Beyond the ordinary

The true cost of hiring and maintaining an in-house team is significantly higher than the base salary, often ranging from 1.25x to 1.4x of that salary once benefits and taxes are included. For a property maintenance technician earning an average of $43,674 annually, the total cost to your company could reach $61,000 or more per year.

Direct Burden: Beyond the Base Salary

These are the visible expenses that appear on your payroll and balance sheet.

  • Benefits & Insurance: Health insurance, retirement matching, and paid leave typically add 30% to 40% to the base salary.

  • Payroll Taxes: Employers are responsible for the employer share of FICA (7.65%), plus state and federal unemployment taxes.

  • Workers' Compensation: In higher-risk maintenance roles, workers' comp rates can vary significantly, adding a necessary but high cost to your payroll.

The "Hidden" Maintenance Costs

In-house teams require infrastructure and management that outsourced vendors provide for free.

  • Equipment & Tools: You must provide vehicles, painting supplies, specialized drywall tools, and safety gear, which can cost $3,000–$6,000 per person annually.

  • Idle Time & Scalability: You pay a full-time salary even during slow months. Outsourcing allows you to pay only for the work performed, offering 20–30% lower overall costs.

  • Administrative Oversight: Managing an internal team takes time from HR and payroll staff for scheduling, performance reviews, and compliance, costing roughly $2,500 per employee each year.

The "Budget Crater": Turnover & Training

Losing even one technician can be a major financial blow to your operations.

  • Replacement Costs: Replacing a technical staff member costs between 50% and 200% of their annual salary in recruiting and training.

  • Onboarding & Training: New hires often take months to reach full productivity, and ongoing training to stay compliant with safety laws averages over $800 per employee annually.

  • Vacancy Gaps: When an in-house person is sick or leaves, you have a single point of failure, leading to delayed turnovers and lost rental income.