For release 10:00 a.m. (ET) Thursday, June 17, 2021 USDL-21-1094 

Technical information: (202) 691-6199 • ncsinfo@bls.gov • www.bls.gov/ect

Media contact: (202) 691-5902 • pressoffice@bls.gov 

EMPLOYER COSTS FOR EMPLOYEE COMPENSATION – MARCH 2021 

Employer costs for employee compensation for civilian workers averaged $39.01 per hour worked in 

March 2021, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. Wages and salaries cost employers 

$26.84 while benefit costs were $12.18. Total compensation costs for civilian workers were $14.10 at 

the 10th wage percentile, $29.36 at the 50th (median) wage percentile, and $75.88 at the 90th wage 

percentile. (See charts 1 and 2, and tables A and 1.) 

State and local government worker compensation costs for employers averaged $53.68 per hour 

worked in March 2021. Wages and salaries averaged $33.20 and accounted for 61.9 percent of employer 

costs, while benefit costs averaged $20.47 and accounted for 38.1 percent. Total compensation costs for 

state and local government workers at the 50th (median) wage percentile were $50.21. (See charts 1 and 

2, and tables A and 1.) 

Total employer compensation costs for private industry workers averaged $36.64 per hour worked. 

Wages and salaries averaged $25.80 per hour worked and accounted for 70.4 percent of employer costs. 

Benefit costs averaged $10.83 per hour worked and accounted for the remaining 29.6 percent. Median 

(50th wage percentile) employer costs per employee hour worked were $26.88 for total compensation, 

$18.91 for wages and salaries, and $7.97 for benefits. (See charts 1 and 2, and tables A and 1.) 

Total compensation costs for private industry workers ranged from $13.46 per hour worked at the 10th 

wage percentile to $71.99 at the 90th wage percentile. Wages and salaries were $10.94 per hour 

worked at the 10th wage percentile and $48.92 at the 90th wage percentile. Total benefit costs ranged 

from $2.52 per hour worked at the 10th wage percentile to $23.07 at the 90th wage percentile. (See 

chart 2 and table A.) 

$0.00

$10.00

$20.00

$30.00

$40.00

$50.00

$60.00

Civlian Private industry State and local

government

Total compensation Wages and salaries Benefits

$0.00

$20.00

$40.00

$60.00

$80.00

$100.00

Civilian Private industry State and local

government

10th percentile 50th percentile (Median)

Average (Mean) 90th percentile

Chart 2. Employer total compensation costs per employee 

hour worked by wage percentile, March 2021 

Chart 1. Employer costs per employee hour worked, 

March 2021 
For more information on average compensation costs within specified wage percentiles, see 

www.bls.gov/ect/compensation-percentile-estimates.htm. 

Table A. Employer Costs for Employee Compensation by wage percentile, March 2021

Compensation

component

Civilian workers[1] Private industry workers State and local government workers

10th wage 

percentile

50th 

(median)

wage 

percentile

90th wage 

percentile

10th wage 

percentile

50th 

(median)

wage 

percentile

90th wage 

percentile

10th wage 

percentile

50th 

(median)

wage 

percentile

90th wage 

percentile

Total compensation[2] $14.10 $29.36 $75.88 $13.46 $26.88 $71.99 $22.69 $50.21 $91.14

Wages and salaries 11.26 19.90 50.67 10.94 18.91 48.92 14.13 29.70 57.17

Total benefits 2.85 9.46 25.21 2.52 7.97 23.07 8.56 20.51 33.97

Paid leave 0.43 1.97 6.15 0.35 1.68 6.17 1.37 4.46 6.70

Supplemental pay 0.19 0.88 2.06 0.16 0.89 2.55 0.25 0.71 0.82

Insurance 0.79 3.22 6.53 0.68 2.55 5.60 3.45 6.28 9.06

Health insurance 0.77 3.11 6.18 0.66 2.45 5.22 3.40 6.11 8.80

Retirement and savings 0.15 1.05 5.56 0.06 0.59 3.73 1.76 6.15 13.12

Legally required benefits 1.30 2.33 4.91 1.26 2.26 5.02 1.74 2.91 4.27

[1] Includes workers in the private nonfarm economy except those in private households, and workers in the private sector, except the federal government.

[2] Includes costs for wages and salaries and benefits. 

Metropolitan area private industry compensation costs are published each March reference period for 

the 15 largest Consolidated Statistical Areas (CSA) and Metropolitan Statistical Areas (MSA). Total 

compensation costs in March 2021 for private industry workers ranged from $31.34 per hour worked 

in the Miami-Fort Lauderdale-Port St. Lucie, FL CSA to $55.47 per hour worked in the San Jose-San 

Francisco-Oakland, CA CSA. (See chart 3 and table 8.)

