Continue your plan
Useful next calculations
Rates & sources2026/27
Illustrative employer cost using the Category A employer National Insurance rate and secondary threshold for 2026/27. It does not model Employment Allowance, category-specific reliefs, benefits or payroll timing.
| Band / figure | Rate |
|---|---|
| Employer NI rate | 15% |
| Secondary threshold | £5,000 a year |
| Employment Allowance | not modelled |
Source: HMRC — 2026/27 employer rates and thresholds — source checked for 2026/27.
When to use this calculator
- Before pricing a job, setting margin targets or reviewing hiring costs.
- When you want to test sensitivity around volume, tax, markup or overheads.
- When you need a practical estimate before committing to a budget or proposal.
- When you are modelling break-even volume as costs or prices change.
A realistic UK planning example
Use these sample inputs as a quick scenario test, then change one variable at a time to compare outcomes.
| Input | Value |
|---|---|
| Annual Salary (£) | £35,000 |
| Employer NI Rate (%) | 5% |
| Employer Pension (%) | 3 |
| Other Annual Benefits (£) | 500 |
After entering these figures, review employer ni, pension and total cost together rather than in isolation. Then rerun the tool with one input adjusted.
How to read your results
Employer NI
The figure produced by this output for the inputs you entered. Change one variable at a time if you want to see what drives it.
Pension
The figure produced by this output for the inputs you entered. Change one variable at a time if you want to see what drives it.
Total Cost
The headline outcome of this calculation. It is most useful when read alongside the supporting metrics rather than in isolation.
On-Cost
The figure produced by this output for the inputs you entered. Change one variable at a time if you want to see what drives it.
Method & assumptionsAuthoritative sources
This calculator estimates the annual cost of employing one member of staff using the salary, employer National Insurance rate, pension percentage and other benefits you enter. Its employer NI estimate applies the entered rate to salary above the £5,000 annual Secondary Threshold used for 2026/27. The pension line applies your entered percentage to the full salary, so it is a planning assumption rather than an automatic-enrolment compliance calculation.
The result does not apply Employment Allowance, NI category-letter exceptions, qualifying-earnings pension bands, recruitment costs, equipment or other payroll adjustments. Check your payroll setup and the current GOV.UK employer rates before making a hiring or budget decision.
Common mistakes
- !Using optimistic assumptions without testing a more cautious scenario.
- !Using revenue in place of gross profit when calculating margin.
- !Treating the result as a final quote instead of a planning estimate.
- !Forgetting employer on-costs when modelling the true cost of a hire.
What to do next
- Try at least one more scenario so you can compare a realistic range.
- Use the related calculators below to cross-check the decision from another angle.
- Write down the key outputs from your best scenarios before you decide.
- If the result surprises you, change one input at a time to isolate the driver.
Frequently asked
Use arrow keys to navigate items, Enter or Space to expand/collapse.