North Carolina Employee Cost Calculator (2026)
Last updated: October 2026
North Carolina employers pay federal payroll taxes plus North Carolina unemployment insurance — 1% for new employers on the first $34,200.00 of each employee's wages. Use the calculator to see the total cost of a hire.
Total annual cost
$65,124.00
1.09× salary · $5,124.00 on top of wages
Monthly cost
$5,427.00
Loaded hourly cost
$31.31
Per hour actually worked
$32.56
| Wages | $60,000.00 |
| Social Security (6.2%) | $3,720.00 |
| Medicare (1.45%) | $870.00 |
| FUTA (federal unemployment) | $42.00 |
| State unemployment (SUTA) | $342.00 |
| Workers' comp | $150.00 |
| Total annual cost | $65,124.00 |
Estimates for planning purposes only. Not tax, legal or accounting advice. Confirm your rates with your state agency or a payroll professional.
North Carolina employer payroll taxes at a glance
| New employer SUTA rate | 1%Fixed by statute for 2026. |
| Experienced employer SUTA range | 0.06% – 5.76% |
| SUTA taxable wage base | $34,200.00Up from $32,600 in 2025. |
| Max SUTA per employee per year | $342.00 |
| Paid family/medical leave program | No |
| State income tax on wages | Yes — employers withhold; not an employer cost |
| Source | North Carolina unemployment insurance agencyVerified 2026-10-11 |
What it costs to hire in North Carolina
Salary
$40,000.00
Total annual cost
$50,744.00
1.27× salary · SUTA $342.00
Salary
$60,000.00
Total annual cost
$72,924.00
1.22× salary · SUTA $342.00
Salary
$90,000.00
Total annual cost
$106,194.00
1.18× salary · SUTA $342.00
What's different about hiring in North Carolina
- North Carolina has one of the higher SUTA wage bases in the country ($34,200.00), so unemployment tax keeps applying well into each employee's salary.
- 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| North Carolina | 1% | $34,200.00 | $342.00 |
| Virginia | 2.73% | $8,000.00 | $218.40 |
| Tennessee | 2.7% | $7,000.00 | $189.00 |
| Georgia | 2.7% | $9,500.00 | $256.50 |
| South Carolina | 1% | $14,000.00 | $140.00 |
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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Sources & methodology
- North Carolina 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.