$0.00 $10.00 $20.00 $30.00 $40.00 $50.00 $60.00

Boston-Worcester-Providence, MA-RI-NH-CT CSA

New York-Newark, NY-NJ-CT-PA CSA

Philadelphia-Reading-Camden, PA-NJ-DE-MD CSA

Atlanta-Athens-Clarke County-Sandy Springs, GA CSA

Dallas-Fort Worth, TX-OK CSA

Houston-The Woodlands, TX CSA

Miami-Fort Lauderdale-Port St. Lucie, FL CSA

Washington-Baltimore-Arlington, DC-MD-VA-WV-PA CSA

Chicago-Naperville, IL-IN-WI CSA

Detroit-Warren-Ann Arbor, MI CSA

Minneapolis-St. Paul, MN-WI CSA

Los Angeles-Long Beach, CA CSA

Phoenix-Mesa-Scottsdale, AZ MSA

San Jose-San Francisco-Oakland, CA CSA

Seattle-Tacoma, WA CSA

Northeast South Midwest West

Wages and salaries Total benefits

Coronavirus (COVID-19) Pandemic Impact on March 2021 ECEC Data 

The Employer Costs for Employee Compensation (ECEC) reference date was March 12, 2021. Response 

rates for March were comparable with prior releases, and no changes in estimation procedures were 

necessary. Additional information is available at www.bls.gov/covid19/home.htm. 

Chart 3. Total compensation costs per employee hour worked by area, private industry, March 2021

- 2 -
TECHNICAL NOTE

Employer Costs for Employee Compensation (ECEC), a product of the National Compensation Survey, 

provides the average employer cost for wages and salaries as well as benefits per employee hour 

worked. The ECEC covers the civilian economy, which includes data from both private industry and 

state and local government. Excluded from private industry are the self-employed, agricultural workers, 

and private household workers. Federal government workers are excluded from the public sector. 

Total benefit costs consist of five major categories and include 18 benefit costs:

• Paid leave - vacation, holiday, sick, and personal leave;

• Supplemental pay - overtime and premium, shift differentials, and nonproduction bonuses;

• Insurance - life, health, short-term and long-term disability;

• Retirement and savings - defined benefit and defined contribution; and

• Legally required benefits - Social Security (refers to Old-Age, Survivors, and Disability

Insurance (OASDI) program), Medicare, federal and state unemployment insurance, and

Workers’ Compensation.

All workers are included in the benefit cost estimates including those that do not have plan access or do 

not participate. Costs are also affected by other factors such as cost sharing between employers and 

employees, plan features, and plan generosity. For the latest information on the percentage of workers 

with access to and participating in employer-sponsored benefit plans, including health care and 

retirement and savings plans, see www.bls.gov/ebs. 

The “National Compensation Measures” provides additional details on the sample design, calculation 

methodology, and resources explaining changes over time. (See www.bls.gov/opub/hom/ncs/home.htm.) 

Additional ECEC estimates, including historical data, are available in the ECEC database query tool at 

www.bls.gov/ncs/ect/data.htm.

Sample size: Data for this reference period were collected from a probability sample of approximately 

24,300 occupational observations selected from a sample of about 6,000 private industry establishments 

and approximately 7,700 occupational observations selected from a sample of about 1,400 state and 

local government establishments that provided data at the initial interview.

Measures of reliability: Relative standard errors (RSEs) provide users a tool to ascertain the quality of 

an estimate to ensure that it is within an acceptable range for their intended purpose. RSEs are available 

at www.bls.gov/ncs/ect/ecec-rse.htm and database query tool at www.bls.gov/ncs/ect/data.htm. 

Comparisons: Compensation cost levels in state and local government should not be directly compared 

with levels in private industry. Differences between these sectors stem from factors such as variation in 

work activities and occupational structures.

Area definitions: Metropolitan area definitions are based on the Office of Management and Budget 

Bulletin No. 13-01, dated February 28, 2013. For more information see www.census.gov/programssurveys/metro-micro.html.

Publication focus: Topics of news releases for the upcoming reference periods are as follows:

• June 2021 - Health benefit costs in private industry

• September 2021 - Compensation costs in state and local government

• December 2021 - Supplemental pay costs in private industry

For 2021 ECEC release dates, see www.bls.gov/schedule/news_release/ecec.htm.

- 3 -
Table 1. Employer Costs for Employee Compensation by ownership

[Mar. 2021]

Compensation component

Civilian workers

1 Private industry

workers

Cost ($) Percent of compensation Cost ($) Percent of compensation 

Total compensation

2............................................... 39.01 100.0 36.64 100.0 

Wages and salaries............................................. 26.84 68.8 25.80 70.4 Total benefits..................................................... 12.18 31.2 10.83 29.6 

Paid leave...................................................... 2.90 7.4 2.72 7.4 

Vacation..................................................... 1.41 3.6 1.39 3.8 

Holiday....................................................... 0.85 2.2 0.81 2.2 

Sick........................................................... 0.47 1.2 0.37 1.0 

Personal..................................................... 0.17 0.4 0.15 0.4 

Supplemental pay............................................. 1.17 3.0 1.27 3.5 

Overtime and premium3................................... 0.32 0.8 0.33 0.9 

Shift differentials............................................ 0.07 0.2 0.08 0.2 

Nonproduction bonuses.................................... 0.78 2.0 0.86 2.4 

Insurance....................................................... 3.31 8.5 2.83 7.7 

Life............................................................ 0.05 0.1 0.04 0.1 

Health........................................................ 3.15 8.1 2.67 7.3 Short-term disability........................................ 0.07 0.2 0.08 0.2 

Long-term disability......................................... 0.05 0.1 0.04 0.1 

Retirement and savings...................................... 2.01 5.2 1.25 3.4 

Defined benefit.............................................. 1.23 3.2 0.42 1.1 Defined contribution........................................ 0.78 2.0 0.83 2.3 

