Free Tool — AI Agent ROI
Cost-to-Replace vs. Cost-to-Augment:
The AI Agent ROI Calculator
A $68K executive assistant costs $97K fully loaded. Replacing them entirely with AI agents runs $28K–$42K/yr — but the hybrid model (60% human, 40% AI) delivers higher output at $63K total. This calculator shows you the exact math for any role, with payback period, risk flags, and a specific recommendation.
BLS OEWS 2024 salary data
Q1 2026 AI tooling prices
All formulas shown
Estimates labeled as estimates
Frequently Asked Questions
What is "cost-to-replace" vs "cost-to-augment" with AI agents? ▾
Cost-to-replace is what it costs to fully automate a role with AI agents — tooling subscriptions + implementation + amortized transition + oversight FTE. For a $65K customer support rep, full replacement runs roughly $22K–$35K/yr depending on tool stack and oversight needed. Cost-to-augment is the hybrid model: keep the human for high-judgment tasks while AI handles volume work, paying for both the partial human salary and the tooling. Augmentation typically outperforms both pure scenarios on output per dollar.
How accurate are the salary estimates? ▾
Base salaries come from BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) 2024 national medians. The calculator applies a 1.43× fully-loaded multiplier: benefits (33% of base, per BLS Employer Costs for Employee Compensation Q3 2024), employer payroll taxes (7.65%), equipment, software licenses, HR allocation, and management overhead (~10%). These are estimates — your actual costs vary by location, benefits package, and overhead structure. All formulas are shown in the methodology note beneath the comparison table.
What are the AI agent tooling costs based on? ▾
Tooling costs reflect market pricing for common AI agent stacks as of Q1 2026. Categories: Entry-level tools ($3K–$8K/yr: AI writing, basic automation), Mid-tier platforms ($8K–$18K/yr: AI customer support, CRM copilots, data processing agents), Enterprise stacks ($18K–$45K/yr: full-function AI agents with integrations). Implementation/setup costs are amortized over 36 months. Tool prices change frequently — figures are labeled as estimates with the assessment date noted. Sources include Salesforce Einstein, HubSpot AI, Intercom Fin, Notion AI, Zapier, and comparable platforms' published pricing pages.
What does the payback period calculation include? ▾
Payback period = total transition cost ÷ annual savings. Transition costs include: implementation/integration labor (estimated at 2–4× monthly tooling), team training (1–2 weeks of affected employee time), change management overhead, and a buffer for productivity dip during ramp. Annual savings = (current fully-loaded cost) − (new scenario cost). For example: if a $97K fully-loaded support rep role transitions to a $35K hybrid model with $15K in transition costs, payback = $15K ÷ $62K savings = ~3 months.
Why does the calculator recommend hybrid augmentation for most roles? ▾
Because the data supports it. McKinsey Global Institute (2025) found hybrid human-AI teams deliver 3× output vs equivalent all-human teams for knowledge work. Full AI replacement requires: structured inputs, defined decision trees, tolerance for errors, and no regulatory accountability requirement. Most roles have at least one dimension where human judgment significantly reduces risk or improves quality. The hybrid model captures AI's speed advantage (cost reduction on volume work) while retaining human judgment for exceptions — and typically shows payback in 3–9 months vs 12–18+ months for full replacement.