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Construction Companies: How to Calculate Your Payroll Costs (2026)
Managing payroll for construction companies is more complex than most business owners realize before they hire someone to do it. Between prevailing wage compliance, certified payroll, and state compliance requirements that change annually, payroll demands consistent specialist attention.
The question is whether that attention should come from an in-house hire or an outsourced managed payroll provider. Here is the full cost comparison.
The True Cost of an In-House Payroll Hire for Construction Companies
An in-house payroll coordinator for construction companies earns $55,000-$85,000 in base salary. That is the number most owners compare against outsourcing. Here is the full picture when you add employment costs:
| In-House Cost Category | Annual Cost |
|---|---|
| Base salary (payroll/HR coordinator) | $55,000-$85,000 |
| Benefits (health, dental, 401K) ~30% | Add 30% |
| Payroll taxes (FICA, FUTA, SUTA) ~10% | Add 10% |
| Payroll software license | $1,800-$4,200 |
| Training and compliance updates | $1,200-$2,500 |
| Hiring and onboarding (amortized) | $2,000-$4,000 |
| Total loaded cost | See note below |
Total loaded annual cost typically runs $5500105K-$115K when benefits, employer taxes, software, training, and turnover cost are included. And when that person leaves, the cost resets.
BEG Managed Payroll at $25-$45 PEPM: What It Costs for Construction Companies
| Construction Companies Size | Monthly Cost | vs. In-House Hire |
|---|---|---|
| 5-person crew | $125-$225/mo | Save $53K-$83K/yr |
| 25-person GC | $625-$1,125/mo | Save $48K-$78K/yr |
| 100-person contractor | $2,500-$4,500/mo | Save $33K-$53K/yr |
All-inclusive: payroll processing, tax filing, W-2 production, prevailing wage compliance, certified payroll, and year-round compliance monitoring.
What Construction Companies Owners Miss in the Cost Calculation
Compliance exposure. Davis-Bacon certified payroll for federally funded projects, state prevailing wage, union fringe benefits, workers comp class codes. A single filing error or misclassification can cost more to correct than months of managed payroll fees.
Key person dependency. When your in-house payroll coordinator leaves, you have a payroll gap. Recruiting and onboarding a replacement takes 4-8 weeks. An outsourced provider has no single point of failure.
Software and update costs. Payroll software licenses run $1,800-$4,200 per year, not including the time required to stay current on tax table updates, new hire reporting changes, and state-specific rule modifications.
When Should Construction Companies Outsource Payroll?
For businesses under 100 employees, outsourcing almost always wins on total cost. At 25 employees paying $45 PEPM, monthly cost is $1,125 -- compared to a loaded in-house hire of $7,000-$9,000 per month. The math is clear at nearly any headcount below 100.
The strongest case for outsourcing: prevailing wage compliance, certified payroll, which require specialized knowledge most in-house generalists do not have.
Managed Payroll, Handled.
BEG manages payroll at $25-$45 per employee per month, all-inclusive. Get an instant cost comparison for your business.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can you handle certified payroll for government projects?
Yes. Certified payroll reports under Davis-Bacon and state prevailing wage laws are produced for each pay period in WH-347 format or state electronic reporting systems with fringe benefit credits documented.
How do you handle union vs. non-union employees on the same job?
Union and non-union employees are set up with separate pay rate structures and fringe benefit calculations. Union payroll includes remittance to applicable union trust funds.
Can you handle seasonal crew ramp-ups?
Yes. Bulk new hire entry processes seasonal crew in time for the first pay cycle, including new hire reporting, withholding setup, and direct deposit.
What does BEG charge for construction company payroll?
Construction payroll runs at $25-$45 per employee per month, all-inclusive. Certified payroll report production is included. For a 25-person crew, that is $625-$1,125 per month.
Related Resources
Anthony leads payroll solutions at Business Executive Group, a national managed payroll firm serving businesses across industries including Construction Companies. BEG manages payroll at $25-$45 PEPM, all-inclusive, with deep expertise in compliance, multi-state filing, and industry-specific payroll requirements. Get instant pricing at beghr.com.
Authoritative source: IRS: Independent Contractor or Employee
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