Onboarding cost by role
Industry benchmarks for US Tier 2 markets (Austin, Denver, Chicago). Assumes external recruiter. Salaries are base only.
Software Engineer
Base salary: $140.0K/yr
Mid-level SWE at a product company. Long ramp due to codebase complexity.
Total Cost
$88.1K
7.6x monthly salary
Sales Rep (AE)
Base salary: $110.0K/yr
Account Executive with quota. Ramp includes pipeline building and deal cycles.
Total Cost
$81.3K
8.9x monthly salary
VP / Executive
Base salary: $250.0K/yr
Director or VP level. High recruiter fees, long search, complex org onboarding.
Total Cost
$213.6K
10.3x monthly salary
Product Designer
Base salary: $115.0K/yr
UX/Product designer. Faster ramp due to more transferable skills.
Total Cost
$61.6K
6.4x monthly salary
Customer Support
Base salary: $65.0K/yr
Support agent or CSM. Quickest ramp; product knowledge is the main gap.
Total Cost
$34.6K
6.4x monthly salary
Marketing Manager
Base salary: $95.0K/yr
Demand gen or content marketing. Ramp includes brand and market learning.
Total Cost
$55.6K
7.0x monthly salary
Side-by-side comparison
| Role | Salary | Ramp | Total Cost | Multiplier | Hidden % |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 💻 Software Engineer | $140.0K | 6 months | $88.1K | 7.6x | 60% |
| 📞 Sales Rep (AE) | $110.0K | 9 months | $81.3K | 8.9x | 68% |
| 🏛️ VP / Executive | $250.0K | 12 months | $213.6K | 10.3x | 73% |
| 🎨 Product Designer | $115.0K | 4 months | $61.6K | 6.4x | 56% |
| 🎧 Customer Support | $65.0K | 3 months | $34.6K | 6.4x | 51% |
| 📣 Marketing Manager | $95.0K | 5 months | $55.6K | 7.0x | 59% |
Industry Benchmark
SHRM research estimates the average cost to hire is $4,700 per new employee — but that only covers direct HR costs. When you include productivity loss and manager time, the true figure is typically 50–200% of annual salary depending on role complexity.