In June 2003, employer costs for employee compensation for civilian workers
in private industry and state and local government in the United States averaged
$24.19 per hour worked, the U.S. Department of Labor's Bureau of Labor Statistics
reported yesterday. Wages and salaries, which averaged $17.35, accounted for
71.7 percent of these costs, while benefits, which averaged $6.84, accounted
for the remaining 28.3 percent. For a Limited Time receive a
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Get Your Report Now!Health insurance has risen from $1.52 per hour worked and 6.6 percent of total
compensation in June 2002, to $1.69 per hour and 7.0 percent in June 2003.
Legally required benefits, including Social Security, Medicare, unemployment
insurance, and workers' compensation, averaged $1.93 per hour (8.0 percent of
total compensation), representing the largest non-wage employer cost.
Employer costs for paid-leave benefits (vacations, holidays, sick leave, and
other leave) averaged $1.63 (6.7 percent); life, health, and disability insurance
benefits averaged $1.81 (7.5 percent); and retirement and savings benefits averaged
86 cents (3.6 percent) per hour worked.
In June 2003, private industry employer compensation costs averaged $22.61
per hour worked. Wages and salaries averaged $16.31 per hour (72.1 percent),
while benefits averaged $6.30 (27.9 percent.) Health insurance has risen from
$1.31 per hour worked and 6.0 percent of total compensation in June 2002, to
$1.45 per hour and 6.4 percent in June 2003.
Employer costs for paid leave averaged $1.46 per hour worked (6.5 percent),
supplemental pay averaged 64 cents (2.8 percent), insurance benefits averaged
$1.57 (6.9 percent), retirement and savings averaged 67 cents (3.0 percent),
and legally required benefits averaged $1.93 (8.5 percent) per hour worked.