Employee Cost: North Dakota vs Rhode Island (2026)
Side-by-side comparison of employer costs, payroll taxes, SUTA rates, and workers' comp.
At a $60,000 salary
North Dakota saves $238/employee/year
$65,804 in North Dakota vs $66,042 in Rhode Island
North Dakota
$65,804
1.1x salary
Rhode Island
$66,042
1.1x salary
Cost Breakdown Comparison
Based on $60,000 annual salary
| Cost Component | ND | RI | 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) | $464 | $438 | +$26 |
| Workers' Compensation | $708 | $972 | -$264 |
| Total Employer Cost | $65,804 | $66,042 | -$238 |
Tax Rate Comparison
| Rate | North Dakota | Rhode Island |
|---|---|---|
| SUTA Rate Range | 0.08% – 9.75% | 0.1% – 6.7% |
| SUTA Typical Rate | 1.06% | 1.5% |
| SUTA Wage Base | $43,800 | $29,200 |
| Workers' Comp Rate | 1.18% | 1.62% |
| State Income Tax | Yes | Yes |
| Disability Insurance | Not required | 0.0% |
What This Means for Employers
For a business hiring at a $60,000 salary, choosing North Dakota over Rhode Island saves $238 per employee per year in employer-side payroll costs alone. For a team of 10, that's $2,377 annually.
The biggest difference comes from workers' compensation rates — North Dakota charges 1.18% vs Rhode Island's 1.62%. 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 | ND Total | RI Total | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| $30,000 | $33,009 | $33,261 | -$252 |
| $40,000 | $43,998 | $44,188 | -$190 |
| $50,000 | $54,921 | $55,115 | -$194 |
| $60,000 | $65,804 | $66,042 | -$238 |
| $75,000 | $82,129 | $82,433 | -$304 |
| $100,000 | $109,336 | $109,750 | -$414 |
| $125,000 | $136,544 | $137,068 | -$524 |
| $150,000 | $163,751 | $164,385 | -$634 |
Click any amount to see the full cost breakdown for that salary and state. Amounts shown from the perspective of ND.
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