Total Compensation

Wages are roughly 70 percent of US worker compensation; benefits and legally required payments make up the rest, over 10 dollars per hour on average.

Overview

Federal employer-cost data shows total compensation for civilian workers averaging in the mid-40s of dollars per hour worked, with insurance, retirement, leave and payroll taxes making up the balance beyond cash. This reframes job comparisons: a job paying 5,000 more with a 6,000 family health premium and no retirement match is a pay cut. Equity-heavy packages need risk discounts, and unpaid leave has a computable price. Compare packages, not paychecks.