How Much Does It Cost to Hire an Employee in Tennessee? (2026)
State-specific payroll taxes, workers' comp, and total employer costs in Tennessee.
Total Cost at $60K Salary
$65,385
Cost multiplier: 1.09x
SUTA Rate (Mid)
1.5%
Wage base: $7,000
Workers' Comp Rate
1.08%
No state income tax
Tennessee Employer Tax Details
State-specific payroll obligations for employers
| SUTA Rate Range | 0.1% – 5.0% |
| SUTA New Employer Rate (typical) | 1.5% |
| SUTA Wage Base | $7,000 |
| Workers' Compensation (avg) | 1.08% of payroll |
| State Income Tax | No |
Example Employer Costs in Tennessee
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 (TN) | $105 | $105 | $105 |
| Workers' Comp | $432 | $648 | $864 |
| Total Employer Taxes | $3,639 | $5,385 | $7,131 |
| Total Cost (salary + taxes) | $43,639 (1.09x) | $65,385 (1.09x) | $87,131 (1.09x) |
These estimates include mandatory employer payroll taxes only. Add benefits ($7K-$17K) and overhead (~10% of salary) for full cost.
How Tennessee Compares
Tennessee's typical SUTA rate of 1.5% is below the national average of ~1.70%. With a relatively low wage base of $7,000, the maximum SUTA cost per employee is capped early.
Workers' compensation at 1.08% of payroll is below the national average of ~1.20%. As one of the states with no state income tax, employees in Tennessee keep more of their paycheck, which can be a hiring advantage without additional employer cost.
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