AI vs. Employee Cost, by Role
Twelve roles modelled end to end across seven cost dimensions — including 2 where our model says AI costs more than the person.
Every figure below is generated directly from the DroidWork TCO calculator at mid level, using fully-loaded employee cost rather than base salary. Click any role for the full breakdown, or open the calculator to run your own inputs.
| Role | Employee | AI TCO | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Product Manager | $247,660 | $177,522 | $70,138 |
| Software Engineer | $247,660 | $198,618 | $49,042 |
| Strategy Consultant | $222,320 | $184,404 | $37,916 |
| Legal Counsel | $240,420 | $206,705 | $33,715 |
| Data Scientist | $254,900 | $227,321 | $27,579 |
| Sales Representative | $178,880 | $154,906 | $23,974 |
| Financial Analyst | $200,600 | $178,710 | $21,890 |
| IT Support Specialist | $191,550 | $170,128 | $21,422 |
| Marketing Manager | $160,780 | $152,556 | $8,224 |
| Customer Support Agent | $149,920 | $146,581 | $3,339 |
| Operations Analyst | $164,400 | $164,540 | -$140 |
| HR Generalist | $142,680 | $145,232 | -$2,552 |
Most AI ROI calculators are built by vendors who sell AI, so every result favours adoption. Our model shows 2 of 12 roles where replacement costs more than it saves. If a number here disagrees with a vendor deck, check whose incentives are in the model.
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Open the Calculator →Modelled estimates for planning purposes only; not financial, legal or employment advice. Methodology and sources: full technical reference.