Cost Per Hire Calculator
Cost per hire (CPH) is a key talent acquisition metric defined by SHRM and ANSI as the total of all recruiting costs divided by the number of hires in a given period. The national average cost per hire is approximately $4,700 according to SHRM, but this varies significantly by industry, role level, and geography. Executive and technical roles can exceed $15,000–$30,000 per hire when recruiter fees and relocation are included.
Calculate Cost Per Hire
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Cost Per Hire
CPH calculation follows the SHRM/ANSI standard (total recruiting costs ÷ number of hires). Internal staff time is valued at loaded cost rate.
Cost Per Hire Benchmarks
| Role Level | Typical CPH | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Entry-Level | $1,500 – $3,500 | Job boards, minimal screening |
| Professional | $4,000 – $8,000 | Multiple interviews, skills assessments |
| Senior / Technical | $8,000 – $20,000 | Recruiter fees, extensive vetting |
| Executive | $20,000 – $50,000+ | Executive search firms (20–33% of salary) |
References & Methodology
- U.S. Department of Labor (DOL), "Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) Advisor," dol.gov. — Federal minimum wage, overtime rules, and exempt vs. non-exempt classification criteria.
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), "Employer Costs for Employee Compensation (ECEC)," 2023. — Average benefit costs as a percentage of total compensation (approximately 30–32%).
- Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM), "Benchmarking Reports," shrm.org. — Turnover cost estimates, time-to-fill metrics, and cost-per-hire benchmarks.
- Internal Revenue Service (IRS), "Publication 15 (Circular E): Employer's Tax Guide," 2024. — Payroll tax rates (FICA, FUTA) and withholding calculation methodology.