Temporary Help Services Revenue Benchmarks
The average temporary help services business in the United States generates $14.3M in annual revenue, according to the U.S. Census Bureau Statistics of U.S. Businesses (SUSB 2021). There are 15,325 temporary help services businesses in the U.S., employing 3,497,222 workers with an average profit margin of 8.0%. The average employee in this industry earns $49K per year (Bureau of Labor Statistics QCEW 2023).
What Does a Temporary Help Business Actually Do?
Staffing agencies that place temporary and contract workers with employers. Include national brands (Kelly, Adecco, Robert Half) and specialty firms (medical, IT, executive). Also handle temp-to-hire.
Who buys: Employers needing short-term coverage, seasonal help, or trial hires before making permanent offers.
Average Revenue
$14.3M
per year
Profit Margin
8.0%
industry average
Revenue / Employee
$62K
per year
Total Businesses
15,325
in the US
Est. Owner Income
$1.1M
small business avg
Labor Cost
70.0%
of revenue
Avg Employee Wage
$49K
per year (BLS)
Market Saturation
4.6
firms per 100K people
How Much Do Temporary Help Services Charge?
Staffing agencies charge a markup on the temp worker's hourly wage (bill rate = pay rate × 1.5–2.0).
| Service | Typical range |
|---|---|
General clerical markup | 40–65% over pay rate |
Skilled/professional markup | 50–90% over pay rate |
Executive/specialty markup | 80–150% over pay rate |
Temp-to-perm conversion fee | 15–25% of first-year salary |
Gross margin | 18–28% of bill rate |
Ranges based on industry rate surveys and typical published pricing. Actual quotes vary by city, business size, and job complexity.
Complete temporary help business plan
A 12-section data-backed business plan for a temporary help services business — executive summary, market analysis, competitive landscape, revenue model, 3-year financial projections, operations, marketing, staffing, funding request. Pre-populated with real Census, IRS, and BLS data on this industry. Free to view.
Cost Structure — Where Every $100 in Revenue Goes
Approximate P&L breakdown for the temporary help services industry. Labor share and net profit are grounded in Census SUSB and IRS SOI data. Other lines are split using sector-typical ratios.
| Category | Per $100 revenue | Per typical business | What's in it |
|---|---|---|---|
Direct service costs | $4 | $627K | Cleaning supplies, uniforms, equipment consumables — depends on service type. |
Wages & benefits | $70 | $10.0M | Payroll for all employees at the business (owner comp not included for small owner-operators). |
Rent & facilities | $3 | $470K | Rent or mortgage on business location plus utilities tied to the space. |
Marketing & advertising | $2 | $314K | Google/Meta ads, SEO, print, referral fees, event sponsorships. |
Other operating costs | $12 | $1.7M | Insurance, background checks, training, transportation, admin. |
Net profit | $8 | $1.1M | What remains for the owner or shareholders after all business expenses. |
Directionally accurate for a typical business in the industry. Individual businesses vary widely — a franchise may run a very different cost mix from an independent, and older established businesses often have lower labor share than newer ones.
Average Revenue by Business Size
Industry Dynamics (Census BDS 2023)
New Business Rate
12.99%
openings/year
Closure Rate
13.67%
closings/year
Net Job Growth
-3.91%
annual
Businesses Closed
2,814
in 2023
Firm Count Trend
Should You Start a Temporary Help Business?
Startup Cost
$50K – $250K
Break-Even
2 months
5-Year Survival Rate
50.0%
Related Industries
Frequently Asked Questions
- What does a temporary help services business do?
- Staffing agencies that place temporary and contract workers with employers. Include national brands (Kelly, Adecco, Robert Half) and specialty firms (medical, IT, executive). Also handle temp-to-hire. Employers needing short-term coverage, seasonal help, or trial hires before making permanent offers.
- How much do temporary help services charge?
- Staffing agencies charge a markup on the temp worker's hourly wage (bill rate = pay rate × 1.5–2.0). See the pricing table above for typical rates by service type.
- How much does the average temporary help services make per year?
- The average temporary help services business generates $14.3M in annual revenue, based on U.S. Census Bureau data (SUSB 2021). After expenses, the estimated owner profit is $1.1M per year at a 8.0% profit margin.
- How many temporary help services businesses are there in the US?
- There are 15,325 temporary help services businesses operating in the United States, employing a total of 3,497,222 workers.
- How much does it cost to start a temporary help services business?
- Startup costs for a temporary help services business typically range from $50K to $250K, with a 5-year survival rate of 50.0%.
- What is the average salary in the temporary help services industry?
- The average employee in the temporary help services industry earns $49K per year, according to Bureau of Labor Statistics data (QCEW 2023).
Industry Growth & Survival
The temporary help services industry is contracting — losing jobs at a net rate of 3.9% per year. More establishments are closing (13.7%) than opening (13.0%), suggesting market challenges.
Approximately 48% of temporary help services businesses survive their first 5 years. This is near the national average (~50%), with typical business risk. In 2023, 2,814 firms in this industry closed permanently.
Employment & Wages
The average employee in the temporary help services industry earns $48,893/year. This is below the national average of ~$65K — typical for this sector. With 99,487 establishments employing 2,808,706 people, the typical business has about 28 employees.
Industry Trend (2000–2023)
The temporary help services industry has grown 0% since 2000 (from 26,403 to 26,532 firms).
See full historical statistics →Compare Temporary Help Services revenue with other industries: