For release 10:00 a.m. (ET) Thursday, June 16, 2022 USDL-22-1176
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 2022
Employer costs for employee compensation for civilian workers averaged $40.90 per hour worked in
March 2022, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. Wages and salaries cost employers
$28.16 and accounted for 68.8 percent of total compensation, while benefits cost $12.74 and accounted
for the remaining 31.2 percent. Total compensation costs for civilian workers were $15.60 at the 10th
wage percentile, $31.39 at the 50th (median) wage percentile, and $78.58 at the 90th wage percentile.
(See tables A and 1.)
Total employer compensation costs for private industry workers averaged $38.61 per hour worked in
March 2022. Wage and salary costs averaged $27.19 and accounted for 70.4 percent of employer costs,
while benefit costs were $11.42 and accounted for 29.6 percent. Total compensation costs for private
industry workers were $14.97 at the 10th wage percentile, $28.60 at the 50th (median) wage percentile,
and $74.46 at the 90th wage percentile. (See tables A, 1, and 4.)
State and local government employer costs averaged $55.47 per hour worked in March 2022. Wages and
salaries averaged $34.32 per hour worked and represented 61.9 percent of total compensation costs, while
benefit costs averaged $21.15 and accounted for the remaining 38.1 percent. Total compensation costs
for state and local government workers were $24.05 at the 10th wage percentile, $52.13 at the 50th
(median) wage percentile, and $93.14 at the 90th wage percentile. (See tables A, 1, and 3.)
In March 2022, inflation-adjusted (constant dollar) private wages and salaries were $12.23 at the 10th
wage percentile, $20.12 at the 50th (median) wage percentile, and $50.61 at the 90th wage percentile.
In March 2013, inflation-adjusted (constant dollar) private wages and salaries were $10.11 at the 10th
wage percentile, $19.01 at the 50th (median) wage percentile, and $47.96 at the 90th wage percentile.
(See table A.)
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 percentiles
[Mar. 2022]
| Compensation component |
Civilian workers |
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 |
15.60 |
31.39 |
78.58 |
14.97 |
28.60 |
74.46 |
24.05 |
52.13 |
93.14 |
Wages and salaries |
12.48 |
21.11 |
52.18 |
12.23 |
20.12 |
50.61 |
14.94 |
30.75 |
58.67 |
Total benefits |
3.12 |
10.28 |
26.39 |
2.74 |
8.48 |
23.86 |
9.11 |
21.37 |
34.47 |
Paid leave |
0.46 |
2.20 |
6.40 |
0.39 |
1.78 |
6.45 |
1.42 |
4.61 |
6.51 |
Supplemental pay |
0.24 |
0.94 |
2.18 |
0.23 |
0.93 |
2.61 |
0.23 |
0.72 |
0.73 |
Insurance |
0.81 |
3.43 |
6.67 |
0.64 |
2.71 |
5.72 |
3.87 |
6.47 |
9.36 |
Health insurance |
0.79 |
3.29 |
6.30 |
0.62 |
2.59 |
5.33 |
3.81 |
6.30 |
9.08 |
Retirement and savings |
0.18 |
1.24 |
6.05 |
0.07 |
0.67 |
3.90 |
1.94 |
6.48 |
13.38 |
Legally required benefits |
1.43 |
2.48 |
5.09 |
1.40 |
2.40 |
5.18 |
1.65 |
3.09 |
4.49 |
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 2022 for private industry workers ranged from $31.35 per hour worked in the
Miami-Fort Lauderdale-Port St. Lucie, FL CSA to $60.65 in the San Jose-San Francisco-Oakland, CA CSA.
(See table 8.)
Employer Costs for Employee Compensation for June 2022 is scheduled to be released on Tuesday,
September 20, 2022, at 10:00 a.m. (ET).
United States Department of Labor
