What you'll get from this guide
- Your true labor cost per hour is 25–40% higher than the base wage after payroll taxes, insurance, and benefits.
- A $16/hr cleaner really costs $20–$22/hr once you add payroll burden.
- Drive time is unpaid labor — include it in your cost-per-job calculation.
- Use this calculator to see your actual cost per cleaner per job.
Labor Cost Calculator
Enter wage and job details to see your true cost per cleaner.
True Cost per Job
$123
Burdened Hourly Rate$20.48
Total Crew Cost / Job$123
Drive Time Cost$20
Labor Cost / Sq Ft$0.06
見積もりは計画目的のみです。実際の価格は現場条件によります。
Why Your Labor Cost Is Higher Than You Think
Most cleaning business owners look at their cleaner's hourly wage and think that's the cost. It is not. Once you add payroll taxes (FICA, FUTA, SUTA), workers' compensation insurance, and any benefits, the true cost per hour jumps 25–40% above the base wage.
A cleaner earning $16/hour really costs you $20–$22/hour. Multiply that by a 2-person crew on a 3-hour job with 30 minutes of drive time, and the labor cost alone is $130–$150 before supplies or overhead.
Labor Cost FAQs
How much does it really cost to employ a cleaner?▼
A cleaner earning $16/hour typically costs the business $20–$22/hour after payroll taxes, workers' comp, and basic benefits. That 25–40% payroll burden is the most commonly underestimated cost in cleaning businesses.
Should I include drive time in my labor cost?▼
Yes. Drive time is real labor cost — your crew is on the clock but not generating revenue. Include round-trip drive time in your per-job cost calculation.
What is payroll burden for cleaning businesses?▼
Payroll burden includes FICA (7.65%), federal and state unemployment taxes, workers' compensation insurance, and any benefits. For cleaning businesses, total burden is typically 25–35% above base wages.
How do I reduce labor cost per job?▼
Cluster jobs geographically to reduce drive time, improve crew efficiency through checklists and training, right-size crews for job scope, and reduce unbillable time between jobs.
What should my labor cost percentage be?▼
Labor should be 35–50% of revenue for most cleaning businesses. If labor exceeds 55% of revenue, your pricing is likely too low or your crews are not efficient enough.
Stop Guessing Labor Costs
ServiceHub tracks time per job and per crew member so you can see actual labor cost vs. quoted price on every job.