Legally Required benefits.................................... 2.79 7.1 2.77 7.6 

Social Security and Medicare............................. 2.19 5.6 2.17 5.9 

Social Security

4.......................................... 1.74 4.5 1.74 4.8 

Medicare.................................................. 0.45 1.1 0.43 1.2 

Federal unemployment insurance........................ 0.02 0.1 0.03 0.1 

State unemployment insurance........................... 0.12 0.3 0.13 0.4 

Workers’ compensation.................................... 0.46 1.2 0.44 1.2 

1 Includes workers in the private nonfarm economy except those in private households, and workers in the public sector, except the federal government.2 Includes costs for wages and salaries and benefits.3 Includes premium pay for work (such as overtime, weekends, and holidays) in addition to the regular work schedule.4 Social Security refers to the Old-Age, Survivors, and Disability Insurance (OASDI) program.5 Cost per hour worked is $0.01 or less.6 Less than .05 percent.

- 4 -
Table 2. Employer Costs for Employee Compensation for civilian workers by occupational and industry group

[Mar. 2021]

Series

Total

compensation

1

Wages and

salaries Total benefits Paid leave Supplemental pay Insurance 

Cost ($) Percent Cost ($) Percent Cost ($) Percent Cost ($) Percent Cost ($) Percent Cost ($) Percent 

Civilian workers

2............................ 39.01 100.0 26.84 68.8 12.18 31.2 2.90 7.4 1.17 3.0 3.31 8.5 

Occupational group

Management, professional, and

related................................... 62.80 100.0 42.76 68.1 20.04 31.9 5.50 8.8 1.84 2.9 5.06 8.1 Management, business and

financial............................... 73.12 100.0 49.96 68.3 23.16 31.7 7.13 9.8 3.02 4.1 5.03 6.9 

Professional and related.............. 58.19 100.0 39.54 67.9 18.65 32.1 4.77 8.2 1.32 2.3 5.07 8.7 

Teachers

3............................ 65.24 100.0 44.26 67.8 20.98 32.2 3.41 5.2 0.25 0.4 6.41 9.8 

Primary, secondary, and

special education schoolteachers......................... 64.13 100.0 42.47 66.2 21.65 33.8 2.96 4.6 0.21 0.3 7.02 10.9 

Registered nurses................... 59.86 100.0 38.97 65.1 20.89 34.9 6.14 10.3 2.25 3.8 5.47 9.1 

Sales and office........................... 28.99 100.0 20.51 70.8 8.48 29.2 1.95 6.7 0.78 2.7 2.66 9.2 

Sales and related...................... 28.53 100.0 21.79 76.4 6.74 23.6 1.60 5.6 0.85 3.0 1.56 5.5 Office and administrative support. . .. 29.29 100.0 19.69 67.2 9.60 32.8 2.17 7.4 0.73 2.5 3.36 11.5 

Service..................................... 20.94 100.0 15.04 71.8 5.90 28.2 1.11 5.3 0.45 2.1 1.63 7.8 Natural resources, construction, and

maintenance............................ 39.13 100.0 26.30 67.2 12.83 32.8 2.22 5.7 1.39 3.6 3.36 8.6 Construction, extraction, farming,

fishing, and forestry................. 40.05 100.0 26.59 66.4 13.46 33.6 1.83 4.6 1.46 3.6 3.45 8.6 

Installation, maintenance, and

repair.................................. 38.14 100.0 25.99 68.2 12.14 31.8 2.64 6.9 1.33 3.5 3.26 8.5 

Production, transportation, and

material moving........................ 30.72 100.0 20.50 66.7 10.22 33.3 1.89 6.2 1.30 4.2 3.11 10.1 Production.............................. 29.24 100.0 19.54 66.8 9.71 33.2 1.81 6.2 1.43 4.9 3.13 10.7 Transportation and material

moving................................ 32.03 100.0 21.36 66.7 10.67 33.3 1.96 6.1 1.19 3.7 3.09 9.7 

Industry group

Education and health services.......... 43.91 100.0 29.73 67.7 14.17 32.3 3.39 7.7 0.68 1.5 4.26 9.7 

Educational services.................. 55.67 100.0 36.76 66.0 18.92 34.0 3.58 6.4 0.28 0.5 5.96 10.7 

Elementary and secondary

schools............................. 54.45 100.0 35.52 65.2 18.94 34.8 2.85 5.2 0.22 0.4 6.28 11.5 

Junior colleges, colleges, and

universities........................ 61.81 100.0 40.89 66.2 20.92 33.8 5.38 8.7 0.38 0.6 6.02 9.7 

Health care and social assistance. .. 37.04 100.0 25.63 69.2 11.41 30.8 3.28 8.8 0.91 2.5 3.27 8.8 

Hospitals............................. 52.01 100.0 33.76 64.9 18.25 35.1 5.13 9.9 1.84 3.5 5.31 10.2 

1 Includes costs for wages and salaries and benefits.2 Includes workers in the private nonfarm economy except those in private households, and workers in the public sector, except the federal government.3 Includes postsecondary teachers; primary, secondary, and special education teachers; and other teachers and instructors.

