Temp vs Full-Time Cost Calculator

Temporary staffing allows you to hire workers for a defined period through a staffing arrangement, while a full-time employee is directly employed by your organization. The total cost of each option can vary based on wages, staffing markup, benefits, onboarding, and the length of the assignment.

Staffing markup represents the additional amount charged above the temporary worker's pay rate. It can account for staffing agency services, recruiting, payroll administration, insurance, compliance, and other operational costs.

The calculator multiplies the temporary worker's pay rate plus the staffing markup by the total number of hours in the selected period. Total hours are calculated using the assignment duration and hours worked per week.

The full-time estimate uses a fully-loaded hourly employment cost that accounts for salary and estimated employment-related expenses. The calculator also adds the estimated onboarding cost for the selected period.

The breakeven point estimates how many weeks it takes for the ongoing cost difference between temporary staffing and a full-time employee to recover the initial onboarding investment.

Temporary staffing can be useful when you need workforce flexibility, have a short-term project, need to respond quickly to changing demand, or want to evaluate staffing needs before making a permanent hiring decision.

This calculator provides an estimate for planning purposes. Actual staffing costs can vary based on role, location, staffing provider, payroll requirements, benefits, insurance, and assignment terms.