Employee Cost Calculator
Original 2026 research: the fully loaded cost of an $80,000 employee in every US state. Compare SUTA, workers’ comp, benefits, and burden rates across all 50 states plus DC.
Open the CalculatorEvery state ranked by the fully loaded annual cost of a representative $80,000 office worker with standard benefits ($650/mo, 4% 401(k) match, $3,000 overhead). SUTA is capped at each state’s wage base; workers’ comp uses a representative office/clerical rate. A CSV download with every state’s figures is available on the live page.
| Rank | State | SUTA | WC/$100 | Min Wage | Loaded Cost | Multiplier |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tennessee | 1% | $0.90 | $7.25 | $100,952 | 1.26× |
| 2 | Virginia | 1% | $0.90 | $12.41 | $100,962 | 1.26× |
| 3 | South Carolina | 0.6% | $0.90 | $7.25 | $100,966 | 1.26× |
| 4 | South Dakota | 1% | $0.80 | $11.50 | $100,972 | 1.26× |
| 5 | Kansas | 1% | $0.90 | $7.25 | $101,022 | 1.26× |
| 6 | Mississippi | 1% | $0.90 | $7.25 | $101,022 | 1.26× |
| 7 | Indiana | 1.5% | $0.90 | $7.25 | $101,025 | 1.26× |
| 8 | Louisiana | 1% | $1 | $7.25 | $101,039 | 1.26× |
| 9 | Maryland | 1% | $1 | $15 | $101,047 | 1.26× |
| 10 | Missouri | 1% | $1 | $13.75 | $101,067 | 1.26× |
| 11 | Florida | 2.7% | $0.90 | $13 | $101,071 | 1.26× |
| 12 | Wyoming | 1% | $0.80 | $7.25 | $101,093 | 1.26× |
| 13 | West Virginia | 1.5% | $1 | $8.75 | $101,097 | 1.26× |
| 14 | Alabama | 2.7% | $0.90 | $7.25 | $101,098 | 1.26× |
| 15 | Arizona | 2% | $1 | $14.70 | $101,122 | 1.26× |
| 16 | Nebraska | 1% | $0.90 | $13.50 | $101,152 | 1.26× |
| 17 | Maine | 1% | $1.10 | $14.65 | $101,162 | 1.26× |
| 18 | Vermont | 1% | $1.10 | $14.01 | $101,181 | 1.26× |
| 19 | New Mexico | 1% | $0.90 | $12 | $101,199 | 1.26× |
| 20 | Ohio | 2.7% | $1 | $10.45 | $101,205 | 1.27× |
| 21 | Texas | 2.7% | $1 | $7.25 | $101,205 | 1.27× |
| 22 | North Dakota | 1% | $0.80 | $7.25 | $101,213 | 1.27× |
| 23 | Georgia | 2.7% | $1 | $7.25 | $101,219 | 1.27× |
| 24 | North Carolina | 1% | $0.90 | $7.25 | $101,224 | 1.27× |
| 25 | Arkansas | 3.1% | $1.10 | $11 | $101,259 | 1.27× |
| 26 | Delaware | 1.8% | $1 | $15.20 | $101,259 | 1.27× |
| 27 | District of Columbia | 2.7% | $1.10 | $17.50 | $101,285 | 1.27× |
| 28 | Oklahoma | 1.5% | $1 | $7.25 | $101,294 | 1.27× |
| 29 | Idaho | 1% | $0.80 | $7.25 | $101,301 | 1.27× |
| 30 | Rhode Island | 1% | $1.10 | $15.26 | $101,322 | 1.27× |
| 31 | Kentucky | 2.7% | $1.10 | $7.25 | $101,339 | 1.27× |
| 32 | New Hampshire | 2.7% | $1 | $7.25 | $101,340 | 1.27× |
| 33 | Iowa | 1% | $1 | $7.25 | $101,344 | 1.27× |
| 34 | California | 3.4% | $1.20 | $16.90 | $101,360 | 1.27× |
| 35 | Utah | 1% | $0.90 | $7.25 | $101,373 | 1.27× |
| 36 | Michigan | 2.7% | $1.20 | $10.56 | $101,379 | 1.27× |
| 37 | Minnesota | 1% | $1 | $11.13 | $101,382 | 1.27× |
| 38 | Massachusetts | 2.4% | $1.10 | $15 | $101,402 | 1.27× |
| 39 | Wisconsin | 3.05% | $1.10 | $7.25 | $101,469 | 1.27× |
| 40 | Montana | 1% | $1.10 | $10.55 | $101,473 | 1.27× |
| 41 | Pennsylvania | 3.7% | $1.20 | $7.25 | $101,492 | 1.27× |
| 42 | New York | 4.1% | $1.10 | $16.50 | $101,534 | 1.27× |
| 43 | Connecticut | 1.9% | $1.30 | $16.35 | $101,715 | 1.27× |
| 44 | Illinois | 3.9% | $1.30 | $15 | $101,748 | 1.27× |
| 45 | Colorado | 3.05% | $1 | $15.16 | $101,895 | 1.27× |
| 46 | New Jersey | 1.9% | $1.30 | $15.49 | $102,013 | 1.28× |
| 47 | Hawaii | 1.7% | $1.20 | $14.50 | $102,135 | 1.28× |
| 48 | Alaska | 1.7% | $1.60 | $11.91 | $102,243 | 1.28× |
| 49 | Nevada | 2.95% | $1.20 | $12 | $102,329 | 1.28× |
| 50 | Oregon | 2.6% | $1.20 | $14.70 | $102,487 | 1.28× |
| 51 | Washington | 3.4% | $1.40 | $16.66 | $103,441 | 1.29× |
Every rate and formula is checked against the issuing agency before publication. Last updated 2026-08-24.
IRS
FICA, FUTA tax rate & wage base
U.S. DOL
FUTA credit, federal wage & hour
State Workforce Agencies
SUTA rates, wage bases, new-employer rates
BLS
Industry salary benchmarks & turnover
The Index is an original TrueHireCost dataset estimating the fully loaded annual cost of employing a representative $80,000 mid-level worker in all 50 states plus DC, built from statutory federal and state tax parameters and clearly labeled representative assumptions for benefits, 401(k) match, overhead, and workers’ compensation.
No. The Index ranks states for one specific scenario — an $80,000 office worker with standard benefits. Change the salary, industry, or benefit package and the ranking shifts, because SUTA is capped at a wage base and workers’ comp varies by job classification.
FUTA applies only to the first $7,000, SUTA applies only up to each state’s wage base, and benefits and overhead are largely fixed dollar amounts. As salary rises, those fixed costs become a smaller fraction of pay, so the fully loaded multiplier declines.
Yes. The page includes a CSV download with every state’s SUTA rate, wage base, representative workers’ comp rate, fully loaded cost, and burden rate, free to use with attribution to TrueHireCost.com.
For Estimation Purposes Only
TrueHireCost provides cost estimates for informational purposes only and is not professional tax, legal, or HR advice. Actual employer costs vary by experience rating, industry classification, carrier, and jurisdiction. Consult a qualified CPA, tax advisor, or HR professional before making hiring or payroll decisions.