- 5 -
Table 3. Employer Costs for Employee Compensation for state and local government workers by occupational and indu

[Mar. 2021]

Series

Total

compensation

1

Wages and

salaries Total benefits Paid leave Supplemental pay Insurance 

Cost ($) Percent Cost ($) Percent Cost ($) Percent Cost ($) Percent Cost ($) Percent Cost ($) Percent 

State and local government workers. . . .. 53.68 100.0 33.20 61.9 20.47 38.1 4.02 7.5 0.53 1.0 6.27 11.7 

Occupational group

Management, professional, and

related................................... 64.22 100.0 41.11 64.0 23.12 36.0 4.52 7.0 0.41 0.6 6.86 10.7 Professional and related.............. 62.41 100.0 40.25 64.5 22.16 35.5 4.01 6.4 0.39 0.6 6.82 10.9 

Teachers

2............................ 70.67 100.0 46.84 66.3 23.83 33.7 3.49 4.9 0.27 0.4 7.36 10.4 

Primary, secondary, and

special education schoolteachers......................... 70.38 100.0 46.03 65.4 24.35 34.6 3.15 4.5 0.24 0.3 7.88 11.2 

Sales and office........................... 37.33 100.0 21.38 57.3 15.94 42.7 3.29 8.8 0.33 0.9 5.89 15.8 

Office and administrative support. . .. 37.49 100.0 21.43 57.2 16.06 42.8 3.30 8.8 0.34 0.9 5.96 15.9 

Service..................................... 39.49 100.0 22.47 56.9 17.02 43.1 3.34 8.5 0.86 2.2 4.98 12.6 

Industry group

Education and health services.......... 55.94 100.0 35.87 64.1 20.07 35.9 3.66 6.5 0.36 0.6 6.40 11.4 

Educational services.................. 57.42 100.0 37.05 64.5 20.37 35.5 3.49 6.1 0.26 0.5 6.52 11.4 

Elementary and secondary

schools............................. 55.85 100.0 36.07 64.6 19.78 35.4 2.88 5.1 0.23 0.4 6.60 11.8 

Junior colleges, colleges, and

universities........................ 61.90 100.0 39.83 64.4 22.07 35.6 5.30 8.6 0.34 0.6 6.28 10.1 

Health care and social assistance. .. 47.32 100.0 29.02 61.3 18.30 38.7 4.61 9.7 0.92 1.9 5.70 12.0 

Hospitals............................. 49.96 100.0 31.24 62.5 18.72 37.5 4.88 9.8 1.06 2.1 5.66 11.3 

Public administration..................... 51.73 100.0 29.67 57.4 22.06 42.6 4.88 9.4 0.81 1.6 6.24 12.1 

1 Includes costs for wages and salaries and benefits.2 Includes postsecondary teachers; primary, secondary, and special education teachers; and other teachers and instructors.

- 6 -
Table 4. Employer Costs for Employee Compensation for private industry workers by occupational and industry group

[Mar. 2021]

Series

Total

compensation

1

Wages and

salaries Total benefits Paid leave Supplemental pay Insurance 

Cost ($) Percent Cost ($) Percent Cost ($) Percent Cost ($) Percent Cost ($) Percent Cost ($) Percent 

Private industry workers.................... 36.64 100.0 25.80 70.4 10.83 29.6 2.72 7.4 1.27 3.5 2.83 7.7 

Occupational group

Management, professional, and

related................................... 62.32 100.0 43.31 69.5 19.02 30.5 5.83 9.4 2.33 3.7 4.45 7.1 Management, business, and

financial............................... 72.88 100.0 50.46 69.2 22.42 30.8 7.09 9.7 3.35 4.6 4.76 6.5 

Professional and related.............. 56.29 100.0 39.22 69.7 17.07 30.3 5.11 9.1 1.74 3.1 4.28 7.6 

Sales and office........................... 28.25 100.0 20.44 72.3 7.81 27.7 1.83 6.5 0.81 2.9 2.37 8.4 

Sales and related...................... 28.51 100.0 21.80 76.5 6.71 23.5 1.60 5.6 0.85 3.0 1.55 5.4 Office and administrative support. . .. 28.06 100.0 19.43 69.2 8.63 30.8 2.00 7.1 0.79 2.8 2.97 10.6 

Service..................................... 18.15 100.0 13.93 76.7 4.23 23.3 0.77 4.2 0.38 2.1 1.12 6.2 Natural resources, construction, and

maintenance............................ 38.58 100.0 26.25 68.0 12.33 32.0 2.07 5.4 1.44 3.7 3.14 8.1 Construction, extraction, farming,

fishing, and forestry................. 39.61 100.0 26.59 67.1 13.01 32.9 1.65 4.2 1.52 3.8 3.22 8.1 

Installation, maintenance, and

repair.................................. 37.47 100.0 25.87 69.0 11.60 31.0 2.52 6.7 1.35 3.6 3.05 8.2 

Production, transportation, and

material moving........................ 30.26 100.0 20.36 67.3 9.90 32.7 1.84 6.1 1.32 4.4 2.98 9.9 Production.............................. 28.94 100.0 19.40 67.0 9.54 33.0 1.78 6.1 1.43 4.9 3.07 10.6 Transportation and material

moving................................ 31.49 100.0 21.25 67.5 10.24 32.5 1.91 6.1 1.21 3.9 2.90 9.2 

Industry group

Goods-producing

2........................ 40.59 100.0 27.43 67.6 13.16 32.4 2.64 6.5 1.77 4.4 3.62 8.9 

