Colorado Employee Cost Calculator (2026)
Last updated: October 2026
Colorado employers pay federal payroll taxes plus Colorado unemployment insurance — 3.05% for new employers on the first $30,600.00 of each employee's wages. Use the calculator to see the total cost of a hire.
Total annual cost
$65,979.30
1.10× salary · $5,979.30 on top of wages
Monthly cost
$5,498.28
Loaded hourly cost
$31.72
Per hour actually worked
$32.99
| Wages | $60,000.00 |
| Social Security (6.2%) | $3,720.00 |
| Medicare (1.45%) | $870.00 |
| FUTA (federal unemployment) | $42.00 |
| State unemployment (SUTA) | $933.30 |
| Paid family leave | $264.00 |
| Workers' comp | $150.00 |
| Total annual cost | $65,979.30 |
Estimates for planning purposes only. Not tax, legal or accounting advice. Confirm your rates with your state agency or a payroll professional.
Colorado employer payroll taxes at a glance
| New employer SUTA rate | 3.05%1.53% base + 0.17% support + 1.35% solvency surcharge. Heavy construction is 6.285%. |
| Experienced employer SUTA range | 0.2% – 7.34% |
| SUTA taxable wage base | $30,600.00Up from $27,200 in 2025. |
| Max SUTA per employee per year | $933.30 |
| Paid family/medical leave program | Yes — employer rate 0.44% |
| State income tax on wages | Yes — employers withhold; not an employer cost |
| State minimum wage | $15.16/hour |
| Source | Colorado unemployment insurance agencyVerified 2026-10-11 |
What it costs to hire in Colorado
Salary
$40,000.00
Total annual cost
$51,511.30
1.29× salary · SUTA $933.30
Salary
$60,000.00
Total annual cost
$73,779.30
1.23× salary · SUTA $933.30
Salary
$90,000.00
Total annual cost
$107,181.30
1.19× salary · SUTA $933.30
What's different about hiring in Colorado
- Colorado has one of the higher SUTA wage bases in the country ($30,600.00), so unemployment tax keeps applying well into each employee's salary.
- Colorado has a paid family and medical leave program — check whether employer contributions apply to your business size.
- 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
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
- Colorado 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
- Colorado
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Tax rates are approximate — always verify with your state's revenue department.