For release 10:00 a.m. (EDT) Thursday, June 18, 2020						USDL-20-1232

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 2020

Employer costs for employee compensation for civilian workers averaged $37.73 per hour worked in March 2020,
the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. Wages and salaries cost employers $25.91 while benefit 
costs were $11.82. Total compensation costs for civilian workers were $13.15 at the 10th wage percentile, 
$28.40 at the 50th (median) wage percentile, and $74.17 at the 90th wage percentile. (See tables A and 1.) 

State and local government worker compensation costs for employers averaged $52.45 per hour worked in March 
2020. Wages and salaries averaged $32.62 and accounted for 62.2 percent of employer costs, while benefit costs 
averaged $19.82 and accounted for 37.8 percent. Total compensation costs at the 50th (median) wage percentile 
were $50.06. (See tables A and 1.)
  
Total employer compensation costs for private industry workers averaged $35.34 per hour worked.
* Wages and salaries averaged $24.82 per hour worked and accounted for 70.2 percent of employer costs.
* Benefit costs averaged $10.53 per hour worked and accounted for the remaining 29.8 percent.
* Median (50th wage percentile) employer costs per employee hour worked were $26.00 for total 
  compensation, $18.05 for wages and salaries, and $7.95 for benefits. (See tables A and 1.) 

Total compensation costs for private industry workers ranged from $12.62 at the 10th wage percentile to $69.32 
at the 90th wage percentile.
* Wages and salaries were $10.32 per hour worked at the 10th wage percentile and $47.29 at the 90th wage 
  percentile.
* Total benefit costs ranged from $2.30 at the 10th wage percentile to $22.04 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.

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 2020 for private industry workers ranged from $27.42 per hour worked in the Miami-Fort Lauderdale-Port 
St. Lucie, FL CSA to $57.99 per hour worked in the San Jose-San Francisco-Oakland, CA CSA. (See table 8.)
* Wages and salaries comprised 72.0 percent of total compensation ($19.73) in Miami-Fort Lauderdale-Port 
  St. Lucie, FL and 70.4 percent ($40.84) in San Jose-San Francisco-Oakland, CA.
* Total benefits costs accounted for 28.0 percent ($7.69) in Miami-Fort Lauderdale-Port St. Lucie, FL and 
  29.6 percent ($17.15) in San Jose-San Francisco-Oakland, CA.

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| Coronavirus (COVID-19) Pandemic Impact on March 2020 ECEC Data						 |
| The Employer Cost for Employee Compensation (ECEC) reference date was March 12, 2020. 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.							 |
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