Employer Cost Calculator
The real cost of a hire is salary plus employer taxes. See the UK figure, then compare the employer on-cost across countries.
How to use it
- Enter the gross salary. The annual salary you would pay.
- See the UK cost. Employer National Insurance plus the total cost to employ.
- Compare countries. On-cost % across the UK, Ireland, Poland and Canada (the comparable measure).
FAQs
What is employer National Insurance?
Employer Class 1 NIC, 15% on earnings above 5,000 GBP for 2026. This excludes the 10,500 GBP Employment Allowance for eligible small employers.
Why compare on-cost % rather than totals?
Each country uses its own currency, so a straight total is not comparable. The on-cost % - the employer's added cost on top of salary - is the like-for-like measure.
Does it include pension?
No - auto-enrolment or employer pension is separate and varies by scheme.