Construction............................ 40.85 100.0 28.48 69.7 12.37 30.3 1.87 4.6 1.47 3.6 3.08 7.5 Manufacturing.......................... 40.38 100.0 26.82 66.4 13.56 33.6 3.06 7.6 1.90 4.7 3.92 9.7 

Aircraft manufacturing.............. 77.20 100.0 47.99 62.2 29.21 37.8 7.36 9.5 4.30 5.6 7.42 9.6 

Service-providing

3........................ 35.83 100.0 25.47 71.1 10.36 28.9 2.74 7.6 1.17 3.3 2.67 7.4 

Trade, transportation, and utilities. .. 31.03 100.0 22.02 70.9 9.02 29.1 2.05 6.6 0.96 3.1 2.40 7.7 

Wholesale trade..................... 42.26 100.0 29.87 70.7 12.39 29.3 3.27 7.7 1.58 3.7 3.06 7.3 Retail trade........................... 21.95 100.0 16.69 76.0 5.26 24.0 1.11 5.0 0.55 2.5 1.35 6.1 Transportation and warehousing... 40.01 100.0 26.42 66.0 13.59 34.0 2.91 7.3 1.30 3.2 3.99 10.0 Utilities................................ 68.44 100.0 42.20 61.7 26.25 38.3 6.06 8.9 2.25 3.3 6.44 9.4 

Information.............................. 57.53 100.0 38.16 66.3 19.36 33.7 5.37 9.3 2.86 5.0 4.95 8.6 Financial activities..................... 52.58 100.0 35.42 67.4 17.15 32.6 4.60 8.8 3.08 5.9 4.45 8.5 

Financial and insurance............ 58.76 100.0 39.21 66.7 19.54 33.3 5.28 9.0 3.74 6.4 4.92 8.4 

Credit intermediation and

related activities................ 51.29 100.0 34.02 66.3 17.27 33.7 4.76 9.3 2.87 5.6 4.73 9.2 

Insurance carriers and related

activities......................... 52.19 100.0 34.53 66.2 17.66 33.8 4.66 8.9 2.85 5.5 4.77 9.1 

Real estate and rental and

leasing............................. 32.38 100.0 23.03 71.1 9.35 28.9 2.39 7.4 0.91 2.8 2.89 8.9 

Professional and business

services............................... 44.96 100.0 32.29 71.8 12.68 28.2 3.67 8.2 1.60 3.5 2.90 6.5 

See footnotes at end of table.

- 7 -
Table 4. Employer Costs for Employee Compensation for private industry workers by occupational and industry group — 

[Mar. 2021]

Series

Total

compensation

1

Wages and

salaries Total benefits Paid leave Supplemental pay Insurance 

Cost ($) Percent Cost ($) Percent Cost ($) Percent Cost ($) Percent Cost ($) Percent Cost ($) Percent 

Professional and technical

services............................ 59.05 100.0 42.10 71.3 16.95 28.7 5.29 9.0 2.03 3.4 3.85 6.5 

Administrative and waste

services............................ 24.13 100.0 18.39 76.2 5.74 23.8 1.18 4.9 0.64 2.7 1.40 5.8 

Education and health services....... 37.82 100.0 26.63 70.4 11.19 29.6 3.25 8.6 0.84 2.2 3.18 8.4 

Educational services................ 49.57 100.0 35.75 72.1 13.82 27.9 3.87 7.8 0.33 0.7 4.00 8.1 

Junior colleges, colleges,

universities and professionalschools.......................... 61.64 100.0 42.96 69.7 18.68 30.3 5.52 9.0 0.45 0.7 5.53 9.0 

Health care and social

assistance......................... 36.17 100.0 25.35 70.1 10.82 29.9 3.16 8.7 0.91 2.5 3.07 8.5 

Leisure and hospitality................ 15.97 100.0 12.88 80.6 3.10 19.4 0.47 2.9 0.22 1.4 0.68 4.3 

Accommodation and food

services............................ 15.27 100.0 12.32 80.7 2.95 19.3 0.40 2.6 0.22 1.4 0.66 4.3 

Other services.......................... 29.72 100.0 22.10 74.4 7.62 25.6 1.87 6.3 0.49 1.7 1.79 6.0 

1 Includes costs for wages and salaries and benefits.2 Includes mining, construction, and manufacturing. The agriculture, forestry, farming, and hunting sector is excluded.3 Includes utilities; wholesale trade; retail trade; transportation and warehousing; information; finance and insurance; real estate and rental and leasing; professio

management of companies and enterprises; administrative and waste services; educational services; health care and social assistance; arts, entertainment and services; and other services, except public administration.

