Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between gross salary and net salary?⌄
Gross salary is the total amount agreed between employer and employee before any deductions. Net salary (take-home pay) is what the employee actually receives after income tax, social security, and other mandatory employee-side deductions are subtracted. The employer's total cost is always higher than gross salary because the employer also pays its own social security and payroll contributions on top.
Why is the employer's total cost higher than the gross salary?⌄
In almost every country, employers must pay mandatory contributions on top of the employee's gross salary — such as employer-side social security, pension, health insurance, provident fund, payroll tax, or other statutory levies. These vary widely by country: India adds ~15–20%, Germany adds ~21%, France adds ~40–45%, while UAE and Saudi Arabia add near zero for expat workers.
How accurate are these estimates?⌄
This calculator uses publicly available statutory rates for each country, last checked on 14 October 2026. However, actual costs can vary depending on the employee's personal circumstances, state/regional variations, industry-specific rules, optional benefits, and annual changes to tax legislation. Treat these as directional estimates — for exact numbers, get a StratEdge EOR quote.
What does an EOR (Employer of Record) do for me?⌄
An EOR like StratEdge Global becomes the legal employer of your international team members. We handle all statutory registrations, payroll processing, tax filings, employment contracts, and compliance — so you get the talent without needing a local entity in each country.
Does StratEdge Global support all the countries in this calculator?⌄
StratEdge Global's Employer of Record service covers India and 15+ countries, for companies hiring from anywhere in the world. For other countries in this calculator, we can often help through our partner network and managed services. Book a free call to check availability for your country.
