Calculate total daily crew cost, average daily cost per crew member, or an implied crew size from two values. This cost relationship does not determine staffing needs or productivity.
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Crew Rate Formula
The crew rate calculator uses the relationship between total daily crew cost, average cost per crew member, and the number of crew members.
- CR = crew rate, in dollars per day
- ACC = average cost per crew member, in dollars per day
- TC = total number of crew members
If one value is missing, the calculator rearranges the same formula to solve for it.
- ACC = average cost per crew member per day
- CR = total crew rate per day
- TC = total number of crew members
- TC = total number of crew members
- CR = total crew rate per day
- ACC = average cost per crew member per day
To calculate the crew rate, enter the average daily cost per crew member and the total number of crew members. To calculate the average cost per crew member, enter the crew rate and crew count. To calculate the crew count, enter the crew rate and average cost per crew member.
Common Crew Cost Items
Use this table to decide what should be included in the average cost per crew member.
| Cost item | Usually included? | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Wages or day pay | Yes | Base pay for each crew member. |
| Payroll taxes and benefits | Often | Include these if you need the true labor cost. |
| Meals, travel, or lodging | Sometimes | Include only if these costs are part of the daily crew budget. |
| Equipment or vehicle cost | Sometimes | Keep separate unless you want an all-in crew rate. |
Illustrative Crew Rate Checks
| Average cost per crew member | Crew size | Crew rate per day |
|---|---|---|
| $150/day | 4 | $600/day |
| $200/day | 5 | $1,000/day |
| $250/day | 6 | $1,500/day |
| $300/day | 8 | $2,400/day |
Example Calculations
Example 1: Calculate crew rate
You have 6 crew members, and each crew member costs an average of $220 per day.
The crew rate is $1,320 per day.
Example 2: Calculate average cost per crew member
The total crew rate is $1,800 per day, and there are 5 crew members.
The average cost per crew member is $360 per day.
FAQ
What does crew rate mean?
Crew rate is the total daily cost of a crew. It is usually calculated by multiplying the average daily cost per crew member by the number of crew members.
Should the average cost per crew include overhead?
It depends on the purpose of the estimate. If you are estimating direct labor only, use wages or day rates. If you need a full job cost, include payroll burden, benefits, travel, lodging, equipment, and other costs that apply to the crew.
Can the total number of crew be a decimal?
The inverse cost calculation can return a fractional cost-equivalent count. Actual crew members must be whole people. If $900 per day is available and each member costs $200 per day, the quotient is 4.5; four whole people fit that total, while five would cost $1,000. Staffing needs require a separate assessment.
