Alaska Employee Cost Calculator (2026)
Last updated: October 2026
Alaska employers pay federal payroll taxes plus Alaska unemployment insurance — 1% for new employers on the first $54,200.00 of each employee's wages. Use the calculator to see the total cost of a hire.
Total annual cost
$65,324.00
1.09× salary · $5,324.00 on top of wages
Monthly cost
$5,443.67
Loaded hourly cost
$31.41
Per hour actually worked
$32.66
| Wages | $60,000.00 |
| Social Security (6.2%) | $3,720.00 |
| Medicare (1.45%) | $870.00 |
| FUTA (federal unemployment) | $42.00 |
| State unemployment (SUTA) | $542.00 |
| Workers' comp | $150.00 |
| Total annual cost | $65,324.00 |
Estimates for planning purposes only. Not tax, legal or accounting advice. Confirm your rates with your state agency or a payroll professional.
Alaska employer payroll taxes at a glance
| New employer SUTA rate | 1%Flat 1.0% employer share; employees also contribute 0.5% on the same wage base. |
| Experienced employer SUTA range | 1% – 5.4% |
| SUTA taxable wage base | $54,200.00Up from $51,700 in 2025 — indexed to the average annual wage. |
| Max SUTA per employee per year | $542.00 |
| Employee SUI withholding | 0.5% on the first $54,200.00 |
| Paid family/medical leave program | No |
| State income tax on wages | No |
| State minimum wage | $14.00/hour |
| Source | Alaska unemployment insurance agencyVerified 2026-10-11 |
What it costs to hire in Alaska
Salary
$40,000.00
Total annual cost
$50,802.00
1.27× salary · SUTA $400.00
Salary
$60,000.00
Total annual cost
$73,124.00
1.22× salary · SUTA $542.00
Salary
$90,000.00
Total annual cost
$106,394.00
1.18× salary · SUTA $542.00
What's different about hiring in Alaska
- Alaska has one of the higher SUTA wage bases in the country ($54,200.00), so unemployment tax keeps applying well into each employee's salary.
- Alaska has no state income tax on wages, which simplifies payroll withholding (though it doesn't reduce your employer cost).
- Alaska is one of only three states where employees also contribute to unemployment insurance.
- Hiring remotely in another state? You generally owe SUTA in the state where the employee works — compare rates in neighboring states below.
Compare neighboring states
| State | New employer rate | Wage base | Max SUTA per employee |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alaska | 1% | $54,200.00 | $542.00 |
| Washington | Varies | $72,800.00 | Varies |
| Oregon | 2.4% | $56,700.00 | $1,360.80 |
| California | 3.4% | $7,000.00 | $238.00 |
Hiring outside the US?
Compare the cost of an international contractor or EOR employee before you commit to a US hire.
See how Deel worksPaying vendors and contractors?
Automate accounts payable and payments so contractor costs stay predictable.
See how BILL worksFrequently asked questions
Sources & methodology
- Alaska unemployment insurance agency
- SSA — Social Security wage base
- IRS Topic 759 — FUTA
- Patriot Software — state unemployment tax rate chart
Last verified: 2026-10-11
Employee cost calculators for other states
- Alabama
- Alaska
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- Arkansas
- California
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Tax rates are approximate — always verify with your state's revenue department.