Fractional AI Consultant vs. Full-Time Employee:The True Cost Comparison
A senior AI engineer costs $150K-250K/year plus benefits. A fractional consultant delivers the same expertise for a fraction of the cost. But which model makes sense for your business?
Pricing Comparison
See how our pricing stacks up against Full-Time AI Employee
Prestyj
- Senior-level AI expertise
- Done-for-you implementation
- Industry-specific knowledge
- No recruitment overhead
- Scalable as needed
- No payroll/benefits administration
- Cancel or adjust anytime
Full-Time AI Employee
- Dedicated full-time attentionIf you have enough work to fill 40+ hours/week
- Deep company knowledgeDevelops over time
- Complete control over priorities
- Recruitment costs$15K-30K in recruiter fees or 3-6 months internal sourcing
- Benefits administrationHealthcare, 401k, payroll taxes
- Equipment and softwareLaptop, monitors, API credits, development tools
- Risk of turnoverAI talent has high job-hopping rates
Feature Comparison
Compare PrestyJ with Full-Time AI Employee feature by feature
| Feature | PrestyJ | Full-Time AI Employee |
|---|---|---|
Annual Cost Fractional saves 60-80% while delivering the same expertise | $36K-60K | $150K-250K+ |
Time to Productivity Consultants start immediately. Hiring takes months plus onboarding time | Days to weeks | 3-6 months |
Expertise Level At $150K, you hire mid-level. Principal-level AI engineers cost $250K+ | Senior/Principal level | Varies (Mid to Senior) |
Industry Knowledge Employees learn your industry over time. Consultants bring industry expertise day one | Specialized (service businesses) | General technical skills |
Scalability Employees are 40 hours/week regardless of workload. Consultants scale to your needs | Up or down monthly | Fixed capacity |
Implementation Speed Consultants use pre-built solutions and proven patterns. Employees build from scratch | Days to weeks | Months |
Recruitment Burden Sourcing, interviewing, vetting AI candidates takes 100+ hours typically | None | Significant |
Turnover Risk AI engineers change jobs frequently (18-24 month average tenure). You lose knowledge and restart hiring | Minimal | High |
Management Overhead Employees need oversight, performance reviews, career development, and management | Minimal | Significant |
Platform & Tool Costs Employees need API credits, development tools, computing resources. You pay separately | Included | Additional |
Why Smart Businesses Choose Fractional AI Consultants Over Full-Time Hires
Hiring a full-time AI engineer sounds like the right move—until you see the costs, timeline, and risks.
The Real Cost is 2x the Salary
AI engineer salary: $150K. Add benefits ($25K), payroll taxes ($12K), equipment ($10K), recruiting ($20K), and onboarding ramp time. Year 1 actual cost: $217K minimum. For the same expertise, fractional consultants cost $36K-60K. You save 70%+.
Six Months Before They're Productive
Posting jobs, interviewing candidates (AI talent has 100:1 applicant ratios), making offers, negotiating, and onboarding takes 3-6 months. Then 2-3 months to become productive. Your AI needs are urgent—can you wait 9 months? Fractional consultants start in days.
AI Talent Has 50% Annual Turnover
AI engineers are the most job-hopping demographic in tech (median tenure: 18 months). They leave for better offers, equity packages, or new challenges. When they leave, institutional knowledge walks out the door and you restart the hiring cycle. Fractional consultants provide continuity through their firms.
You Need Part-Time AI Expertise
Most service businesses need 10-20 hours/week of AI work—implementation, optimization, maintenance. A full-time hire sits idle for 20-30 hours/week. You're paying $150K for someone with spare capacity. Fractional consultants let you pay for what you actually need.
Related Resources
AI Consultant Pricing Guide 2026
Complete breakdown of fractional consultant costs vs. full-time hiring.
See the full analysisAI Consulting Engagement Models Explained
Retainers, fractional, project-based, hourly—what each model means for cost and value.
Compare engagement modelsAI Consultant vs. AI Agency
Specialized consultant vs. full agency team—which delivers better ROI?
Compare consultants to agenciesIs AI Consulting Worth It?
Calculate the ROI of fractional AI expertise for your service business.
Calculate your ROINeed Senior AI Expertise Without the Full-Time Cost?
Get fractional AI consultants with senior-level expertise, industry specialization, and done-for-you implementation at 60-80% less than hiring full-time.
No commitment required. We'll compare fractional consultant costs to full-time hiring for your specific use case.