Availability: Pro, and every trial.
The blended hourly rate is the number we multiply hours saved by to give a dollar value. Without it, hours saved are still tracked, and the dollar figures and ROI are hidden.
To set itLink to this section
You can give the rate while you set up the organisation, on Tell us about your organisation, and change it here at any time. Set the hourly rate in Measurement → How it works stays open until it's set.
- Go to Settings → Organisation
- Find the Reporting and ROI card
- Enter a number in Blended hourly rate
- Choose the Currency (it's also used for tool costs)
- Save
It applies straight away to the Dashboard and Reports.
What number should I use?Link to this section
The right answer is the fully loaded cost of an hour for an average member of your team. That includes:
- Salary
- Superannuation or pension
- Payroll tax and other on-costs
- Leave, professional development, equipment and software
- A share of overheads (rent, utilities, management)
A common rule of thumb: fully loaded cost is about 1.4 to 1.7 times salary.
Some examples to calibrate against:
| Team | Reasonable hourly rate (A$) |
|---|---|
| Australian professional services or consulting | 90 to 140 |
| Technology company, mid-level engineering | 100 to 160 |
| Retail or hospitality operations | 40 to 70 |
| Senior leadership | 200 or more |
Pick a number you'd be comfortable defending in a board pack. If your team challenges it, you can change it, and every report recalculates.
What if my team has very different rates?Link to this section
The rate is one figure for the whole organisation, so pick a sensible average rather than the highest or lowest. If half your team are graduate engineers and half are senior partners, an average across them is the right level of precision for reporting to leaders.
CurrenciesLink to this section
AUD, USD, GBP, EUR, NZD and CAD. The currency you choose sets how figures are shown on the Dashboard and in Reports.
If your tool costs are invoiced in a different currency from your hourly rate, convert them so they match: The GAiGE doesn't convert between currencies.
What if I don't know?Link to this section
Two practical paths:
- Ask your CFO or head of finance. They will know the fully loaded cost; it's a standard finance figure.
- Use a round number you can explain. A$100 an hour is a reasonable starting point for most professional services organisations, and you can refine it later.
An estimate is better than nothing: until a rate is set, the dollar side of ROI stays hidden.
Something missing or out of date here? Tell us.