Dated input and source
| Input | Value | Official source |
|---|---|---|
| USD per hour (statewide median wage) | $36.38 statewide median wage | Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), 2025-05 |
| Benefits-to-wages proxy | 45.849% | BLS ECEC, 2026-06 |
| Calculator result shown below | $53.06 loaded-hour planning proxy | Serman Tools calculation using the stated official and illustrative inputs |
Source note: OEWS value is the statewide cross-industry median wage and excludes self-employed workers. The loaded value is a planning proxy derived from the national ECEC installation, maintenance, and repair occupations compensation mix; it is not a state-specific benefit rate or a statutory payroll rate. Paid-leave fields are zeroed to avoid counting ECEC paid-leave costs twice.
Accessed: 2026-09-20. Refresh: Refresh OEWS annually and the ECEC benchmark quarterly; retain the dated snapshot on the page.
Worked example
Start with the dated official input of $36.38 statewide median wage. With the editable illustrative assumptions preloaded below, the calculator returns $53.06 loaded-hour planning proxy. Replace every nonofficial assumption with verified business records before using the result in a quote or operating plan.
What is official and what is illustrative?
The $36.38 wage is an official statewide OEWS median. The $53.06 loaded figure is a planning proxy made by applying a national occupational-group ECEC compensation mix; it is not an official state benefit rate.
Related guide and workbook
Read the related Serman Tools guide for the calculation method and its limits. Contractor Profit Toolkit keeps the related model in a downloadable workbook.
Questions about this data page
Is the displayed figure a quote or market rate?
No. It is a dated official input used in a transparent planning calculation, not a selling-price recommendation.
Why can the result differ from my actual cost?
Your payroll, benefits, fuel economy, utilization, fixed costs and purchasing conditions can differ materially from the published benchmark.
When should this page be refreshed?
Refresh OEWS annually and the ECEC benchmark quarterly; retain the dated snapshot on the page.
Can I change every calculator input?
Yes. The dated official value is preloaded, but every field remains editable in the browser.
Which official input is preloaded?
$36.38 per hour, the 2025-05 BLS OEWS statewide median wage for Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers in Washington.
How is the planning result calculated?
The page applies the stated BLS ECEC compensation mix to the $36.38 OEWS wage, producing a $53.06 loaded-hour proxy. It is not an official state benefit rate.