Utah Employee Cost Calculator (2026)
Last updated: October 2026
Utah employers pay federal payroll taxes plus Utah unemployment insurance — a rate assigned individually by the state on the first $50,700.00 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
$66,150.90
1.10× salary · $6,150.90 on top of wages
Monthly cost
$5,512.58
Loaded hourly cost
$31.80
Per hour actually worked
$33.08
| Wages | $60,000.00 |
| Social Security (6.2%) | $3,720.00 |
| Medicare (1.45%) | $870.00 |
| FUTA (federal unemployment) | $42.00 |
| State unemployment (SUTA) | $1,368.90 |
| Workers' comp | $150.00 |
| Total annual cost | $66,150.90 |
Estimates for planning purposes only. Not tax, legal or accounting advice. Confirm your rates with your state agency or a payroll professional.
Utah employer payroll taxes at a glance
| New employer SUTA rate | Assigned individuallyNew employers are assigned an industry-average rate (two-year benefit ratio by NAICS); new out-of-state contractors get 7.1% unless they acquire an existing business. Confirm the exact 2026 wage base with Utah DWS — it is indexed annually. |
| Experienced employer SUTA range | 0.1% – 7.1% |
| SUTA taxable wage base | $50,700.00Indexed annually — verify the exact 2026 figure on the DWS announcement. |
| Paid family/medical leave program | No |
| State income tax on wages | Yes — employers withhold; not an employer cost |
| Source | Utah unemployment insurance agencyVerified 2026-10-11 |
What it costs to hire in Utah
Salary
$40,000.00
Total annual cost
$51,482.00
1.29× salary · SUTA $1,080.00
Salary
$60,000.00
Total annual cost
$73,950.90
1.23× salary · SUTA $1,368.90
Salary
$90,000.00
Total annual cost
$107,220.90
1.19× salary · SUTA $1,368.90
What's different about hiring in Utah
- Utah has one of the higher SUTA wage bases in the country ($50,700.00), so unemployment tax keeps applying well into each employee's salary.
- Utah assigns new employers an individual rate rather than a single standard rate — check your rate notice before budgeting.
- 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
- Utah 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.