TrueHireCost

Employee Cost Calculator

Compare Employee Costs by State: Employee Cost Comparison Across the US

Compare the cost of hiring employees across all 50 states and DC. See SUTA rates, wage bases, workers’ comp, and fully loaded annual cost by state — and compare up to three states side-by-side.

Open the Calculator

Employee Cost Calculator

Pre-configured with your state tax rates. Adjust salary, benefits, and overhead to model your specific hire.

Your Inputs

Annual Base Salary$80,000
Stateyour state
Industry / Workers’ Comp ClassOffice / Clerical
Monthly Benefits$650
401(k) Employer Match4%
SUTA Rate2.7%
SUTA Wage Base$15,000
Workers’ Comp (per $100)$0.80
Annual Overhead$3,000

Total Annual Cost

$101,207

Loaded multiplier: 1.27× base salary

Cost ComponentAnnual
Base Salary$80,000
Employer Taxes (FICA, FUTA, SUTA)$6,567
Workers’ Comp$640
Benefits + 401(k) Match$11,000
Overhead$3,000

Open the interactive calculator to adjust every input and export a PDF report.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the fully loaded cost of an employee?

The fully loaded cost of an employee is the total annual cost to employ them: base salary plus employer payroll taxes (FICA, FUTA, SUTA), workers’ compensation, benefits, and overhead. Using TrueHireCost’s current default assumptions, an $80,000 employee has an estimated annual employer cost of approximately $101,207. Actual costs vary by state, benefits, workers’ compensation, retirement contributions, and overhead. Under those defaults the loaded multiplier is about 1.27× base salary ($101,207).

How is the fully loaded employee cost calculated?

TrueHireCost adds employer FICA (7.65%), federal and state unemployment tax, workers’ comp (varies by state and industry), benefits, and overhead to the base salary. You can adjust each input for any U.S. state and industry.

What employer taxes do I pay on top of salary?

Employers pay 7.65% FICA (6.2% Social Security + 1.45% Medicare), FUTA (up to 0.6% on the first $7,000), state unemployment (SUTA), and state disability insurance where applicable.

Is the TrueHireCost calculator free?

Yes. The TrueHireCost employee cost calculator is free to use, requires no sign-up, and works for all 50 U.S. states and 20 major industries.

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.