US Payroll Tax Estimator

Estimate employer-side payroll taxes for employees.

Employee Gross Salary ($) Pay Periods Per Year

What is US Payroll Tax Estimator?

Hiring an employee costs more than just their salary — employers are responsible for matching Social Security and Medicare taxes, paying federal and state unemployment taxes, and more. This estimator breaks down the full employer-side payroll tax burden so there are no budget surprises.

How to Use This Tool

1. Enter the employee's gross annual salary. 2. Input the number of pay periods per year (26 for bi-weekly, 12 for monthly). 3. Calculate to see the estimated employer tax cost per pay period and annually.

💡 Pro Tip: Consider offering a mix of salary and benefits (health insurance, retirement contributions) rather than a higher base salary. Benefits can be more tax-efficient for both employer and employee. Use this calculator to model the true cost difference!