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PEO for architecture & engineering
Find a PEO built for
design and engineering firms.
For architecture, engineering, surveying and environmental firms with 5–500 employees. Compare 40+ vetted PEOs on benefits that win licensed talent, multi-state payroll for remote staff, work comp for field crews and pricing that won't punish high salaries, then onboard to the best fit without becoming a PEO expert. Free comparison, no obligation.
Built for:
Architecture & interiors
Civil & structural
MEP & consulting engineers
Surveying & environmental
Your PEO shortlist
36-person engineering firm · 3 offices · field crews
Illustrative example
PEO A
Best fit
Match
93%
Pricing model
Per employee
Field crew work comp
Correct codes
Multi-state payroll
All 50 states
All-in / employee / mo
$1,318
Exit fee
None
PEO B
Shortlisted
Match
80%
Pricing model
% of payroll
Field crew work comp
Correct codes
Multi-state payroll
All 50 states
All-in / employee / mo
$1,402
Exit fee
$3,000
PEO C
Shortlisted
Match
75%
Pricing model
Per employee
Field crew work comp
Office only
Multi-state payroll
All 50 states
All-in / employee / mo
$1,286
Exit fee
None
Every fee decoded by P.A.U.L. · Gaps and exit terms flagged before you sign
Compare leading PEOs with confidence, including
Sound familiar?
You design the projects.
HR shouldn't design you.
Design and engineering firms compete for licensed talent, run on utilization and spread teams across offices, sites and states. Here's what principals and firm operators tell us most, and where the right PEO fits.
“We're turning down work because we can't staff it.”
When you can't hire experienced PEs, architects and project managers, backlog becomes lost revenue. A PEO's large-group benefits and smoother onboarding help you compete with larger AEC firms for the talent you need.
“Our PEO quote was priced as a percentage of payroll.”
With professional salaries, percent-of-payroll pricing can cost far more than per-employee pricing for the same service. We line up PEOs with pricing models that fit a high-salary team, side by side.
“Our survey and inspection crews don't fit an office work comp policy.”
Field staff on job sites carry different risk than designers at a desk. The right PEO places correct work comp class codes for field and office roles and supports safety programs and claims.
“Half our team works remotely in other states.”
Remote engineers and designers mean registering and running payroll in every state where they live. A PEO handles multi-state payroll tax, unemployment and leave rules on one platform.
“Every hour our principals spend on HR is unbilled.”
When principals and office managers run payroll, benefits and compliance, utilization drops. A PEO takes that administration off their plate so senior staff stay billable.
“We train EITs, then they leave once they're licensed.”
Early-career engineers and architects often move on after licensure. Strong benefits, retirement plans and consistent HR practices give them more reasons to build their careers with you.
Why A/E firms use a PEO
Think of a PEO as a subconsultant
for your HR.
As prime, you bring in MEP or geotechnical subconsultants for specialized scope and keep the client relationship. A PEO (Professional Employer Organization) does that for HR: it pools your firm with thousands of other employees for large-group benefits, workers' comp and HR expertise, while you keep every hiring and project decision.
33%
of engineering firms turned down work because of staffing shortages in the past six months
64%
of engineering firms expect hiring to increase over the next 12 months
$26,993
average annual employer family health premium in 2025, up 6% in one year
12%
lower employee turnover for businesses that use a PEO
Sources: ACEC Research Institute Engineering Business Sentiment Survey (Q2 2026), KFF 2025 Employer Health Benefits Survey and NAPEO.
What you get
Big-firm benefits for a studio-sized team.
Benefits that win licensed talent, with large-group pricing
Pricing that fits high salaries, with per-employee options compared side by side
Work comp for field crews, with correct class codes and safety support
Multi-state payroll for remote engineers and designers
401(k) and retirement options for principals and staff, or a carve-out for your own plan
HR compliance and onboarding off the principals' desks
Free for A/E firms
See which PEOs fit your firm.
Share your headcount, offices, field roles and states. We'll line up vetted PEOs side by side, every fee decoded, before your next project hire.
Why compare here first
Run a QA/QC review
on your PEO.
You'd never issue drawings without a QA/QC review. Your PEO deserves the same: pricing models, benefits, work comp programs and contract terms vary widely. PEO Marketplace does the discovery, evaluation and onboarding work, so you land on the best-fit PEO without needing to becoming a PEO expert.
Discover
PEOs that understand A/E firms
P.A.U.L., our AI PEO assistant, screens 40+ vetted PEOs by headcount, offices, field roles, salary levels and benefit goals, so you only evaluate PEOs built for firms like yours.
Evaluate
Every proposal, checked like a set
Admin fees, benefits, work comp and setup costs decoded line by line in one standardized format, so you see the real all-in cost per employee.
Onboard
Switch without missing a deadline
We guide census, plan selection and go-live timing around your payroll cycle, fiscal year and open enrollment, and flag auto-renewals and exit terms before you sign.
Free for A/E firms
Paid by the PEO you ultimately choose
Like a recruiter, our fee comes from the PEO you ultimately pick. Our team's side-by-side comparison costs you nothing, and the first 50 businesses get free beta access to the platform.
What it looks like
A 36-person engineering firm with three offices
A common picture: a civil and structural firm with three offices, survey and inspection crews in the field, remote engineers in four states and a PEO quote priced as a percentage of payroll. Here's how the principals' year changes once the right PEO is in place. More real outcomes in our case studies.
Illustrative example based on common A/E firm setups.