- 8 -
Table 5. Employer Costs for Employee Compensation for private industry workers by bargaining and work status

[Mar. 2021]

Series

Total

compensation

1

Wages and

salaries Total benefits Paid leave Supplemental pay Insurance 

Cost ($) Percent Cost ($) Percent Cost ($) Percent Cost ($) Percent Cost ($) Percent Cost ($) Percent 

Union

All workers................................. 50.73 100.0 30.24 59.6 20.49 40.4 3.63 7.1 1.88 3.7 6.91 13.6 Goods-producing

2........................ 53.13 100.0 30.51 57.4 22.61 42.6 2.92 5.5 2.49 4.7 7.51 14.1 

Service-providing

3........................ 49.63 100.0 30.11 60.7 19.52 39.3 3.95 8.0 1.60 3.2 6.64 13.4 

Nonunion

All workers................................. 35.46 100.0 25.43 71.7 10.03 28.3 2.65 7.5 1.22 3.4 2.49 7.0 Goods-producing

2........................ 38.50 100.0 26.91 69.9 11.59 30.1 2.59 6.7 1.65 4.3 2.98 7.7 

Service-providing

3........................ 34.90 100.0 25.16 72.1 9.74 27.9 2.66 7.6 1.14 3.3 2.40 6.9 

Full-time

All workers................................. 42.52 100.0 29.37 69.1 13.15 30.9 3.40 8.0 1.59 3.7 3.52 8.3 

Occupational group

Management, professional and

related................................ 64.81 100.0 44.71 69.0 20.10 31.0 6.18 9.5 2.50 3.9 4.77 7.4 Management, business, and

financial............................ 73.52 100.0 50.82 69.1 22.70 30.9 7.19 9.8 3.41 4.6 4.82 6.6 

Professional and related........... 59.03 100.0 40.66 68.9 18.37 31.1 5.51 9.3 1.90 3.2 4.73 8.0 

Sales and office........................ 33.02 100.0 23.31 70.6 9.71 29.4 2.39 7.2 1.05 3.2 3.03 9.2 

Sales and related................... 38.82 100.0 28.90 74.4 9.92 25.6 2.60 6.7 1.33 3.4 2.42 6.2 Office and administrative

support............................. 30.02 100.0 20.42 68.0 9.60 32.0 2.29 7.6 0.90 3.0 3.34 11.1 

Service.................................. 21.96 100.0 15.91 72.4 6.05 27.6 1.26 5.7 0.60 2.8 1.91 8.7 Natural resources, construction, and

maintenance......................... 39.24 100.0 26.59 67.8 12.65 32.2 2.14 5.4 1.48 3.8 3.26 8.3 Construction, extraction, farming,

fishing, and forestry.............. 39.99 100.0 26.81 67.0 13.18 33.0 1.69 4.2 1.54 3.9 3.30 8.3 

Installation, maintenance, and

repair............................... 38.41 100.0 26.35 68.6 12.07 31.4 2.63 6.8 1.41 3.7 3.22 8.4 

Production, transportation, and

material moving..................... 32.25 100.0 21.39 66.3 10.86 33.7 2.10 6.5 1.47 4.6 3.34 10.4 Production............................ 30.02 100.0 19.92 66.4 10.10 33.6 1.89 6.3 1.53 5.1 3.30 11.0 Transportation and material

moving............................. 34.81 100.0 23.08 66.3 11.73 33.7 2.35 6.7 1.40 4.0 3.39 9.7 

Industry group

Goods-producing

2..................... 41.08 100.0 27.69 67.4 13.39 32.6 2.70 6.6 1.80 4.4 3.71 9.0 

Construction......................... 41.38 100.0 28.76 69.5 12.63 30.5 1.92 4.6 1.50 3.6 3.17 7.7 Manufacturing....................... 40.84 100.0 27.08 66.3 13.76 33.7 3.13 7.7 1.93 4.7 4.01 9.8 

Service-providing

3..................... 42.93 100.0 29.84 69.5 13.09 30.5 3.60 8.4 1.53 3.6 3.47 8.1 

Trade, transportation, and

utilities.............................. 37.78 100.0 26.15 69.2 11.63 30.8 2.83 7.5 1.28 3.4 3.13 8.3 

Information........................... 62.80 100.0 41.41 65.9 21.39 34.1 5.89 9.4 3.23 5.1 5.50 8.8 Financial activities................... 54.69 100.0 36.68 67.1 18.01 32.9 4.86 8.9 3.26 6.0 4.67 8.5 Professional and business

services............................ 49.43 100.0 35.15 71.1 14.28 28.9 4.22 8.5 1.81 3.7 3.33 6.7 

Education and health services. . .. 40.81 100.0 28.14 69.0 12.67 31.0 3.74 9.2 0.91 2.2 3.81 9.3 

See footnotes at end of table.

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Table 5. Employer Costs for Employee Compensation for private industry workers by bargaining and work status — Co

[Mar. 2021]

Series

Total

compensation

1

Wages and

salaries Total benefits Paid leave Supplemental pay Insurance 

Cost ($) Percent Cost ($) Percent Cost ($) Percent Cost ($) Percent Cost ($) Percent Cost ($) Percent 

Leisure and hospitality.............. 21.81 100.0 16.55 75.9 5.25 24.1 1.09 5.0 0.46 2.1 1.46 6.7 Other services....................... 34.65 100.0 24.90 71.8 9.76 28.2 2.54 7.3 0.63 1.8 2.47 7.1 

Part-time

All workers................................. 19.27 100.0 15.29 79.3 3.99 20.7 0.71 3.7 0.33 1.7 0.78 4.1 

Occupational group

Management, professional and

related................................ 41.22 100.0 31.40 76.2 9.82 23.8 2.88 7.0 0.84 2.0 1.78 4.3 Professional and related........... 41.25 100.0 31.33 75.9 9.92 24.1 2.94 7.1 0.84 2.0 1.79 4.3 

Sales and office........................ 17.18 100.0 13.76 80.1 3.41 19.9 0.52 3.0 0.27 1.6 0.83 4.8 

