Ramp time is the period between a new hire's start date and the point they reach full productivity. During it, the employee is paid in full while delivering partial output, and that gap is a real, measurable cost most teams never quantify. This page explains how to measure it and publishes live benchmarks from Mettle's tools.
Annual ramp cost = (annual salary / 12) x ramp months x (1 - average productivity) x hires per year. A linear ramp from zero to full productivity averages 50% effectiveness. Example: 150 hires at a 120,000 dollar salary with a 5-month ramp costs about 3.75 million dollars a year.
Reported averages put full productivity at roughly four to six months for many knowledge-work roles. A ramp longer than that usually signals the training teaches a workflow that differs from how the job is actually done.
Ramp time is the period between a new hire's start date and the point they reach full productivity. During it, the employee is paid in full while delivering partial output.
Annual ramp cost equals (annual salary divided by 12) times ramp months times the share of output unrealized during ramp, times hires per year. A linear ramp averages 50% productivity, so half the salary over the ramp window is unrealized.
Reported averages put full productivity at roughly four to six months for many knowledge-work roles, varying by seniority and industry.