Reading an itemized cost estimate
An itemized estimate is only useful if you know how to read it. Start at wage, then walk each loaded line. Ask whether the assumption is current, whether it belongs on this role, and whether changing it would change the decision to post.
Read top to bottom
A practical reading order:
- Wage and schedule assumptions
- Payroll taxes and workers comp
- Benefits, PTO, equipment, onboarding, overhead
If a line is weak, fix the input. Do not average it away with a multiplier. The itemized view exists so each assumption can be checked.
The total is only as good as the weakest line above it.
Use full and itemized together
Full view for the shape. Itemized for the proof.
Start with the full estimate to see the loaded range. Switch to itemized when a number surprises you. That is how you find the line that needs a better assumption.
Hiring Cost includes free, full, and itemized views. Pro can save estimates if you want to compare later.
Revisit after any input change
Reading once is not enough.
Useful revisits include:
- After updating workers comp
- After changing benefits
- After adjusting overhead
- Before posting the role
These are educational comparisons from your inputs. They are not tax, legal, accounting, or financial advice.
Reading the itemized view line by line caught an onboarding cost we had been ignoring.
Keep the model live
Assumptions change. The estimate should change with them.
Read the estimate, update the weak lines, run it again. Support covers the software, not advisory work.
Open Hiring Cost when you are ready to run your own numbers.