Free AI workforce economics tool
AI Agent vs Human Employee Cost Calculator
Compare the cost of processing the same workload with human labor versus an AI-assisted agent, including AI usage, human oversight, exceptions, rework, implementation and risk.
Simple same-workload model
Cost per workloadCompare human-only processing with an AI-assisted workflow
Workload & human baseline
AI-assisted workflow
Risk & planning horizon
Simple methodHuman-only cost = workload × human minutes × loaded hourly cost. AI-assisted cost keeps uncovered work with humans, then adds AI usage, human oversight, exception handling, platform cost, annual support and expected risk cost. The model compares identical workload volume rather than simply comparing a salary with an AI subscription.
Annual cost stack
Same workloadHuman-only vs. AI-assisted cost components
| Cost component | Human-only | AI-assisted | Difference |
|---|
Advanced AI workforce model
5-year workload modelModel capacity, adoption, exceptions and multi-year TCO
Workload & human baseline
AI agent performance & unit economics
Human oversight, exceptions & QA
Implementation & expected risk
Advanced methodEach year grows workload and human labor cost separately. AI coverage determines which work is attempted by the agent; uncovered work remains human. AI-attempted work adds usage cost, oversight labor, exception/rework labor, QA sampling, platform cost, support/governance and expected annual risk cost. Year 0 records implementation and training. The model reports cost, FTE-equivalent capacity released, payback and multi-year TCO.
Annual TCO table
Growing workload includedHuman-only vs. AI-assisted cost by year
| Year | Work items | Human-only cost | AI-assisted cost | Annual savings | Human hours avoided | FTE capacity equivalent | Cumulative savings after implementation |
|---|
Automation-coverage sensitivity
Other assumptions unchangedEconomics as AI coverage changes
| AI coverage | Year 1 AI-assisted cost | Year 1 savings | FTE capacity equivalent | 5-year net savings |
|---|
AI unit-cost sensitivity
Coverage unchangedEconomics as per-item AI cost changes
| AI cost scale | AI unit cost | Year 1 AI-assisted cost | Year 1 savings | 5-year net savings |
|---|
Oversight sensitivity
Oversight minutes per AI itemEconomics as human review time changes
| Oversight scale | Oversight min / AI item | Year 1 oversight + exception labor | Year 1 savings | 5-year net savings |
|---|
Scope
Cost comparison is not a recommendation to eliminate headcount
This calculator compares the cost of handling an entered workload under two operating models. Human hours avoided may become cash savings, deferred hiring, faster throughput, service capacity or employee redeployment rather than payroll reduction. The model does not determine whether an AI agent is accurate, secure, compliant or suitable for autonomous decision-making. High-risk workflows may require materially more human review than the assumptions entered here.