How Much Does It Cost to Hire an Employee in Kansas? (2026)
State-specific payroll taxes, workers' comp, and total employer costs in Kansas.
Hiring a $60,000/year employee in Kansas costs employers approximately $65,504 total in 2026, including $5,504 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
$65,504
Cost multiplier: 1.09x
SUTA Rate (Mid)
1.6%
Wage base: $15,100
Workers' Comp Rate
1.05%
Has state income tax
Key Insight
For a $60,000 salary in Kansas, employers pay $5,504 in mandatory taxes — a 1.09x cost multiplier. Kansas's SUTA rate (1.6%) is below the national average of 1.70%.
Model your specific hire
Use our interactive calculator pre-loaded with Kansas's tax rates. Adjust salary, benefits, and overhead to get your true cost.
Kansas Employer Tax Details
State-specific payroll obligations for employers
| SUTA Rate Range | 0.1% – 5.6% |
| SUTA New Employer Rate (typical) | 1.6% |
| SUTA Wage Base | $15,100 |
| Workers' Compensation (avg) | 1.05% of payroll |
| State Income Tax | Yes |
Example Employer Costs in Kansas
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 (KS) | $242 | $242 | $242 |
| Workers' Comp | $420 | $630 | $840 |
| Total Employer Taxes | $3,764 | $5,504 | $7,244 |
| Total Cost (salary + taxes) | $43,764 (1.09x) | $65,504 (1.09x) | $87,244 (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 Kansas 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 Kansas Compares
Kansas's typical SUTA rate of 1.6% is below the national average of ~1.70%. However, with a wage base of $15,100, which is well above the federal minimum of $7,000, the effective SUTA cost per employee can be significant.
Workers' compensation at 1.05% of payroll is below the national average of ~1.20%.
Kansas Employer Environment
Below-average employer costs- State income tax applies — factor into total compensation packages
- SUTA rate 1.6% (wage base $15,100) — in line with national average
- Workers' comp rate 1.05% — near national average, varies by industry classification
Kansas'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.
Kansas Employment Profile
Kansas offers a relatively low $15,100 SUTA wage base and moderate workers' compensation costs, with particular strength in aviation manufacturing.
aviation & aerospace (Spirit AeroSystems), agriculture & food processing, healthcare
Wichita's aviation cluster employs tens of thousands in skilled manufacturing; Cessna, Learjet, and Spirit compete for the same labor pool, affecting wage benchmarks significantly.
Cost at Different Salary Levels in Kansas
Total employer cost including all mandatory payroll taxes
Compare Kansas With
Employee Costs in Other States
Hiring Cost by Industry in Kansas
Workers' comp rates vary significantly by industry — restaurant and construction workers cost far more to insure than office staff.
Average Wages by Occupation in Kansas
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 | $104,390 | 76,210 |
| Computer and Mathematical | $93,240 | 39,400 |
| Architecture and Engineering | $82,280 | 25,810 |
| Legal | $79,150 | 7,980 |
| Healthcare Practitioners and Technical | $75,120 | 95,000 |
| Business and Financial Operations | $74,920 | 92,550 |
| Life, Physical, and Social Science | $65,370 | 11,890 |
| Installation, Maintenance, and Repair | $56,680 | 63,680 |
States With Similar Hiring Costs
These states have SUTA rates close to Kansas's 1.6% — good for cost benchmarking.
Kansas Business Resources
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Simplify Payroll in Kansas
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