What does one janitor actually cost? FICA, unemployment, workers comp, benefits — see the real number.
The BLS national median wage for janitors (SOC 37-2011) is $16.29/hour, but the true employer cost is $20–23/hour after adding FICA (7.65%), FUTA (0.6%), SUTA (1.2–4.1%), workers' compensation (~3.7% for NCCI code 9014), and paid leave (7.7%). The multiplier is typically 1.25–1.40× the base wage, increasing to 1.46× if health insurance is included.
Employers pay 7.65% of gross wages for FICA — 6.2% for Social Security (on wages up to $168,600 in 2024) and 1.45% for Medicare (no wage cap). This is the employer's match of the employee's contribution. Source: Social Security Administration (ssa.gov).
Janitorial workers fall under NCCI class code 9014. The national average workers' compensation rate is approximately 3.7% of gross payroll, though rates vary by state and your company's experience modification rating. States like California and New York tend to have higher rates. Source: National Council on Compensation Insurance (NCCI).
SUTA (State Unemployment Tax Act) is paid by employers on the first $8,500–$12,000 of each employee's wages, depending on state. Rates range from approximately 1.2% in North Carolina to 4.1% in New York. New employers typically pay a standard rate, which adjusts over time based on claims history. Source: U.S. Department of Labor, Employment & Training Administration.
xiriOS automatically factors in payroll taxes and overhead when calculating your bid price.