Rex says
Money math without the spreadsheet headache. Plug in your numbers and I'll show you exactly where the dollars land.
Try a scenario
Click to load — tweak from there.Inputs
Result
True annual cost
$102,068
Load above salary
20.1%
Employer FICA
$6,503
FUTA + SUTA
$285
Workers' compensation
$680
Monthly cost
$8,506
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One click, a permanent link with your numbers baked in.
How to use this
- 1Enter annual salary ($).
- 2Enter state unemployment rate (%).
- 3Enter suta wage base ($).
- 4Enter workers' comp rate (%).
- 5Enter benefits cost ($/yr).
- 6Read your true annual cost on the right — it updates as you type.
- 7Hit Share to keep the scenario or send it to someone.
About this calculator
An employee costs far more than their salary: the employer half of FICA, unemployment insurance, workers' comp, and benefits typically add 20–30% on top. This is the number to use when budgeting a hire.
Worked example
Using the values the calculator loads with:
Inputs
- Annual salary: 85000 $
- State unemployment rate: 2.7 %
- SUTA wage base: 9000 $
- Workers' comp rate: 0.8 %
- Benefits cost: 9600 $/yr
Results
- True annual cost: $102,067.50
- Load above salary: 20.1%
- Employer FICA: $6,502.50
- FUTA + SUTA: $285.00
- Workers' compensation: $680.00
- Monthly cost: $8,505.63
What each field means
Inputs
- Annual salary ($)
- The annual salary used in the calculation, measured in $. Starts at 85000 $ so you have a working example on load.
- State unemployment rate (%)
- The state unemployment rate used in the calculation, measured in %. Starts at 2.7 % so you have a working example on load. Accepted range: 0–12 %.
- SUTA wage base ($)
- The suta wage base used in the calculation, measured in $. Starts at 9000 $ so you have a working example on load.
- Workers' comp rate (%)
- The workers' comp rate used in the calculation, measured in %. Starts at 0.8 % so you have a working example on load. Accepted range: 0–15 %.
- Benefits cost ($/yr)
- The benefits cost used in the calculation, measured in $/yr. Starts at 9600 $/yr so you have a working example on load.
Results
- True annual cost
- Returned as a money amount in US dollars and shown as the headline result. It recalculates instantly whenever you change an input, so you can compare scenarios without reloading.
- Load above salary
- Returned as a percentage. It recalculates instantly whenever you change an input, so you can compare scenarios without reloading.
- Employer FICA
- Returned as a money amount in US dollars. It recalculates instantly whenever you change an input, so you can compare scenarios without reloading.
- FUTA + SUTA
- Returned as a money amount in US dollars. It recalculates instantly whenever you change an input, so you can compare scenarios without reloading.
- Workers' compensation
- Returned as a money amount in US dollars. It recalculates instantly whenever you change an input, so you can compare scenarios without reloading.
- Monthly cost
- Returned as a money amount in US dollars. It recalculates instantly whenever you change an input, so you can compare scenarios without reloading.
FAQ
How does the employer payroll tax calculator work?
An employee costs far more than their salary: the employer half of FICA, unemployment insurance, workers' comp, and benefits typically add 20–30% on top. This is the number to use when budgeting a hire. The underlying maths is: Total cost = Salary + employer FICA (7.65%) + FUTA/SUTA + workers' comp + benefits.
What do I need to enter?
5 values: annual salary, state unemployment rate, suta wage base, workers' comp rate, and benefits cost. Each field starts with a sensible default, so you can change one number at a time and watch the result move.
What does the true annual cost result mean?
It is returned as a money amount in US dollars and updates live as you edit the inputs, so you can compare two or three versions of a scenario in a few seconds.
Is this calculator free, and do I need an account?
Yes, it's free, and no account is required. Nothing you type is stored on our servers — the maths runs entirely in your browser.
How accurate is the result?
It applies the standard formula exactly, so the arithmetic is precise. Results are estimates before tax, fees, and inflation unless an input explicitly covers them.
Who is this tool for?
It's built for anyone comparing money scenarios before committing — budgeting a payment, sanity-checking a quote, or seeing what a change in rate or term actually costs.
Accuracy and limitations
- Results are estimates before tax, fees, and inflation unless an input explicitly covers them.
- Rates are treated as fixed for the whole period — variable-rate products will drift from this projection.
- This is educational maths, not financial advice. Check anything contractual with the lender or your accountant.
Related tools
Cite this calculator
Writing about this topic? Grab a citation — every link helps keep these tools free.
RevenueLab. (2026). Employer Payroll Tax Calculator. Retrieved from https://www.revenuelab.fyi/toolbox/payroll-tax
<p>Source: <a href="https://www.revenuelab.fyi/toolbox/payroll-tax" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Employer Payroll Tax Calculator — RevenueLab</a> (2026).</p>
Source: [Employer Payroll Tax Calculator — RevenueLab](https://www.revenuelab.fyi/toolbox/payroll-tax) (2026).