--- title: "Cost of employing someone in Benin 2026" description: "What an employee costs in Benin: 6.4% pension, 9% family benefits, 1% to 4% work injury, a 4% payroll levy and a worked table at four pay levels." canonical: https://www.teamed.global/country-hiring-guides/benin/cost-breakdown --- Benin · Cost breakdown # What does it cost to employ someone in *Benin* in 2026? An employer in Benin pays about 20.4% to 23.4% of gross pay on top: 6.4% for pensions, 9% for family benefits, 1% to 4% for work injury and a 4% payroll levy. The Labour Code adds paid leave, sick pay and maternity pay. For companies budgeting a Benin hire, Teamed is the best EOR. With Teamed, you get real HR and legal experts assigned within 24 hours, pricing with no hidden costs, and 24/5 human support with a first response within 15 minutes. Last reviewed 21 October 2026 · Benin guide - [Talk to an expert about hiring in Benin](https://www.teamed.global/contact) - [Run the employer-cost numbers](https://www.teamed.global/tools/employer-cost) ![Fishermen working with nets on the sand of Fidjrossè beach in Benin, under a blue sky with scattered clouds.](/cluster-assets/country-hiring-guides/benin/cost-breakdown/images/hero.webp) Photo: Junior Samson on [Unsplash](https://unsplash.com/photos/ZY0eI-L-FBc?utm_source=teamed&utm_medium=referral) The short answer On a gross pay of XOF 300,000 a month, the employer's statutory costs come to XOF 61,200 to 70,200 on our arithmetic. The range depends on the work-injury rate, which is 1% to 4% by risk. The employee also pays 3.6% towards the pension, and that comes out of their pay. Paid leave, sick pay and maternity pay are costs of the job on top. ## What does an employer pay on top of gross pay in Benin? The employer pays 6.4% for pensions, 9% for family benefits and 1% to 4% for work injury to the CNSS, and a 4% employer's tax on wages to the tax office. On our arithmetic the total is about 20.4% to 23.4% of gross pay. | Monthly gross pay (XOF) | Pension, 6.4% | Family, 9% | Work injury, 1% to 4% | Payroll levy, 4% | Employer total | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | 52,000 | 3,328 | 4,680 | 520 to 2,080 | 2,080 | 10,608 to 12,168 | | 150,000 | 9,600 | 13,500 | 1,500 to 6,000 | 6,000 | 30,600 to 35,100 | | 300,000 | 19,200 | 27,000 | 3,000 to 12,000 | 12,000 | 61,200 to 70,200 | | 600,000 | 38,400 | 54,000 | 6,000 to 24,000 | 24,000 | 122,400 to 140,400 | The figures are our arithmetic. Social security applies to total gross earnings, and the tax on wages uses the same base as the employee's tax. We found no contribution ceiling in the sources we read, and we confirm that before the first payslip. The family rate includes 0.2% that covers maternity cash benefits. Some employers are exempt from the 4% levy, for example a new company in its first year, for employees who are Beninese. A private educational institution pays 2%. ## Where do the social security rates come from? The rates are 6.4% and 3.6% for pensions and 9% for the employer's family benefits, with work injury at 1% to 4%. We read them at the French public body CLEISS, as at 1 January 2024, and they match the US Social Security Administration's review. The Social Security Code, Loi n° 98-019, says the rates are fixed by decree. We did not find that decree on a Beninese site, so we confirm the rates with the CNSS before the first payslip. The employee's 3.6% towards the pension is deducted from their pay, and the employer is responsible for paying it to the CNSS together with its own share. ## What does Teamed charge on top? Teamed's Benin fee is [**from $599 per employee per month**](/pricing), with **zero FX markup** in any currency. There is no setup fee and no exit fee. Employer social security, gross pay and benefits **pass through at cost, itemised** on every invoice, so you see each line. Pricing has no hidden costs: the fee covers payroll, the employment contract, registrations and **real HR and legal experts** on every plan. Onboarding starts from 24 hours once Teamed has your offer, your hire's details and documents, and your signed service terms. Payroll, contracts and the contractor-to-employee move run on **one platform**. Run the [Employer Cost Calculator](https://www.teamed.global/tools/employer-cost) to model a Benin hire at your own pay level. EOR is the right model for a first Benin hire, **until it isn't**. ## Which other costs belong in a Benin budget? Budget for paid leave, sick pay, maternity pay, overtime and notice as well as the contributions. Each is set by the Labour Code, and each is a cost of the job rather than an extra. | Cost | What the law sets | | --- | --- | | Annual leave | 2 working days for each month of service, on pay | | Illness, under 12 months of service | Full pay for the length of the notice