Spain Employee Cost Calculator (2026)
An employee in Spain costs the salary plus employer Social Security of about 31.65%: 23.60% common contingencies, 5.50% unemployment, FOGASA, training, the 0.75% MEI and about 1% accident cover for office work, on pay up to €5,101.20 a month in 2026, with a small solidarity contribution above that. A €2,500-a-month administrator costs about €42,900 a year.
· Calculated with AiStaffo
Employer costs in Spain
| Common contingencies | Employer 23.60% of the contribution base |
|---|---|
| Unemployment | 5.50% for permanent contracts (6.70% for fixed-term) |
| FOGASA and training | 0.20% and 0.60% |
| MEI | Employer 0.75% in 2026 (total 0.90%) |
| Work accidents (AT/EP) | By activity; 1.00% for office-only work (0.65% + 0.35%) |
| Contribution base | Maximum €5,101.20 a month in 2026; minimum depends on the job group (at least €1,424.40) |
| Solidarity contribution | On pay above the maximum base, employer 0.96%, 1.04% and 1.22% in three bands |
| Paid leave | 30 calendar days (about 22 working days) a year plus 14 public holidays |
Worked example
An administrator on €2,500 a month (€30,000 a year including extra payments): common contingencies €7,080, unemployment €1,650, FOGASA €60, training €180, MEI €225, accident cover €300, laptop and software about €1,400, hiring spread over 3 years €2,000. Total about €42,900 a year, 1.43 times the salary.
What counts in the true cost of an employee
Salary is only the start. The calculator adds what the law makes the employer pay (social security, pension, unemployment insurance, end-of-service build-up), what the job needs (health insurance, visas, a laptop and software), and what staff turnover costs (advertising, interviews, training and lost output each time someone leaves, spread over the years an employee usually stays). Dividing by the days actually worked gives the cost of one productive hour.
The automation saving, explained
Most office roles are partly routine: typing data in, chasing replies, matching payments, compiling reports. The calculator takes the share of the role you set as routine and compares what that part costs with an AI worker doing it: a one-time build and a monthly fee (AiStaffo's starting price, editable under "Assumptions"). The person keeps the judgement work; the routine part stops costing a salary. Book a free automation audit and we will measure the routine share of your own roles.
Please note: rates are as checked on 21 October 2026 from official and reputable sources; amounts marked as defaults are typical estimates you can change. The automation figures are illustrations based on the assumptions shown, not a promise of savings; AiStaffo prices are set in a written quote. This is a planning guide, not tax or legal advice.
Sources
Questions people ask
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