Maryland Employee Cost Calculator (2026)
Last updated: October 2026
Maryland employers pay federal payroll taxes plus Maryland unemployment insurance — a rate assigned individually by the state on the first $8,500.00 of each employee's wages. Use the calculator to see the total cost of a hire.
Your state assigns rates individually — we used 2.7% as a placeholder. Enter your rate in Advanced options.
Total annual cost
$65,281.50
1.09× salary · $5,281.50 on top of wages
Monthly cost
$5,440.13
Loaded hourly cost
$31.39
Per hour actually worked
$32.64
| Wages | $60,000.00 |
| Social Security (6.2%) | $3,720.00 |
| Medicare (1.45%) | $870.00 |
| FUTA (federal unemployment) | $42.00 |
| State unemployment (SUTA) | $229.50 |
| Paid family leave | $270.00 |
| Workers' comp | $150.00 |
| Total annual cost | $65,281.50 |
Estimates for planning purposes only. Not tax, legal or accounting advice. Confirm your rates with your state agency or a payroll professional.
Maryland employer payroll taxes at a glance
| New employer SUTA rate | Assigned individuallyNew-employer rates range from 1.0% to 2.6% under Tax Table A. |
| Experienced employer SUTA range | 0.3% – 7.5% |
| SUTA taxable wage base | $8,500.00 |
| Paid family/medical leave program | Yes — employer rate 0.45% |
| State income tax on wages | Yes — employers withhold; not an employer cost |
| State minimum wage | $15.00/hour |
| Source | Maryland unemployment insurance agencyVerified 2026-10-11 |
What it costs to hire in Maryland
Salary
$40,000.00
Total annual cost
$50,811.50
1.27× salary · SUTA $229.50
Salary
$60,000.00
Total annual cost
$73,081.50
1.22× salary · SUTA $229.50
Salary
$90,000.00
Total annual cost
$106,486.50
1.18× salary · SUTA $229.50
What's different about hiring in Maryland
- Maryland's SUTA wage base is low ($8,500.00), so unemployment tax is mostly paid in the first months of the year.
- Maryland assigns new employers an individual rate rather than a single standard rate — check your rate notice before budgeting.
- Maryland 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
| State | New employer rate | Wage base | Max SUTA per employee |
|---|---|---|---|
| Maryland | Varies | $8,500.00 | Varies |
| Pennsylvania | 3.822% | $10,000.00 | $382.20 |
| Delaware | 1% | $14,500.00 | $145.00 |
| West Virginia | 2.7% | $9,500.00 | $256.50 |
| Virginia | 2.73% | $8,000.00 | $218.40 |
| District of Columbia | 2.7% | $9,000.00 | $243.00 |
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
- Maryland 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
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Tax rates are approximate — always verify with your state's revenue department.