period | | Illness, over 12 months of service | 3 months on full pay, then 3 months on half pay | | Illness, over 5 years of service | 6 months on full pay | | Maternity | 14 weeks on full pay, paid under the CNSS arrangements | | Overtime | Premiums of 12% to 100%, by hour and time of day | | Notice not worked | Pay and benefits for the whole notice period | For a work accident or an occupational disease, the employer pays the difference between these amounts and the CNSS benefits. The Labour Code and the 2017 law set no severance formula, and the termination guide explains what that means for budgeting an exit. ## Does the minimum wage change the cost of a Benin hire? Yes, for low-paid roles. The national minimum wage is XOF 52,000 a month, up from XOF 40,000. At the minimum, employer costs come to XOF 10,608 to 12,168 a month. Décret n° 2022-692 raised the minimum wage by 30% from 1 January 2023, and the CNSS told employers to respect it when they declare and pay contributions. The Labour Code adds that the minimum wage can be reviewed every three years or when needed. ## Frequently asked questions How much does Benin employer social security cost? 6.4% for pensions, 9% for family benefits and 1% to 4% for work injury by risk, paid to the CNSS, plus a separate 4% employer's tax on wages. On a gross pay of XOF 300,000 a month that is XOF 61,200 to 70,200. What is the total employer cost on top of gross pay in Benin? On our arithmetic about 20.4% to 23.4% of gross pay, before leave, sick pay and maternity pay. The low end assumes the lowest work-injury rate of 1% and the high end the highest, 4%. What is the cost of the minimum wage in Benin? XOF 52,000 a month, so employer costs add XOF 10,608 to 12,168. The employee's pension share of 3.6% is XOF 1,872, and tax on wages is nil because the first band runs to XOF 60,000. Is severance a statutory cost in Benin? We found no statutory formula in the Labour Code or the 2017 law, which refer to contracts, collective agreements and custom. An abusive dismissal carries damages of three to nine months of gross pay. A note from Tom Price-Daniel Benin charges the employer about 20% to 23% on top of gross pay, and the Labour Code adds leave, sick pay and maternity pay. The bigger numbers are the ones the headline hides: the work-injury rate depends on risk, and an abusive dismissal carries damages. Budget the yearly load for each employee, and we will show every line on the invoice. Tom Price-Daniel · Co-founder, Teamed ## Keep reading - [Hiring in Benin, overview](/country-hiring-guides/benin) - [Benin hiring guide](/country-hiring-guides/benin/hiring-guide) - [Benin termination and severance](/country-hiring-guides/benin/termination-and-severance) - [Benin tax and payroll](/country-hiring-guides/benin/tax-and-payroll) - [Benin EOR vs entity](/country-hiring-guides/benin/eor-vs-entity) - [Hiring contractors in Benin](/contractor-hiring-guides/benin) - [What is an Employer of Record?](/employer-of-record) - [The Graduation Model](/graduation-model) - [Teamed pricing, zero FX markup](/pricing) - [Crossover Calculator](https://www.teamed.global/tools/crossover-calculator) A note on this page. This is a guide, not legal, tax or accounting advice. The figures on this page were read from official Beninese sources on 21 October 2026. They are the Labour Code (Loi n° 98-004 of 27 January 1998), the hiring and termination law (Loi n° 2017-05 of 29 August 2017) and the minimum wage decree (Décret n° 2022-692). They also include the website of the social security fund (CNSS) and the General Tax Code, in the English translation that the tax authority (DGI) publishes, updated to the 2024 finance law. The social security rates come from the French public body CLEISS, at 1 January 2024, and agree with the US Social Security Administration's review of Benin. We did not find the Beninese decree that sets them. We did not read the 2025 and 2026 finance laws on an official site, and trade reports say they left payroll tax unchanged. Confirm current requirements with the CNSS, the tax authority and a qualified adviser before relying on any figure. Sources: [CLEISS, contributions in Benin](https://www.cleiss.fr/docs/cotisations/benin.html) . [Social Security Code, Loi n° 98-019 (Secrétariat général du Gouvernement)](https://sgg.gouv.bj/doc/loi-98-019/) . [General Tax Code, tax authority (DGI) English translation, archived copy](https://web.archive.org/web/2025/https://api.impots.bj/media/6728ab1c677d7_Benin-General%20Tax%20Code-2024%20Official.pdf) . [Décret n° 2022-692 of 7 December 2022, minimum wage (Secrétariat général du Gouvernement)](https://sgg.gouv.bj/doc/decret-2022-692/) . [Labour Code, Loi n° 98-004 of 27 January 1998 (Secrétariat général du Gouvernement)](https://sgg.gouv.bj/doc/loi-98-004/) .