Wisconsin Employee Cost Calculator (2026)
Last updated: October 2026
Wisconsin employers pay federal payroll taxes plus Wisconsin unemployment insurance — a rate assigned individually by the state on the first $14,000.00 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
$65,160.00
1.09× salary · $5,160.00 on top of wages
Monthly cost
$5,430.00
Loaded hourly cost
$31.33
Per hour actually worked
$32.58
| Wages | $60,000.00 |
| Social Security (6.2%) | $3,720.00 |
| Medicare (1.45%) | $870.00 |
| FUTA (federal unemployment) | $42.00 |
| State unemployment (SUTA) | $378.00 |
| Workers' comp | $150.00 |
| Total annual cost | $65,160.00 |
Estimates for planning purposes only. Not tax, legal or accounting advice. Confirm your rates with your state agency or a payroll professional.
Wisconsin employer payroll taxes at a glance
| New employer SUTA rate | Assigned individuallyNew employers receive an industry-average rate under Schedule D (0%–12% range) until they establish experience — confirm the initial rate with Wisconsin DWD. |
| Experienced employer SUTA range | 0% – 12% |
| SUTA taxable wage base | $14,000.00Unchanged from recent years. |
| Paid family/medical leave program | No |
| State income tax on wages | Yes — employers withhold; not an employer cost |
| Source | Wisconsin unemployment insurance agencyVerified 2026-10-11 |
What it costs to hire in Wisconsin
Salary
$40,000.00
Total annual cost
$50,780.00
1.27× salary · SUTA $378.00
Salary
$60,000.00
Total annual cost
$72,960.00
1.22× salary · SUTA $378.00
Salary
$90,000.00
Total annual cost
$106,230.00
1.18× salary · SUTA $378.00
What's different about hiring in Wisconsin
- Wisconsin assigns new employers an individual rate rather than a single standard rate — check your rate notice before budgeting.
- Experienced-employer SUTA rates in Wisconsin can reach 12% for businesses with a history of layoffs — retention directly lowers your tax bill.
- 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
- Wisconsin 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
- Alaska
- Arizona
- Arkansas
- California
- Colorado
- Connecticut
- Delaware
- District of Columbia
- Florida
- Georgia
- Hawaii
- Idaho
- Illinois
- Indiana
- Iowa
- Kansas
- Kentucky
- Louisiana
- Maine
- Maryland
- Massachusetts
- Michigan
- Minnesota
- Mississippi
- Missouri
- Montana
- Nebraska
- Nevada
- New Hampshire
- New Jersey
- New Mexico
- New York
- North Carolina
- North Dakota
- Ohio
- Oklahoma
- Oregon
- Pennsylvania
- Rhode Island
- South Carolina
- South Dakota
- Tennessee
- Texas
- Utah
- Vermont
- Virginia
- Washington
- West Virginia
- Wisconsin
- Wyoming
Tax rates are approximate — always verify with your state's revenue department.