Employee Cost: California vs Washington (2026)
Side-by-side comparison of employer costs, payroll taxes, SUTA rates, and workers' comp.
At a $60,000 salary
California saves $1,064/employee/year
$65,794 in California vs $66,858 in Washington
California
$65,794
1.1x salary
Washington
$66,858
1.11x salary
Cost Breakdown Comparison
Based on $60,000 annual salary
| Cost Component | CA | WA | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Base Salary | $60,000 | $60,000 | — |
| Social Security (6.2%) | $3,720 | $3,720 | — |
| Medicare (1.45%) | $870 | $870 | — |
| FUTA (0.6%) | $42 | $42 | — |
| SUTA (State Unemployment) | $238 | $1,050 | -$812 |
| Workers' Compensation | $924 | $888 | +$36 |
| State-Mandated Insurance | $0 | $288 | -$288 |
| Total Employer Cost | $65,794 | $66,858 | -$1,064 |
Tax Rate Comparison
| Rate | California | Washington |
|---|---|---|
| SUTA Rate Range | 1.5% – 6.2% | 0.2% – 5.8% |
| SUTA Typical Rate | 3.4% | 1.75% |
| SUTA Wage Base | $7,000 | $67,600 |
| Workers' Comp Rate | 1.54% | 1.48% |
| State Income Tax | Yes | No |
| Disability Insurance | 0.0% | Not required |
| Paid Family Leave | Not required | 0.48% |
What This Means for Employers
For a business hiring at a $60,000 salary, choosing California over Washington saves $1,064 per employee per year in employer-side payroll costs alone. For a team of 10, that's $10,640 annually.
The biggest difference comes from SUTA (state unemployment tax) — California charges 3.4% vs Washington's 1.75%. Note that federal taxes (Social Security, Medicare, FUTA) are identical in both states.
These numbers reflect employer-side costs only and don't include benefits, overhead, or the employee's own tax burden. Use the interactive Employee Cost Calculator to model different salary levels and benefits packages.
Explore Each State
Cost Comparison at Different Salary Levels
How the gap changes from $30K to $150K
| Salary | CA Total | WA Total | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| $30,000 | $33,037 | $33,450 | -$413 |
| $40,000 | $43,956 | $44,586 | -$630 |
| $50,000 | $54,875 | $55,722 | -$847 |
| $60,000 | $65,794 | $66,858 | -$1,064 |
| $75,000 | $82,173 | $83,433 | -$1,260 |
| $100,000 | $109,470 | $110,835 | -$1,365 |
| $125,000 | $136,768 | $138,238 | -$1,470 |
| $150,000 | $164,065 | $165,640 | -$1,575 |
Click any amount to see the full cost breakdown for that salary and state. Amounts shown from the perspective of CA.
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