Calculator
Start from the example or replace it. Rows without a rate are left out of the total and flagged.
The example, worked out
| Role | Hours | Rate | Wages |
|---|---|---|---|
| Opener | 32 | $18.50 | $592.00 |
| Barista | 28 | $17.00 | $476.00 |
| Weekend | 12 | $16.25 | $195.00 |
| Total | 72 | $17.54 average | $1,263.00 |
The average is the total divided by hours worked: $1,263.00 ÷ 72 = $17.54. If you add a 12% estimate for employer costs, that's $151.56 more, $1,414.56 in all. The 12% is an example, not a benchmark.
What's in the number
- Included: hours × hourly rate for each row.
- Not included unless you add your own percentage: payroll taxes, insurance, benefits, paid time off.
- Not included at all: overtime premiums, tips, bonuses, and anything you pay that isn't hourly.
Using it on a schedule
Before the week: add up each person's scheduled hours and run them through the calculator. After the week: do the same with the hours actually worked and compare. The scheduled vs actual labor cost worksheet splits the difference into its causes. To check that the hours you're paying for land at the right times of day, use the staffing coverage calculator. To compare labor with sales, use the sales per labor hour calculator.