Temporary Shelters — Average Employee Salary

The average employee in the temporary shelters industry earns $45,285 per year ($21.77/hour), according to Bureau of Labor Statistics QCEW data.

$45,285
Avg Annual Pay
88,998
Total Employees
4,220
Total Establishments
21
Avg Employees/Business

What Do Temporary Shelters Workers Earn?

At $45,285/year (equivalent to $21.77/hour for a full-time worker), temporary shelters wages are below the national average of ~$65,000.

Lower wages in this industry are common in service-oriented or retail-adjacent sectors where entry barriers are lower. This can be an advantage for business owners managing payroll costs, but may contribute to higher turnover.

The typical temporary shelters business employs 21 people. These are larger operations where staffing represents a major cost center and management complexity.

Wages as a Percentage of Revenue

54.8%

For the average temporary shelters business generating $1.7M/year with 21 employees at $45,285 each, total payroll represents roughly 54.8% of revenue. This is a labor-intensive industry — payroll is the dominant expense.

What This Means for Business Owners

If you're starting or running a temporary sheltersbusiness, here's what the wage data means for your bottom line:

  • Per-employee cost: Budget approximately $58,871/year per employee (salary + ~30% for benefits, taxes, and insurance).
  • Typical team size: 21 employees = ~$950,985/year in base payroll.
  • Hourly equivalent: $21.77/hour base — factor this into pricing and project estimates.
  • Revenue needed: With average revenue of $1.7M/business, you need strong utilization rates to maintain healthy margins after payroll.

See how these wages compare to total revenue and profit margins.

View full Temporary Shelters revenue benchmarks →

Frequently Asked Questions

How much do temporary shelters employees make?
The average temporary shelters employee earns $45,285 per year, which is equivalent to $21.77/hour for a full-time worker (2,080 hours/year). This is below the national average of approximately $65,000.
How many people work in the temporary shelters industry?
The temporary shelters industry employs 88,998 workers across 4,220 establishments in the United States. The average business in this industry has approximately 21 employees.

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages (QCEW 2023).