Sales and related................... 15.40 100.0 12.78 82.9 2.63 17.1 0.33 2.1 0.25 1.6 0.45 2.9 Office and administrative

support............................. 20.09 100.0 15.38 76.6 4.71 23.4 0.84 4.2 0.31 1.6 1.46 7.2 

Service.................................. 14.65 100.0 12.10 82.6 2.54 17.4 0.32 2.2 0.18 1.2 0.40 2.7 Production, transportation, and

material moving..................... 20.58 100.0 15.33 74.5 5.25 25.5 0.57 2.8 0.58 2.8 1.25 6.1 Transportation and material

moving............................. 21.74 100.0 15.89 73.1 5.85 26.9 0.62 2.8 0.66 3.0 1.46 6.7 

Industry group

Service-providing

3..................... 19.15 100.0 15.21 79.4 3.95 20.6 0.71 3.7 0.33 1.7 0.78 4.1 

Trade, transportation, and

utilities.............................. 17.99 100.0 14.03 78.0 3.96 22.0 0.52 2.9 0.34 1.9 0.99 5.5 

Professional and business

services............................ 20.76 100.0 16.80 80.9 3.96 19.1 0.69 3.3 0.42 2.0 0.58 2.8 

Education and health services. . .. 29.12 100.0 22.23 76.3 6.89 23.7 1.84 6.3 0.62 2.1 1.35 4.6 Leisure and hospitality.............. 13.06 100.0 11.04 84.6 2.02 15.4 0.15 1.2 0.09 0.7 0.29 2.2 

1 Includes costs for wages and salaries and benefits.2 Includes mining, construction, and manufacturing. The agriculture, forestry, farming, and hunting sector is excluded.3 Includes utilities; wholesale trade; retail trade; transportation and warehousing; information; finance and insurance; real estate and rental and leasing; professio

management of companies and enterprises; administrative and waste services; educational services; health care and social assistance; arts, entertainment and services; and other services, except public administration.

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Table 6. Employer Costs for Employee Compensation for private industry workers by establishment size and industry g

[Mar. 2021]

Series

Total

compensation

1

Wages and

salaries Total benefits Paid leave Supplemental pay Insurance 

Cost ($) Percent Cost ($) Percent Cost ($) Percent Cost ($) Percent Cost ($) Percent Cost ($) Percent 

All workers

1-99 workers................................. 30.30 100.0 22.45 74.1 7.85 25.9 1.90 6.3 0.75 2.5 1.97 6.5 

1-49 workers.............................. 29.26 100.0 21.94 75.0 7.33 25.0 1.78 6.1 0.70 2.4 1.78 6.1 50-99 workers............................. 34.20 100.0 24.37 71.3 9.83 28.7 2.38 7.0 0.98 2.9 2.69 7.9 

100 workers or more........................ 44.90 100.0 30.18 67.2 14.72 32.8 3.79 8.4 1.94 4.3 3.95 8.8 

100-499 workers.......................... 37.68 100.0 26.23 69.6 11.45 30.4 2.89 7.7 1.33 3.5 3.15 8.4 500 workers or more..................... 54.43 100.0 35.40 65.0 19.04 35.0 4.97 9.1 2.75 5.1 5.01 9.2 

Goods-producing

2

1-99 workers.............................. 34.95 100.0 24.79 70.9 10.16 29.1 1.80 5.1 1.22 3.5 2.62 7.5 

1-49 workers............................ 33.04 100.0 23.82 72.1 9.21 27.9 1.62 4.9 1.06 3.2 2.28 6.9 50-99 workers.......................... 40.15 100.0 27.43 68.3 12.72 31.7 2.28 5.7 1.66 4.1 3.57 8.9 

100 workers or more..................... 45.93 100.0 29.92 65.1 16.01 34.9 3.44 7.5 2.29 5.0 4.57 10.0 

100-499 workers....................... 42.05 100.0 27.87 66.3 14.18 33.7 2.89 6.9 1.92 4.6 4.10 9.7 500 workers or more.................. 51.89 100.0 33.07 63.7 18.81 36.3 4.27 8.2 2.84 5.5 5.30 10.2 

Service-providing

3

1-99 workers.............................. 29.51 100.0 22.05 74.7 7.46 25.3 1.92 6.5 0.68 2.3 1.86 6.3 

1-49 workers............................ 28.68 100.0 21.64 75.5 7.03 24.5 1.80 6.3 0.64 2.2 1.70 5.9 50-99 workers.......................... 32.84 100.0 23.67 72.1 9.17 27.9 2.40 7.3 0.82 2.5 2.49 7.6 

100 workers or more..................... 44.64 100.0 30.24 67.7 14.40 32.3 3.87 8.7 1.86 4.2 3.80 8.5 

100-499 workers....................... 36.50 100.0 25.79 70.6 10.72 29.4 2.89 7.9 1.17 3.2 2.89 7.9 500 workers or more.................. 55.00 100.0 35.92 65.3 19.09 34.7 5.12 9.3 2.73 5.0 4.95 9.0 

1 Includes costs for wages and salaries and benefits.2 Includes mining, construction, and manufacturing. The agriculture, forestry, farming, and hunting sector is excluded.3 Includes utilities; wholesale trade; retail trade; transportation and warehousing; information; finance and insurance; real estate and rental and leasing; professio

management of companies and enterprises; administrative and waste services; educational services; health care and social assistance; arts, entertainment and services; and other services, except public administration.

