What's the true employer cost?

Plan on gross wages × ~1.10–1.15× once you add payroll taxes, workers' comp, and benefits.

After $7,000 of wages per employee per year. SUTA wage bases vary by state ($7k Florida up to $68k+ Washington).

What about additional Medicare?

Employers withhold an extra 0.9% on wages above $200k for an individual employee, regardless of filing status.

Payroll Tax Calculator

Per-paycheck breakdown of every employee withholding and the employer's true cost of payroll.

Payroll tax — per pay period

Gross wages

Federal withholding %

State income tax %

How it works

Employee: Social Security 6.2%, Medicare 1.45%, plus federal & state income withholding %.
Employer: matches Social Security 6.2% and Medicare 1.45%; pays FUTA 0.6% on the first $7,000 of wages.
Net pay = gross − employee withholdings.

Assumptions

Federal & state withholding entered as a flat %; W-4 brackets not applied.
State unemployment (SUTA) varies by state and employer history — not included.
Pre-tax deductions (401k, HSA, Section 125) are not modeled.

Frequently asked questions

Related calculators

S-Corp salary
Self-employment tax
1099 vs W-2

These calculators provide estimates for general planning only and are not tax, legal, or financial advice. Always verify with a licensed CPA for your specific situation.