Crew Day Cost Calculator
Calculate the true daily cost of putting a crew on a job. Includes burdened labor (payroll tax, workers comp, benefits), vehicle, fuel, tools, and overhead. Use this to know your real break-even before you bid.
Crew on the Job
For overhead allocation
Labor Burden
FICA + FUTA + SUTA
5-25% by trade
Health, retirement, PTO
Daily Job Costs (per day, not per crew member)
Truck/van wear, insurance, payment
Blades, fasteners, depreciation
Office rent, software, marketing, owner salary, insurance — not job-site costs. We'll spread this across your billable field days.
Daily Cost Breakdown
Burdened Labor (per crew member)
| Role | Wage | Base Day | + Burden | Burdened Day |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lead | $35/hr | $280 | +$84 | $364 |
| Tech | $25/hr | $200 | +$60 | $260 |
| Helper | $18/hr | $144 | +$43 | $187 |
| Crew Total | $624 | +$187 | $811 |
Labor burden multiplier: 1.30x base wage
Burdened Labor
$811
/day
Vehicle + Fuel + Tools
$110
/day
Overhead Allocation
$222
/day
Total Daily Cost
$1143
break-even
Break-Even Crew Hourly Rate
$48/hr
(across 24crew hours — never bid below this)
Day-Rate Bid Reference
What to charge for the day at common contractor margins:
30% margin
$1,633
40% margin
$1,906
50% margin
$2,287
How to Use This Calculator
Add each crew member with their base wage, then dial in burden percentages: payroll tax (8–10%), workers comp (5–25% depending on trade), and benefits (0–15%). Add vehicle, fuel, tool, and overhead allocation. The result is your true break-even day rate — the minimum you can bid without losing money.
Formula Used
Burdened Labor = Wage × Hours × (1 + Payroll Tax% + Workers Comp% + Benefits%). Daily Cost = Total Burdened Labor + Vehicle + Fuel + Tools + (Monthly Overhead / Billable Days). Break-Even Hourly = Daily Cost / (Crew Size × Hours).
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Disclaimer
This calculator is for estimation purposes only. Results may vary based on local conditions, materials, and building codes. Always consult a licensed professional before making decisions based on these calculations. MyContractorTools is not responsible for any errors or omissions.