What do your W-2 workers
actually cost you?
The pay rate on someone's timesheet is just the starting point. Enter your numbers below to see the full picture — and whether your bill rate holds up.
Your Numbers
$
$
Used to estimate workers' comp rate
hrs
Pay rate
—
per hour
Fully loaded cost
—
per hour
Break-even bill rate
—
per hour
Cost breakdown — per hour worked
Base hourly pay rate
—
Federal employer taxes
Social Security (OASDI)
Federal
6.2%
—
Medicare (FICA)
Federal
1.45%
—
Federal Unemployment (FUTA)
Federal
0.6%
—
State-specific costs
State Unemployment (SUTA) — median rate
State
—
—
Workers' Comp Insurance — estimated
State / Industry
—
—
State Paid Leave / SDI — employer portion
State
—
—
Fully loaded cost per hour
—
Margin analysis
Your bill rate
—
Fully loaded cost
—
Gross margin per hour
—
Markup needed to break even
—
Your actual markup
—
Net margin
—
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Data sources & methodology
SUTA rates are median employer rates by state (2025–2026 data). Your actual rate may be higher or lower based on your agency's unemployment claims history. Federal payroll taxes use 2026 IRS rates: Social Security 6.2% on wages up to $184,500; Medicare 1.45% (no cap); FUTA effective rate 0.6% on first $7,000. Workers' compensation rates are estimates based on NCCI class code benchmarks by job category (clerical 8810, light industrial 8832, skilled trades 5537–5645, transportation 7380–7382, manufacturing 3632–3634, healthcare 8832–8835) and state cost tier — actual rates depend on your specific policy, insurer, and experience modifier. State paid leave figures reflect employer-only portions where applicable; several states fund programs entirely through employee withholding (no employer cost). This calculator is for illustrative purposes and does not constitute legal, tax, or financial advice.
SUTA rates are median employer rates by state (2025–2026 data). Your actual rate may be higher or lower based on your agency's unemployment claims history. Federal payroll taxes use 2026 IRS rates: Social Security 6.2% on wages up to $184,500; Medicare 1.45% (no cap); FUTA effective rate 0.6% on first $7,000. Workers' compensation rates are estimates based on NCCI class code benchmarks by job category (clerical 8810, light industrial 8832, skilled trades 5537–5645, transportation 7380–7382, manufacturing 3632–3634, healthcare 8832–8835) and state cost tier — actual rates depend on your specific policy, insurer, and experience modifier. State paid leave figures reflect employer-only portions where applicable; several states fund programs entirely through employee withholding (no employer cost). This calculator is for illustrative purposes and does not constitute legal, tax, or financial advice.