True Cost of Hiring Calculator
Estimate the fully loaded cost of a W-2 hire in Colorado — including 1.7% SUTA, $1/$100 workers’ comp, state income tax up to 4.4%, benefits, and overhead.
Open the CalculatorPre-configured with Colorado tax rates. Adjust salary, benefits, and overhead to model your specific hire.
Total Annual Cost
$101,356
Loaded multiplier: 1.27× base salary
Open the interactive calculator to adjust every input and export a PDF report.
Representative 2026 new-employer figures for Colorado. Confirm your experience-rated rate with the state agency.
Each figure on this page is classified and cited. Statutory rates are fixed by law; the new-employer SUTA rate and workers’ comp are representative estimates; benefit/overhead defaults are editable TrueHireCost modeling assumptions.
| Metric | Value | Type | Source | Last verified |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| New-employer SUTA rate | 1.7% | Representative estimate | Colorado Department of Labor & Employment | Aug 2026 |
| SUTA wage base | $23,200 | Official statutory figure | Colorado Department of Labor & Employment | Aug 2026 |
| Workers’ comp (office/clerical) | 1 / $100 payroll | Representative estimate | DOL Office of Workers’ Compensation Programs | Aug 2026 |
| State income tax | Up to 4.4% | Official statutory figure | Colorado Department of Labor & Employment | Aug 2026 |
| State minimum wage | $14.81/hr | Official statutory figure | Colorado Department of Labor & Employment | Aug 2026 |
| Employer FICA | 7.65% (SS 6.2% + Medicare 1.45%) | Official statutory figure | IRS Publication 15 (Circular E) | Aug 2026 |
| FUTA (effective) | 0.6% on first $7,000 | Official statutory figure | IRS Publication 15 (Circular E) | Aug 2026 |
| Social Security wage base | $184,500 | Official statutory figure | Social Security Administration | Aug 2026 |
How to read this table
An $80,000 office hire in Colorado costs approximately $101,356 once employer taxes, workers’ comp, benefits, and overhead are added — a 1.27× loaded multiplier.
Aerospace, tech, energy, and outdoor recreation anchor Colorado’s economy along the Front Range. When budgeting a hire in Colorado, the biggest state-specific cost drivers are the 1.7% SUTA rate (applied to the first $23,200 of wages), workers’ compensation at $1/$100, and state income tax withholding at up to 4.4%.
Key steps employers must complete when hiring in Colorado.
Colorado Department of Labor & Employment
Colorado workforce & unemployment agency
Federal employer tax guide
Federal wage & hour division
Colorado official resource
Editorial Standards
Maintained by the TrueHireCost editorial team
TrueHireCost is an independent research and tooling project. Our content is written and maintained by the TrueHireCost editorial team — not by a licensed CPA, attorney, or HR certificant, and no named professional endorses or "verifies" these pages. Rates, wage bases, and benchmarks are collected from official public sources (IRS, U.S. Department of Labor, state workforce agencies, and the Bureau of Labor Statistics) and labeled with their source and last-reviewed date. State SUTA, workers’ comp, and minimum-wage figures are representative new-employer estimates and should be confirmed with the agency for your specific situation.
Found an outdated rate or a calculation that looks wrong? Email editorial@truehirecost.com and we’ll review and correct it. TrueHireCost is an informational tool, not professional tax, legal, or HR advice — consult a qualified professional before making hiring or payroll decisions.
Last updated 2026-08-24
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 fully loaded cost of an $80,000 hire in Colorado includes the 1.7% SUTA rate, $1/$100 workers’ comp, state income tax withholding up to 4.4%, benefits, and overhead. Use the TrueHireCost calculator above for a Colorado-specific estimate.
The representative new-employer SUTA rate in Colorado is 1.7%, applied to the first $23,200 of wages per employee. Your experience-rated rate may differ — confirm with the Colorado Department of Labor & Employment.
Workers’ comp required for all employers. Check the Colorado labor agency for the exact employee-count threshold that applies to your business.
Yes. Colorado levies a state income tax with a top marginal rate of 4.4%. Employers must withhold state income tax from employee wages.
For Estimation Purposes Only
TrueHireCost provides hiring 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.