$28,303
Average annual family health premium
The 2026 total includes both employer and worker contributions and was 5% higher than in 2025.
Source: KFF, 2026GoWell Benefits reference
Employee Benefits Statistics
Current U.S. data on health coverage costs, employee contributions, benefits access, and the full cost of compensation.
Last updated October 27, 2026. Figures are updated as their original sources publish new data.
A practical benchmark
Use the numbers behind the benefits conversation.
Benefits decisions are easier to discuss when employers, brokers, and employees can start from a shared set of facts. This page brings together recent national data from KFF and the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, with each statistic linked to its original source.
These figures describe national averages, not a quote or a forecast. A group’s costs and available options depend on its workforce, location, plan design, and funding approach.
The latest numbers
Employee benefits at a glance
$7,471
Average worker contribution for family coverage
Workers paid this average annual amount in 2026, up 9% from the prior year.
Source: KFF, 2026157M
People under 65 with employer coverage
Nearly 157 million Americans under age 65 relied on employer-sponsored coverage in 2026.
Source: KFF, 2026$1,955
Average single-coverage deductible
This is the 2026 average among workers whose plan has an annual deductible.
Source: KFF, 202674%
Workers with access to medical care benefits
This is the share of civilian workers with access to a medical care plan in March 2025.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, 202529.8%
Share of private-sector compensation spent on benefits
Private employers spent an average of $13.58 per hour on benefits in June 2025.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2025What stands out
Benefits are a meaningful part of the total employment investment.
Family coverage costs continue to rise.
KFF reports that average family premiums reached $28,303 in 2026. Workers paid $7,471 on average, while the rest was funded by the employer.
Read the KFF findings →Access is not the same as enrollment.
The Bureau of Labor Statistics counted 74% of civilian workers as having access to medical care benefits in March 2025. Access means a plan was available to them, whether or not they enrolled.
Read the benefits data →Total compensation goes beyond wages.
For private-industry workers, benefits represented 29.8% of employer compensation costs in June 2025. That total includes paid leave, insurance, retirement and savings, supplemental pay, and required benefits.
Read the compensation data →Methodology and sources
Where these figures come from
This reference uses published national datasets and survey findings. KFF’s 2026 employer health benefits findings are based on its annual employer survey. The Bureau of Labor Statistics figures come from the National Compensation Survey and Employer Costs for Employee Compensation release. We do not calculate or estimate the figures shown here.
- KFF, 2026 Employer Health Benefits Survey findings, published October 22, 2026
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employee Benefits in the United States, March 2025
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employer Costs for Employee Compensation, June 2025
Cite this page
GoWell Benefits. “Employee Benefits Statistics.” Updated October 27, 2026. https://gowellbenefit.com/employee-benefits-statistics
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