How Much Does It Cost to Hire an Employee in Georgia? (2026)
State-specific payroll taxes, workers' comp, and total employer costs in Georgia.
Hiring a $60,000/year employee in Georgia costs employers approximately $65,446 total in 2026, including $5,446 in mandatory payroll taxes and workers' comp. That's a 1.09x multiplier on base salary.
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Total Cost at $60K Salary
$65,446
Cost multiplier: 1.09x
SUTA Rate (Mid)
1.75%
Wage base: $9,500
Workers' Comp Rate
1.08%
Has state income tax
Key Insight
For a $60,000 salary in Georgia, employers pay $5,446 in mandatory taxes — a 1.09x cost multiplier. Georgia's SUTA rate (1.75%) is above the national average of 1.70%.
Model your specific hire
Use our interactive calculator pre-loaded with Georgia's tax rates. Adjust salary, benefits, and overhead to get your true cost.
Georgia Employer Tax Details
State-specific payroll obligations for employers
| SUTA Rate Range | 0.4% – 5.4% |
| SUTA New Employer Rate (typical) | 1.75% — No change from 2025 |
| SUTA Wage Base | $9,500 |
| Workers' Compensation (avg) | 1.08% of payroll ↓ 0.02% from 2025 |
| State Income Tax | Yes |
2026 Rate Changes in Georgia
- — SUTA rate unchanged at 1.75% from 2025 to 2026.
- ↓ Workers' comp rate decreased from 1.1% (2025) to 1.08% (2026) — saving approximately $12 per $60K employee per year.
Rate changes reflect Georgia #{TaxConstants::TAX_YEAR} announcements vs. 2025 baseline. Workers' comp rates are industry averages and vary by classification code.
Example Employer Costs in Georgia
Mandatory employer taxes only (no benefits or overhead)
| Component | $40,000 Salary | $60,000 Salary | $80,000 Salary |
|---|---|---|---|
| Social Security (6.2%) | $2,480 | $3,720 | $4,960 |
| Medicare (1.45%) | $580 | $870 | $1,160 |
| FUTA | $42 | $42 | $42 |
| SUTA (GA) | $166 | $166 | $166 |
| Workers' Comp | $432 | $648 | $864 |
| Total Employer Taxes | $3,700 | $5,446 | $7,192 |
| Total Cost (salary + taxes) | $43,700 (1.09x) | $65,446 (1.09x) | $87,192 (1.09x) |
These estimates include mandatory employer payroll taxes only. Add benefits ($7K-$17K) and overhead (~10% of salary) for full cost.
Tax rates sourced from IRS Publication 15, SSA COLA notices, and Georgia Department of Labor. Social Security tax is 6.2% of wages up to $184,500. Medicare is 1.45% with no wage cap. FUTA is 0.6% on the first $7,000 after credit.
How Georgia Compares
Georgia's typical SUTA rate of 1.75% is above the national average of ~1.70%.
Workers' compensation at 1.08% of payroll is below the national average of ~1.20%.
Georgia Employer Environment
Below-average employer costs- State income tax applies — factor into total compensation packages
- SUTA rate 1.75% (wage base $9,500) — in line with national average
- Workers' comp rate 1.08% — near national average, varies by industry classification
Georgia's overall employer tax burden is broadly in line with the national average. Review SUTA and workers' comp rates relative to your industry classification for a more precise picture.
Georgia Employment Profile
Georgia offers moderate employer taxes with a $9,500 SUTA wage base and competitive workers' compensation rates, anchored by Atlanta's large white-collar workforce.
film & media production, logistics (Delta hub), financial technology
Atlanta's 'Hollywood of the South' film tax credits attract production companies, but these bring largely project-based rather than permanent employee relationships.
Cost at Different Salary Levels in Georgia
Total employer cost including all mandatory payroll taxes
Compare Georgia With
Employee Costs in Other States
Hiring Cost by Industry in Georgia
Workers' comp rates vary significantly by industry — restaurant and construction workers cost far more to insure than office staff.
Average Wages by Occupation in Georgia
BLS OEWS 2024Median annual wages from the Bureau of Labor Statistics — use these as your baseline salary when estimating total hiring cost.
| Occupation Group | Median Annual | Employed |
|---|---|---|
| Management | $117,450 | 320,080 |
| Computer and Mathematical | $101,770 | 166,280 |
| Architecture and Engineering | $85,800 | 61,580 |
| Healthcare Practitioners and Technical | $81,520 | 297,010 |
| Legal | $79,390 | 42,400 |
| Business and Financial Operations | $77,780 | 395,960 |
| Life, Physical, and Social Science | $77,370 | 32,130 |
| Educational Instruction and Library | $59,850 | 276,150 |
States With Similar Hiring Costs
These states have SUTA rates close to Georgia's 1.75% — good for cost benchmarking.
Georgia Business Resources
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Specialized Calculators for Georgia Employers
Running a specific type of business? These tools go deeper on costs by industry and location.
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Simplify Payroll in Georgia
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