GoKawiilStudy: US office workers pay average $6,736 yearly 'RTO tax'
Resume.io's study estimates American employees spend an average of $6,736 per year on costs tied to commuting and in-office attendance. The research found this so-called 'RTO tax' is proportionally lowest in expensive cities like New York, Boston and San Francisco once local salaries are factored in.
GoKawiil's interpretation of the reporting above, not reported fact.
The figures could add fuel to ongoing debates between employers pushing return-to-office mandates and workers citing financial burdens as a reason to resist them. The city-by-city variation suggests that commuting and living costs interact with pay scales in ways that make blanket RTO policies affect workers unevenly depending on location.
- Average annual RTO cost to US workers is $6,736, per Resume.io
- High-cost cities like NYC, Boston and SF show the lowest relative RTO tax due to higher salaries
- Findings may inform arguments in return-to-office policy debates
Stanley Classic Vacuum Lunch Box Thermos — Since commuting and office lunches are a huge chunk of that $6,736 RTO tax, packing your own hot meals is one of the easiest ways to cut costs. This insulated thermos keeps food warm for hours, so you can skip pricey takeout near the office. It's a small investment that pays for itself fast when you're commuting daily.
See Stanley Classic Vacuum Lunch Box Thermos on Amazon → Affiliate link — we may earn a commission on purchases, at no extra cost to you. Product picked by AI based on this article; it is not a tested recommendation.Source: fastcompany.com, 2026-09-29
Published there as: “U.S. workers spend nearly $7,000 per year just to show up at the office”
Read the original report → The summary and analysis above are GoKawiil's own, written from reporting by the source above. Facts and quotes belong to the original publisher.