Why a payroll number and a hiring number are rarely the same thing.
Most of what CostToHireGuide publishes started as a question someone asked before making a hire: is a contractor actually cheaper, what does this role cost once benefits are added, what would losing this person cost the team. The four calculators and the guides that surround them exist to answer those questions with a number, not a guess.
The cost to hire an employee calculator adds payroll taxes, benefits, and overhead to a base salary. The contractor comparison sets that total against a 1099 rate. The freelance rate tool works backward from take-home pay to a billable rate. The turnover calculator prices what a departure actually costs a team, not just the recruiting fee.
Every calculation happens in your browser; nothing you type is transmitted or stored. The underlying formulas and figures draw on published Department of Labor and IRS guidance, referenced on the editorial standards page along with who wrote and reviewed each guide.
Results are budgeting estimates, not financial, tax, or HR advice, and actual costs shift with state, benefits plan, and employer.