Florida · 2026 employer costs
The cost of an employee in Florida
At a $75,000 salary, the fully-burdened cost of an employee in Florida is about $81,045, the 4th-lowest of 51 — above South Carolina ($81,040) and Nebraska ($81,005), below Mississippi ($81,051) and Arkansas ($81,054).
Florida's 2026 state unemployment (SUI) tax applies to the first $7,000 of each employee's wages, at a 2.70% new-employer rate. Experienced employers pay 0.10%–5.40% based on their layoff history. Florida has no state income tax and adds no employer payroll tax beyond SUI and federal FICA/FUTA.
Florida employer payroll tax calculator
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How the $6,045 on top of salary breaks down
- Social Security77%
- Medicare18%
- FUTA1%
- State SUI3%
- Workers' comp1%
| Base wages | Annual rate basis | $75,000 |
| Social Security (employer) | 6.20% up to $184,500 | $4,650 |
| Medicare (employer) | 1.45% (no cap) | $1,088 |
| FUTA | 0.60% on first $7,000 | $42 |
| State unemployment (SUI/FL) | 2.70% up to $7,000 | $189 |
| Workers' compensation (est.)est. | ~0.10% (office/clerical est.) | $77 |
| Total annual cost | $81,045 |
$75,000 annualized wages · 2,080 paid hours · Florida · 1 in role · 1 total employer headcount · tax year 2026.
Health $0/year · retirement 0% · other benefits 0% · payroll/PEO fees $0/year.
Employer-paid costs only — employee withholdings (state income tax, SDI, employee-funded leave) are excluded; these are costs on top of wages, not deductions. Estimate for budgeting, not tax advice. Defaults use the new-employer SUI rate and an office-class workers'-comp estimate. See methodology.
Florida employer payroll taxes (2026)
- State income tax on wages
- No
- State unemployment (SUI) wage base
- $7,000
- SUI new-employer rate
- 2.70%
- SUI rate range (experienced)
- 0.10% – 5.40%
- FUTA (federal unemployment)
- 0.60% on first $7,000Standard 0.6% net rate (no projected credit reduction).
- Workers' comp (office class, est.)
- ~$0.1–$0.105 / $100Estimate — set by your carrier and experience rating.
2026 tax year · each Florida figure carries a primary and an independent source (see sources) · last verified June 2026.
Worked examples
Fully-burdened employer cost in Florida, 2026 rates:
| Salary | Added | Total cost | Burden |
|---|---|---|---|
| $45,000 | $3,720 | $48,720 | +8.3% |
| $75,000 | $6,045 | $81,045 | +8.1% |
| $120,000 | $9,534 | $129,534 | +7.9% |
Includes Social Security (6.20% to $184,500), Medicare, FUTA, Florida SUI at the new-employer rate (2.70%), and an office workers' comp estimate. Excludes optional benefits.
Florida employer cost FAQ
How much does it cost to employ someone in Florida?
Beyond salary, a Florida employer pays Social Security and Medicare (7.65% combined), FUTA, and Florida state unemployment on the first $7,000 of wages. For a $75,000 salary that totals about $81,045 (+8.1%) before optional benefits.
What is the Florida SUI / SUTA rate for 2026?
The 2026 Florida taxable wage base is $7,000. New employers pay 2.70%; experienced employers range 0.10%–5.40% based on their claims history.
Does Florida have a state income tax employers withhold?
No — Florida has no state income tax on wages, so there is no state income-tax withholding. Employer state costs are limited to SUI plus workers' compensation.
What are employer payroll taxes in Florida?
Florida employers pay federal Social Security (6.2%) and Medicare (1.45%), FUTA (0.6% on the first $7,000), and Florida state unemployment (SUI) at a 2.7% new-employer rate on the first $7,000. Workers' compensation is on top. Florida has no state income tax.
How much does a $20 an hour employee cost an employer?
A $20/hour employee (about $41,600 a year) in Florida costs an employer roughly $45,056 fully burdened — about 8.3% over wages — once Social Security, Medicare, FUTA, Florida SUI and workers' comp are added.
States with a similar cost of employment
Read how the burden stack works in our labor burden rate guide, compare 1099 vs W-2 employer costs, and see every figure sourced in our methodology.