An employee costs far more than the gross salary – this calculator shows how much, both per month and per billable hour, so your rate actually adds up.
Work out what an employee costs
Enter the monthly salary and the calculator works out the real cost including employer contributions, holiday pay and any overhead – plus the cost per billable hour. All percentages are adjustable.
Guide value. Employer contributions are 31.42% for most employees in 2026. Holiday pay, insurance and pension can vary with collective agreements – adjust the percentages to your situation.
This tool gives an estimate and is an aid – not a finished calculation. Always check the result against drawings, applicable regulations, supplier data and your professional experience before giving a binding price, ordering material or using the file. ByggExp is not responsible for decisions made solely on the basis of the tool.
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The cost is much more than the salary
- Employer contributions – 31.42% of the gross salary in 2026.
- Holiday pay – often 12% (depends on the collective agreement).
- Overhead – insurance, occupational pension, work clothes, tools and training.
- Non-billable time – travel, meetings and setup that must still be paid.
Use the cost to set the right hourly rate
Once you know the cost per billable hour you can add the margin you want and get an hourly rate that actually sustains the business. If you calculate on the salary alone, the price comes out too low and the margin disappears.
Frequently asked questions about employee cost
- What does an employee really cost?
- Considerably more than the figure on the payslip. With employer contributions, holiday pay and overhead added in, a monthly salary of 34,000 kr often lands around 50,000 kr per month – and that is the figure you should price against.
- How do I calculate the cost per hour?
- Divide the total monthly cost by the number of billable hours per month – not every hour worked. A full-time employee rarely exceeds 120–140 billable hours a month once non-invoiceable time is stripped out.
- How high are employer contributions in 2026?
- The general employer contribution is 31.42% of the gross salary. Some age groups may have a reduced rate – adjust the percentage in the calculator if it applies to your employee.
- Does the calculator cost anything?
- No, it is free and requires no account.