District of Columbia Employee Cost Calculator (2026)
Last updated: October 2026
District of Columbia employers pay federal payroll taxes plus District of Columbia unemployment insurance — 2.7% for new employers on the first $9,000.00 of each employee's wages. Use the calculator to see the total cost of a hire.
Total annual cost
$65,475.00
1.09× salary · $5,475.00 on top of wages
Monthly cost
$5,456.25
Loaded hourly cost
$31.48
Per hour actually worked
$32.74
| Wages | $60,000.00 |
| Social Security (6.2%) | $3,720.00 |
| Medicare (1.45%) | $870.00 |
| FUTA (federal unemployment) | $42.00 |
| State unemployment (SUTA) | $243.00 |
| Paid family leave | $450.00 |
| Workers' comp | $150.00 |
| Total annual cost | $65,475.00 |
Estimates for planning purposes only. Not tax, legal or accounting advice. Confirm your rates with your state agency or a payroll professional.
District of Columbia employer payroll taxes at a glance
| New employer SUTA rate | 2.7%The higher of 2.7% or the prior-year average employer rate; kept for 4–5 years until experience-rated. |
| Experienced employer SUTA range | 1.9% – 7.4% |
| SUTA taxable wage base | $9,000.00 |
| Max SUTA per employee per year | $243.00 |
| Paid family/medical leave program | Yes — employer rate 0.75% |
| State income tax on wages | Yes — employers withhold; not an employer cost |
| State minimum wage | $17.95/hour |
| Source | District of Columbia unemployment insurance agencyVerified 2026-10-11 |
What it costs to hire in District of Columbia
Salary
$40,000.00
Total annual cost
$50,945.00
1.27× salary · SUTA $243.00
Salary
$60,000.00
Total annual cost
$73,275.00
1.22× salary · SUTA $243.00
Salary
$90,000.00
Total annual cost
$106,770.00
1.19× salary · SUTA $243.00
What's different about hiring in District of Columbia
- District of Columbia's SUTA wage base is low ($9,000.00), so unemployment tax is mostly paid in the first months of the year.
- District of Columbia 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.
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See how BILL worksFrequently asked questions
Sources & methodology
- District of Columbia 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
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Tax rates are approximate — always verify with your state's revenue department.