EMPLOYER COSTS FOR EMPLOYEE COMPENSATION – MARCH 2026 - BLS
Employer costs for employee compensation for civilian workers averaged $49.32 per hour worked in March 2026, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. Wages and salaries averaged $33.72, while benefit costs averaged $15.60. (See chart 1 and tables 1 and 2.)
Total employer compensation costs for private industry workers averaged $46.60 per hour worked in March 2026. Wages and salaries averaged $32.60 per hour worked and accounted for 69.9 percent of employer costs, while benefit costs averaged $14.01 per hour worked and accounted for the remaining 30.1 percent. Total employer compensation costs for private industry workers were $18.06 at the 10th wage percentile, $34.78 at the 50th (median) wage percentile, and $89.70 at the 90th wage percentile (See charts 1 and 2 and tables A, 1, and 4.)
Total employer compensation costs for state and local government workers averaged $66.41 per hour worked in March 2026. Wages and salaries averaged $40.82 per hour worked and accounted for 61.5 percent of employer costs, while benefit costs averaged $25.59 per hour worked and accounted for the remaining 38.5 percent. Total employer compensation costs for state and local government workers were $27.86 at the 10th wage percentile, $62.34 at the 50th (median) wage percentile, and $111.96 at the 90th wage percentile. (See charts 1 and 2 and tables A, 1, and 3.)
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