Complete Payroll Calculator Guatemala
This calculator estimates the employee's net salary and the total employer cost in Guatemala. It includes base salary, incentive bonus, IGSS deduction, estimated ISR, and employer provisions for aguinaldo, bono 14, and vacation.
With a base salary of Q5,000 and a Q250 incentive bonus, the tool estimates a net salary of Q4,970.67 and a monthly employer cost of Q6,925.17. That means the employer cost is approximately 1.39 times the base salary.
What does payroll include in Guatemala?
Payroll is not just the salary the worker receives. To review a complete labor budget, separate three blocks: income, employee deductions, and employer costs or provisions.
| Block | Concepts included | Who pays it | |---|---|---| | Worker income | Base salary and incentive bonus | Employer | | Employee deductions | Worker IGSS and estimated monthly ISR | Worker | | Employer cost | Employer contribution, aguinaldo, bono 14, vacation | Employer |
Results are for budgeting, offer comparison, and an initial payroll review. They do not replace validation by HR, an accountant, IGSS, or SAT, nor special cases by economic activity, suspensions, commissions, non-salary benefits, or regulatory changes.
Formulas used by the calculator
Monthly income = Base salary + Incentive bonus
Worker IGSS = Base salary × 4.83%
Estimated monthly ISR = Estimated annual ISR ÷ 12
Net salary = Monthly income − Worker IGSS − Estimated monthly ISR
Employer cost = Base salary + Incentive bonus + Employer contribution + Aguinaldo provision + Bono 14 provision + Vacation provision
Reference employer contribution = Base salary × 12.67%
Monthly aguinaldo = Base salary ÷ 12
Monthly bono 14 = Base salary ÷ 12
Monthly vacation = (Base salary ÷ 30 × 15) ÷ 12
The incentive bonus is added to monthly income and is not a base for IGSS, but it is part of the ISR taxable income (aguinaldo and bono 14, on the other hand, are exempt). The field defaults to Q250 because Decree 37-2001 created that monthly bonus for private-sector workers.
Complete example with a Q5,000 salary
| Concept | Calculation | Amount | |---|---|---| | Monthly income | Q5,000 + Q250 | Q5,250.00 | | Worker IGSS | Q5,000 × 4.83% | Q241.50 | | Estimated monthly ISR | Annual projection ÷ 12 | Q37.83 | | Estimated net salary | Q5,250 − Q241.50 − Q37.83 | Q4,970.67 | | Total employer cost | Salary + bonus + contributions + provisions | Q6,925.17 |
The difference between the worker's net and the employer's cost is not an error: it includes obligations and provisions the company must budget even if they are not all paid on payroll day.
Interpreting the result
- Worker side: IGSS (4.83%) and ISR are the mandatory deductions; the Q250 incentive bonus (Decree 37-2001) is added back because it is not subject to IGSS.
- Employer side: the 12.67% reference (10.67% IGSS + 1% IRTRA + 1% INTECAP) plus monthly provisions for aguinaldo, bono 14, and vacation bring the real cost to about 1.39× the base salary. If you also provision severance (8.33%), it rises to about 1.45–1.5×, as shown in the employee hiring cost calculator.
Quick cost-per-employee table
These examples use a Q250 incentive bonus, active IGSS, and the same calculator logic. They are useful for budgeting hires or reviewing the margin of a service.
| Base salary | Worker IGSS | Est. monthly ISR | Est. net | Total employer cost | |---|---|---|---|---| | Q3,000.00 | Q144.90 | Q0.00 | Q3,105.10 | Q4,255.10 | | Q5,000.00 | Q241.50 | Q37.83 | Q4,970.67 | Q6,925.17 | | Q7,500.00 | Q362.25 | Q156.79 | Q7,230.96 | Q10,262.75 | | Q10,000.00 | Q483.00 | Q275.75 | Q9,491.25 | Q13,600.33 |
Checklist for reviewing payroll
- Confirm that the base salary and the incentive bonus are separated.
- Verify whether the worker is affiliated with IGSS.
- Check that ISR is calculated with the annual projection, not just one month's salary.
- Budget aguinaldo, bono 14, and vacation even though they are not paid monthly.
- Compare the total employee cost with the real margin of the position, project, or service.
This tool is an educational estimate of the general model. Rates, exemptions, and provisions can vary by economic activity, collective agreements, or regulatory updates. Confirm the final figures with HR, your accountant, IGSS, and SAT before making hiring or budget decisions.
Frequently asked questions
A complete payroll includes: base salary, incentive bonus (Q250), IGSS deduction (4.83%), ISR, and the 12.67% employer contributions (10.67% IGSS + 1% IRTRA + 1% INTECAP), plus aguinaldo, bono 14, and vacation provisions.
The total cost of an employee is approximately 1.39 times the base salary, including employer contributions (12.67%), aguinaldo, bono 14, and vacation provisions. If you also reserve severance (8.33%), the cost rises to about 1.45–1.5 times, as shown in the employee hiring cost calculator.
It is a monthly payment of Q250 established by Decree 37-2001, mandatory for private sector employees. It is not subject to IGSS (it is excluded from the 4.83% base), but it IS subject to ISR.
Because the employer must cover contributions and provisions that are not deducted from the worker: the 12.67% employer contribution, aguinaldo, bono 14, vacation, and other costs associated with the employment relationship.
No. It is for estimating and reviewing numbers before preparing a payroll. For official filings, IGSS payments, or ISR withholdings, validate the information with the current platforms and criteria of IGSS, SAT, or your accounting advisor.
Related calculators
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- Guatemala social security: IGSS contributions in detail
- Guatemala employee cost: hiring cost with severance provision
- Guatemala Christmas bonus and bono 14: the annual benefits