Employer Costs for Employee Compensation Summary

For release 10:00 a.m. (ET) Wednesday, September 9, 2026				    USDL-26-1494

Technical information:	(202) 691-6199  *  ncsinfo@bls.gov  *  www.bls.gov/ecec
Media contact:		(202) 691-5902  *  pressoffice@bls.gov


                       EMPLOYER COSTS FOR EMPLOYEE COMPENSATION - JUNE 2026

Employer costs for employee compensation for civilian workers averaged $49.46 per hour worked in June 
2026, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. Wages and salaries averaged $33.85, while 
benefit costs averaged $15.61. (See tables 1 and 2.) 

Total employer compensation costs for private industry workers averaged $46.89 per hour worked in June 
2026. Wages and salaries averaged $32.82 and accounted for 70.0 percent of employer costs, while 
benefit costs averaged $14.07 and accounted for the remaining 30.0 percent. (See tables 1 and 4.)

Total employer compensation costs for state and local government workers averaged $66.45 per hour 
worked in June 2026. Wages and salaries averaged $40.67 and accounted for 61.2 percent of employer 
costs, while benefit costs averaged $25.78 and accounted for the remaining 38.8 percent. (See tables 1 
and 3.)

Total employer compensation costs for full-time private industry workers averaged $54.00 per hour 
worked in June 2026. Wages and salaries averaged $36.97 and accounted for 68.5 percent of employer 
costs, while benefit costs averaged $17.03 and accounted for the remaining 31.5 percent. (See table 5.)

Total employer compensation costs for part-time private industry workers averaged $25.20 per hour 
worked in June 2026. Wages and salaries averaged $20.15 and accounted for 80.0 percent of employer 
costs, while benefit costs averaged $5.05 and accounted for the remaining 20.0 percent. (See table 5.)

Compensation costs by work status in the private sector

For full-time workers, employer costs for paid leave benefits were $4.40 per hour worked and accounted 
for 8.1 percent of total compensation costs. Employer costs for legally required benefits were $3.76 
and accounted for 7.0 percent of total compensation costs. (See table 5.)

For part-time workers, employer costs for paid leave benefits were $0.90 per hour worked and accounted 
for 3.6 percent of total compensation costs. Employer costs for legally required benefits were $2.30 
and accounted for 9.1 percent of total compensation costs. (See table 5.)

For full-time workers in the leisure and hospitality industry, total employer compensation costs 
averaged $27.95 per hour worked. For part-time workers, total employer compensation costs averaged 
$17.21. (See table 5.)

The Employer Costs for Employee Compensation news release for September 2026 is scheduled to be 
published on Wednesday, December 16, 2026, at 10:00 a.m. (ET).

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Removing Workers’ Compensation Costs

Beginning with the publication of Employer Costs for Employee Compensation (ECEC) data for December 
2026, the ECEC will remove workers’ compensation costs. For more information, see 
www.bls.gov/ecec/notices/2026/removing-workers-compensation-costs.htm.
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