
Pricing / earnings
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Insurance / Benefits
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Procedure / Process
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Pricing / earnings
How do I determine the pay rate for the contractor?
As a benchmark, divide the annual salary for a comparable direct position by 2,080 hours (approximately one year) to get an hourly rate. Then, adjust the hourly rate based on the facts surrounding the particular placement. For example, if the annual salary for a comparable direct position is $85,000 per year, divide $85,000 by 2,080 hours. The benchmark pay rate would be $40.86.
How do I determine the bill rate for the client company?
One method for determining the client company bill rate is to use a “multiplier.” A multiplier is the result of dividing the bill rate by the pay rate. Top Echelon has been tracking the average multiplier across all industries for years. In the last year, the average multiplier has been 1.56 across all industries. For example, if the pay rate is $40.86/hour, multiply it by 1.56 for a bill rate of $63.74/hour.
How much can I make with contract staffing?
The profit is dependent on the position, geographic area, the candidate’s skill set, and the ability to negotiate rates to achieve the desired markup. However, if a recruiter has ten (10) active contractors who are working 40 hours per week for 52 weeks at an average profit per hour of $12/hour, the annual profit for the recruiter will be $249,600.
- $12/hour X 10 active contractors = $120/hour
- $120/hour X 40 hours/week = $4,800
- $4,800 X 52 weeks = $249,600 of annual recruiter income
Is there a monthly/yearly fee to use Top Echelon Contracting’s back office services?
No, there is not a fee.

Insurance / benefits
What does Top Echelon Contracting’s Certificate of Insurance include?
The certificate of insurance includes Commercial General Liability, Professional Liability (inclusive of medical professionals), Commercial Excess Liability (Umbrella), Hired and Non-Owned Automobile Liability, Employer Practices Liability Insurance (EPLI), Employee Dishonesty Bond, and Workers’ Compensation.
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What benefits does Top Echelon Contracting offer for candidates?
Top Echelon firmly believes that great benefits attract quality candidates and also provide a motivating force for employee retention. Employees who work an average of at least 30 hours per week may choose any combination of the following for their contract employee benefits package.
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What health insurance benefits does Top Echelon Contracting offer to candidates?
Top Echelon offers employees health insurance through Anthem (one of the largest and most nationally recognized health care companies in the United States). Employees working an average of thirty (30) hours or more per week will have the opportunity to participate in one of the following four (3) medical plans. All of our plans are compliant with the Affordable Care Act (ACA).
Click here to see the complete list of plans
Is your health insurance ACA compliant?
All of our plans are compliant with the Affordable Care Act (ACA).

Procedure / process
How does the payroll cycle work and what is the company’s responsibility?
Top Echelon Contracting has an online system that the employee can access to complete and approve their timesheet. Then, they must have it approved by a representative from the company who can verify the hours indicated on the timesheet.
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What is the difference between paying a worker on a 1099 versus a W-2?
When a worker is paid on Form W-2, the employer withholds the necessary employee taxes, including Federal Income Tax, State Income Tax, and FICA (Social Security and Medicare). The employer also pays the necessary employer taxes such as FICA (Social Security and Medicare), FUTA (Federal Unemployment Tax), and SUI (State Unemployment Tax).
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What is the FLSA and how does it apply to contractors employed through Top Echelon Contracting?
The Fair Labor Standards Act (or FLSA) encompasses a number of wage and hour regulations, including the minimum wage and overtime regulations. The FLSA requires that most employees be paid an overtime premium (one and a half times the regular rate) for hours worked over 40 in a week. (Note that the state of California requires overtime to be paid when workers work more than eight hours in a day).
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What is included in a standard background check?
Many client companies require a thorough background check before a contractor starts. Top Echelon Contracting conducts a background check on every contractor placed through our contract staffing back office. Our standard contractor background checks include the following:
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How does the payment process work for the recruiter with Top Echelon?
The recruiter gets paid within 48 hours of Top Echelon Contracting receiving payment from the client.
Do you have online timesheets?
Yes, we have online timesheets.
What is the minimum length for a contract placement through Top Echelon Contracting?
The minimum length is six weeks.
As the recruiter, will my company’s name be on the invoice to the client?
Yes, it will be on the invoice.