Cost of an employee by state
What it costs to employ someone — fully burdened — in each US state and DC for 2026. Each page itemizes the state's SUI wage base and rate, FUTA, FICA and any state-specific employer taxes, with a live calculator. Costs shown are for a $75,000 salary at the new-employer rate. Detailed guides are published in verified batches; the calculator itself covers all 50 states and DC.
Compare employee cost between two states
Use the same salary and default assumptions across any two states or DC. The calculator covers every jurisdiction; detailed state guides remain limited to the verified publication batches below.
California
$81,317
- Added cost
- $6,317
- Burden
- 8.4%
Texas
$81,079
- Added cost
- $6,079
- Burden
- 8.1%
California is $238 higher per employee per year under these assumptions.
Assumes one total employer employee for size-gated contributions, new-employer SUI defaults, office-class workers'-comp estimates, and no optional benefits. Employer-specific items flagged above are excluded. Actual rates can change the result; adjust them in the full calculator and review the methodology.
- California employer cost$81,317
- Florida employer cost$81,045
- New York employer cost$81,632
- Texas employer cost$81,079
- Washington employer cost$81,946
New to the math? Start with the labor burden rate guide or compare 1099 vs W-2 employer cost.