If you have ever asked this question, you’re in luck.  The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) calculates and publishes this information. The latest information available was for September 2011.  Employer costs for state and local government workers averaged $26.57 per hour worked for wages and salaries and $14.19 for benefits in September 2011.  State and local government health benefit costs averaged $4.74 per hour worked in September 2011.  For more information, including a detailed breakdown of the costs, please go to http://www.bls.gov/news.release/ecec.nr0.htm.