Missouri Employee Cost Calculator (2026)
Last updated: October 2026
Missouri employers pay federal payroll taxes plus Missouri unemployment insurance — 2.376% 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
$64,995.84
1.08× salary · $4,995.84 on top of wages
Monthly cost
$5,416.32
Loaded hourly cost
$31.25
Per hour actually worked
$32.50
| Wages | $60,000.00 |
| Social Security (6.2%) | $3,720.00 |
| Medicare (1.45%) | $870.00 |
| FUTA (federal unemployment) | $42.00 |
| State unemployment (SUTA) | $213.84 |
| Workers' comp | $150.00 |
| Total annual cost | $64,995.84 |
Estimates for planning purposes only. Not tax, legal or accounting advice. Confirm your rates with your state agency or a payroll professional.
Missouri employer payroll taxes at a glance
| New employer SUTA rate | 2.376%1.0% for 501(c)(3) nonprofits. Unchanged since 2024. |
| Experienced employer SUTA range | 0% – 6% |
| SUTA taxable wage base | $9,000.00Secondary sources indicate the 2026 wage base dropped from $9,500 in 2025 — confirm the exact figure with Missouri DOLIR before relying on it. |
| Max SUTA per employee per year | $213.84 |
| Paid family/medical leave program | No |
| State income tax on wages | Yes — employers withhold; not an employer cost |
| State minimum wage | $15.00/hour |
| Source | Missouri unemployment insurance agencyVerified 2026-10-11 |
What it costs to hire in Missouri
Salary
$40,000.00
Total annual cost
$50,615.84
1.27× salary · SUTA $213.84
Salary
$60,000.00
Total annual cost
$72,795.84
1.21× salary · SUTA $213.84
Salary
$90,000.00
Total annual cost
$106,065.84
1.18× salary · SUTA $213.84
What's different about hiring in Missouri
- Missouri's SUTA wage base is low ($9,000.00), so unemployment tax is mostly paid in the first months of the year.
- 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Missouri | 2.376% | $9,000.00 | $213.84 |
| Iowa | Varies | $20,400.00 | Varies |
| Illinois | 3.35% | $14,250.00 | $477.38 |
| Kentucky | 2.7% | $12,000.00 | $324.00 |
| Tennessee | 2.7% | $7,000.00 | $189.00 |
| Arkansas | 2% | $7,000.00 | $140.00 |
| Oklahoma | 1.5% | $25,000.00 | $375.00 |
| Kansas | 2.7% | $14,000.00 | $378.00 |
| Nebraska | 1.25% | $9,000.00 | $112.50 |
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
- Missouri 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.