Pennsylvania · 2026 employer costs
The cost of an employee in Pennsylvania
At a $75,000 salary, the fully-burdened cost of an employee in Pennsylvania is about $81,293, the 30th-lowest of 51 — above Kentucky ($81,291) and New Mexico ($81,287), below Rhode Island ($81,302) and California ($81,317).
Pennsylvania's 2026 state unemployment (SUI) tax applies to the first $10,000 of each employee's wages, at a 3.82% new-employer rate. Experienced employers pay 1.42%–10.37% based on their layoff history. Pennsylvania adds no employer-specific payroll tax beyond SUI; its income tax is withheld from employees, not paid by you. Employee-funded Employee UC withholding is excluded below — it is withheld from the worker, not an employer cost.
Pennsylvania SUI and FUTA quick rates
2026 employer-side planning defaults, before experience-rating adjustments.
- Default SUI rate
- 3.82%
- New-employer rate; use your notice rate if available.
- SUI taxable wage base
- $10,000
- Maximum wages subject to Pennsylvania SUI per employee.
- New-employer SUI maximum
- $382
- Taxable wage base × the new-employer rate; experience rates vary.
- Net FUTA maximum
- $42
- Assumes the full standard credit after timely state UI payment: 0.60% on the first $7,000.
Review the federal FUTA sources and Pennsylvania rate sources.
Pennsylvania employer payroll tax calculator
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How the $6,293 on top of salary breaks down
- Social Security74%
- Medicare17%
- FUTA1%
- State SUI6%
- Workers' comp2%
| Cost item | Rate or assumption | annual amount |
|---|---|---|
| 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/PA) | 3.82% up to $10,000 | $382 |
| Workers' compensation (est.)est. | ~0.17% (office/clerical est.) | $131 |
| Total annual cost | $81,293 |
$75,000 annualized wages · 2,080 paid hours · Pennsylvania · 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.
Pennsylvania employer payroll taxes (2026)
- State income tax on wages
- Yes
- State unemployment (SUI) wage base
- $10,000
- SUI new-employer rate
- 3.82%
- SUI rate range (experienced)
- 1.42% – 10.37%
- FUTA (federal unemployment)
- 0.60% on first $7,000Standard 0.6% net rate (no projected credit reduction).
- Workers' comp (office class, est.)
- ~$0.1–$0.25 / $100Estimate — set by your carrier and experience rating.
Excluded (employee-paid, not an employer cost): Employee UC withholding.
2026 tax year · each Pennsylvania figure carries a primary and an independent source (see sources) · last verified June 2026.
Worked examples
Default employer-cost estimates in Pennsylvania, using 2026 rates:
| Salary | Added | Total cost | Burden |
|---|---|---|---|
| $45,000 | $3,945 | $48,945 | +8.8% |
| $75,000 | $6,293 | $81,293 | +8.4% |
| $120,000 | $9,814 | $129,814 | +8.2% |
Hourly wage examples
Assumes 40 hours/week for 52 paid weeks.
| Base rate | Burden / hr | Loaded / hr | Burden |
|---|---|---|---|
| $20.00 | $1.77 | $21.77 | +8.8% |
| $40.00 | $3.33 | $43.33 | +8.3% |
Both tables include Social Security (6.20% to $184,500), Medicare, net FUTA, Pennsylvania SUI at the new-employer rate (3.82%), automatically modeled state employer charges, and an office workers'-comp estimate. They assume a total employer headcount of one and exclude optional benefits.
Pennsylvania employer cost FAQ
How much does it cost to employ someone in Pennsylvania?
Beyond salary, a Pennsylvania employer pays Social Security and Medicare (7.65% combined), FUTA, and Pennsylvania state unemployment on the first $10,000 of wages. For a $75,000 salary that totals about $81,293 (+8.4%) before optional benefits.
What is the Pennsylvania SUI / SUTA rate for 2026?
The 2026 Pennsylvania taxable wage base is $10,000. New employers pay 3.82%; experienced employers range 1.42%–10.37% based on their claims history.
What employer payroll costs are specific to Pennsylvania?
Pennsylvania adds no employer-specific payroll tax beyond SUI; the rest of the stack is the federal FICA and FUTA every US employer pays.
How much does an employer pay for payroll tax?
For a $75,000 salary in Pennsylvania, an employer pays about $6,293 in payroll taxes and workers' comp on top of wages — roughly 8.4% — for a fully-burdened cost near $81,293. The Pennsylvania SUI rate is the main variable.
What is the PA employee withholding tax?
Pennsylvania employers withhold state income tax from employee wages and remit it, but that is the employee's tax, not an employer cost. The employer's own Pennsylvania payroll cost is SUI (a 3.82% new-employer rate on the first $10,000), and workers' comp.
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.