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Table 7. Employer Costs for Employee Compensation for private industry workers by census region and division

[Mar. 2021]

Area

1

Total

compensation

2

Wages and

salaries Total benefits Paid leave Supplemental pay Insurance 

Cost ($) Percent Cost ($) Percent Cost ($) Percent Cost ($) Percent Cost ($) Percent Cost ($) Percent 

Northeast..................................... 41.17 100.0 28.36 68.9 12.80 31.1 3.23 7.8 1.50 3.6 3.35 8.1 

New England.............................. 41.04 100.0 28.57 69.6 12.46 30.4 3.32 8.1 1.26 3.1 3.26 7.9 Middle Atlantic............................ 41.22 100.0 28.29 68.6 12.93 31.4 3.19 7.7 1.59 3.9 3.38 8.2 

South......................................... 32.69 100.0 23.68 72.4 9.01 27.6 2.36 7.2 1.09 3.3 2.19 6.7 

South Atlantic............................. 34.23 100.0 24.73 72.3 9.50 27.7 2.56 7.5 1.06 3.1 2.29 6.7 East South Central....................... 29.79 100.0 21.59 72.5 8.20 27.5 2.09 7.0 0.87 2.9 2.17 7.3 West South Central...................... 31.35 100.0 22.82 72.8 8.53 27.2 2.13 6.8 1.25 4.0 2.01 6.4 

Midwest....................................... 35.10 100.0 24.24 69.0 10.86 31.0 2.51 7.1 1.34 3.8 3.08 8.8 

East North Central........................ 36.02 100.0 24.83 68.9 11.20 31.1 2.56 7.1 1.44 4.0 3.09 8.6 West North Central....................... 33.20 100.0 23.02 69.3 10.18 30.7 2.40 7.2 1.14 3.4 3.07 9.2 

West.......................................... 40.60 100.0 28.59 70.4 12.01 29.6 3.09 7.6 1.29 3.2 3.14 7.7 

Mountain................................... 33.99 100.0 23.75 69.9 10.24 30.1 2.40 7.1 1.31 3.9 2.85 8.4 Pacific...................................... 43.30 100.0 30.57 70.6 12.73 29.4 3.37 7.8 1.28 3.0 3.25 7.5 

1 The census divisions are defined as follows: New England: Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island and Vermont; Middle Atlantic: N

Pennsylvania; South Atlantic: Delaware, District of Columbia, Florida, Georgia, Maryland, North Carolina, South Carolina, Virginia, and West Virginia; East SoutMississippi, and Tennessee; West South Central: Arkansas, Louisiana, Oklahoma, and Texas; East North Central: Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Ohio, and WisconMinnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, and South Dakota; Mountain: Arizona, Colorado, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, Utah, and Wyoming; anOregon, and Washington.

2 Includes costs for wages and salaries and benefits.

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Table 8. Employer Costs for Employee Compensation for private industry workers by metropolitan areas

[Mar. 2021]

Area

1 Total compensation

2 Wages and salaries 

Cost ($) Percent Cost ($) Percent 

Northeast Region

Boston-Worcester-Providence, MA-RI-NH-CT CSA................................. 43.70 100.0 30.27 69.3 

New York-Newark, NY-NJ-CT-PA CSA............................................... 47.40 100.0 32.26 68.1 

Philadelphia-Reading-Camden, PA-NJ-DE-MD CSA................................ 35.70 100.0 25.24 70.7 

South Region

Atlanta-Athens-Clarke County-Sandy Springs, GA CSA............................ 35.93 100.0 25.50 71.0 

Dallas-Fort Worth, TX-OK CSA........................................................ 32.66 100.0 23.03 70.5 

Houston-The Woodlands, TX CSA.................................................... 39.50 100.0 28.53 72.2 

Miami-Fort Lauderdale-Port St. Lucie, FL CSA...................................... 31.34 100.0 23.32 74.4 

Washington-Baltimore-Arlington, DC-MD-VA-WV-PA CSA......................... 46.32 100.0 33.10 71.5 

Midwest Region

Chicago-Naperville, IL-IN-WI CSA..................................................... 42.73 100.0 29.32 68.6 

Detroit-Warren-Ann Arbor, MI CSA.................................................... 40.54 100.0 27.20 67.1 

Minneapolis-St. Paul, MN-WI CSA.................................................... 38.45 100.0 26.69 69.4 

West Region

Los Angeles-Long Beach, CA CSA................................................... 40.05 100.0 28.16 70.3 

Phoenix-Mesa-Scottsdale, AZ MSA................................................... 33.51 100.0 23.25 69.4 

San Jose-San Francisco-Oakland, CA CSA......................................... 55.47 100.0 38.67 69.7 

Seattle-Tacoma, WA CSA.............................................................. 47.05 100.0 33.15 70.5 

1 These areas include Consolidated Statistical Areas (CSAs) and Metropolitan Statistical Areas (MSAs). Beginning with the March 2019 release, area definitions 

and Budget Bulletin No. 13-01, dated February 28, 2013. Previous area definitions are based on Office of Management and Budget Bulletin No. 04-03, dated Fon metropolitan area definitions, see www.census.gov/programs-surveys/metro-micro.html.

2 Includes costs for wages and salaries and benefits.

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