IT support cost calculator
Calculate the true cost of in-house IT support — salaries, benefits, tools, training, and the hidden cost of downtime. Regional benchmarks included.
The true cost of in-house IT support goes well beyond salaries. For a US-based team, total cost per IT staff member is roughly $120,000–$140,000/year when you include 30% benefits overhead, $3,600/year in tools and licensing, and $2,500/year in training and certifications. Add unplanned downtime — at $5,000+/hour for mid-market businesses — and the real annual cost per IT employee can exceed $150,000.
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Frequently Asked Questions
How much does in-house IT support cost per employee?+
The industry average is $1,200–$2,400 per employee per year for in-house IT support, depending on IT-to-employee ratio, region, and complexity. This includes IT staff salaries, benefits, tools, training, and a share of downtime costs. Companies with a 1:50 IT ratio typically land at the lower end; those with 1:25 or below trend higher.
What is a good IT-to-employee ratio?+
The standard benchmark is 1 IT staff member per 50–70 employees for general office environments. Organizations with complex infrastructure, compliance requirements, or 24/7 operations often need 1:25–1:40. Highly automated environments with mature tooling can stretch to 1:100+.
What hidden costs does in-house IT have beyond salaries?+
The biggest hidden costs are benefits overhead (30% of salary), tools and licensing ($3,600/staff/year for RMM, ticketing, security, and backup), training and certifications ($2,500/staff/year), and unplanned downtime. Downtime alone can cost $5,000–$50,000/hour depending on company size and industry.
How do IT support salaries vary by region?+
Average IT support salaries vary significantly: US ~$85,000, UK ~$55,000, Europe ~$60,000, APAC ~$45,000, and India ~$18,000. These are base salaries before benefits, overhead, and tooling costs, which add 40–50% on top.
When should a company outsource IT support vs. keeping it in-house?+
Consider outsourcing when your IT-to-employee ratio exceeds 1:70, you cannot justify 24/7 coverage, or your total IT cost per employee exceeds industry benchmarks by 20%+. In-house makes more sense when you have complex custom systems, strict compliance needs that require dedicated staff, or enough scale to justify a full IT department with specialized roles.
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