Before
Turning down work for lack of staff
PEO priced as a percentage of payroll
Field crews on an office work comp policy
Principals running HR between projects
After
Benefits that help close offers
Per-employee pricing compared side by side
Correct work comp codes for field roles
HR administration handled through the PEO
Before you sign anything
6 questions every A/E firm should ask a PEO
We check every one of these for you, and lay the answers out side by side.
Is your pricing per employee or a percentage of payroll, and what does that cost us?
How do your benefits compare with what larger AEC firms offer?
How will you classify work comp for our field and office staff?
Can you run payroll in every state where our remote staff live?
Do you offer a 401(k) with profit sharing, or can we carve out our own plan?
What are the all-in costs per employee, and what are the exit terms?
Your options
Three ways to buy PEO services.
Only one compares them all for you.
Going direct to a PEO
Traditional broker
PEO Marketplace
PEOs you compare
One by one
The few they work with
40+ vetted PEOs, side by side
Your time
Slowest
Faster
Fastest
Proposals
Their format
Each PEO's own format
Standardized format, decoded line by line
Quote paperwork
You gather it
You gather it
Done for you, or guided DIY if you prefer
Cost to your business
Free
Usually free
Free, paid by the PEO you choose
Contract review
On your own
Varies
Before you sign
After you sign
The PEO's service team
Varies
Quarterly advocacy check-ins
Platform launch · December
Pre-register for the PEO Marketplace platform.
Everything the PEO market has been missing, from A to Z: smart shopping, side-by-side comparisons and contract signing on one platform, taking the whole PEO process from weeks to hours. Pre-register today as a business, a partner or a PEO. The first 50 businesses get free access to the beta launch.
✓ Free beta access for the first 50 businesses
✓ First in line when the platform opens in December
✓ Launch updates only. No spam, unsubscribe anytime
Need a PEO right now? Our team can run the comparison for you today →
Early access
Reserve your spot
Who's registering?
For employers
Shopping for a PEO or reviewing the one you have? The first 50 businesses to pre-register get free access to the beta launch of the marketplace.
Free beta access is limited to the first 50 businesses that pre-register.
A/E firm FAQ
PEO for A/E firms:
what principals ask first.
Reviewed by PEO Marketplace, a licensed Florida insurance agency (#L129491). Last updated October 2026.
What is the best PEO for architecture and engineering firms?
There isn't one best PEO for every A/E firm. The right fit depends on your headcount, offices, field roles, salary levels and benefit goals. We screen 40+ vetted PEOs on those factors and compare the best fits side by side. Also build what you design? See PEOs for construction.
Why do engineering firms use a PEO?
To compete for licensed talent and keep principals billable. A PEO gives an engineering or architecture firm large-group benefits, multi-state payroll, work comp for field crews and HR compliance support. It works like a subconsultant: specialized scope you bring in while you stay prime. Under 50 people? See PEOs for small business.
Should an A/E firm choose per-employee or percent-of-payroll PEO pricing?
For most professional firms, per-employee pricing is easier to predict and can cost less, because percent-of-payroll pricing rises with every raise and promotion. Compare both models on your actual census before you decide. For a quick estimate, try our PEO cost calculator.
How does a PEO handle work comp for survey and inspection crews?
The right PEO places field roles like surveyors and inspectors in the correct class codes, separate from office staff, and supports safety programs and claims. Programs vary by PEO and state, so compare work comp side by side.
Can a PEO handle remote employees in other states?
Yes. A PEO registers and runs payroll, tax filings and HR compliance in every state where your employees work, on one platform. Growing past 100 people? See PEOs for mid-market companies.
Can architecture firms offer competitive benefits through a PEO?
Often, yes. Through a PEO, a small or mid-size firm can access large-group health, dental, vision and retirement plans that are hard to get as a small group, which helps you compete with larger AEC firms for talent.
Do we keep control of hiring, compensation and projects?
Yes. You keep hiring, compensation, promotions, project staffing and every client decision. The PEO handles payroll, benefits, tax filings and HR administration as a co-employer.
How much does a PEO cost for an engineering firm?
Expect an admin fee per employee or a percentage of payroll, plus benefits and workers' comp. With professional salaries, the pricing model can swing the total significantly, so compare all-in cost side by side before you choose.
Can a PEO help us keep engineers after licensure?
It can help. Stronger benefits, retirement plans and consistent HR practices give licensed and early-career staff more reasons to stay. NAPEO research finds businesses that use a PEO have 12% lower employee turnover.
Is PEO Marketplace free for A/E firms?
Yes. Comparing PEOs with our team is free for architecture and engineering firms. Like a recruiter, we're paid by the PEO you choose. The platform itself is free for the first 50 businesses during the beta, with paid plans announced at launch. Firms on a full-service PEO (PEO, health and workers' comp) are backed by our $500 per employee per year savings guarantee.
Keep exploring
Your next step.
Proof
See real results
Case studies with the before-and-after numbers, line by line.
Read the case studies →
Free tool
Estimate your PEO savings
Run your own numbers in the free PEO Calculator.
Open the calculator →
PEO 101
What is a PEO?
A plain-English guide to how a PEO works and what it costs.
Read the guide →
peo-marketplace
Get back to the work you're licensed for.
Compare vetted PEOs side by side, see every fee, and onboard to the best fit without becoming a PEO expert. Free for architecture and engineering firms.
Need a PEO now?
Book a free comparison with our team. We'll review your current setup and what a better PEO could look like.
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