Pacific & Mountain Employee Cost by State (2026)
State-by-state employer payroll costs across the Pacific & Mountain at all salary levels. Regional averages, state rankings, and key cost drivers.
Hiring a $60,000/year employee in the Pacific & Mountain costs employers an average of $66,612 in 2026 — 1.2% above the national average of $65,802. The lowest-cost state is Wyoming ($65,744) and the highest is Hawaii ($68,022).
Alaska, Hawaii, Idaho, Montana, and Wyoming offer a diverse range of employer cost profiles. Wyoming and Alaska have no state income tax and relatively low regulatory overhead. Hawaii is an outlier, requiring employer-funded temporary disability insurance — one of the few states outside the Northeast with such mandates.
Regional Average at $60K
$66,612
Across 5 states
Lowest-Cost State
Wyoming
$65,744 at $60K
Highest-Cost State
Hawaii
$68,022 at $60K
Pacific & Mountain is 1.2% above the national average
National average at $60K salary: $65,802. The Pacific & Mountain average is $66,612 — a difference of $810/year per employee.
Regional Average Employer Cost by Salary Level
What employers in the Pacific & Mountain pay on average at each salary tier (includes all mandatory taxes)
| Salary | Pacific & Mountain Avg | National Avg | Overhead Cost | Multiplier |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $30,000 | $33,390 | $33,027 | +$3,390 | 1.11x |
| $40,000 | $44,493 | $43,964 | +$4,493 | 1.11x |
| $50,000 | $55,579 | $54,890 | +$5,579 | 1.11x |
| $60,000 benchmark | $66,612 | $65,802 | +$6,612 | 1.11x |
| $75,000 | $83,032 | $82,153 | +$8,032 | 1.11x |
| $100,000 | $110,354 | $109,392 | +$10,354 | 1.1x |
| $125,000 | $137,675 | $136,630 | +$12,675 | 1.1x |
| $150,000 | $164,997 | $163,867 | +$14,997 | 1.1x |
Pacific & Mountain States Ranked by Employer Cost
Cheapest to most expensive at $60K salary
| Rank | State | $30K | $50K | $60K | $75K | $100K | $150K | Multiplier | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | Wyoming no income tax | $33,033 | $54,854 | $65,744 | $82,079 | $109,304 | $163,754 | 1.096x | Full breakdown → |
| #2 | Idaho | $33,162 | $55,242 | $66,253 | $82,558 | $109,733 | $164,083 | 1.104x | Full breakdown → |
| #3 | Montana | $33,261 | $55,364 | $66,277 | $82,646 | $109,929 | $164,494 | 1.105x | Full breakdown → |
| #4 | Alaska no income tax | $33,462 | $55,742 | $66,766 | $83,176 | $110,526 | $165,226 | 1.113x | Full breakdown → |
| #5 | Hawaii + mandated programs | $34,032 | $56,692 | $68,022 | $84,702 | $112,277 | $167,427 | 1.134x | Full breakdown → |
Key Findings: Pacific & Mountain Employer Costs
- The regional average employer cost for a $60K employee is $66,612, 1.2% above the national average of $65,802.
- Wyoming is the most cost-effective state for employers at $65,744 per $60K employee (1.096x salary).
- Hawaii has the highest employer costs at $68,022 per $60K employee (1.134x salary).
- Wyoming and Alaska have no state income tax. Hawaii requires employer TDI contributions. Montana has unique workers' comp requirements. Idaho is one of the lower-cost states in the Mountain West.
- The spread between lowest and highest cost states within the region is $2,278/year per $60K employee. At a 10-person team, that's a potential difference of $22,780/year.
Compare Other Regions
Need exact costs for a specific state?
Use our state-by-state employee cost calculator with full tax breakdowns.
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