How Much Does It Cost to Hire an Employee in Utah? (2026)

State-specific payroll taxes, workers' comp, and total employer costs in Utah.

Total Cost at $60K Salary

$65,590

Cost multiplier: 1.09x

SUTA Rate (Mid)

1.0%

Wage base: $44,800

Workers' Comp Rate

0.85%

Has state income tax

Utah Employer Tax Details

State-specific payroll obligations for employers

SUTA Rate Range 0.1% – 7.0%
SUTA New Employer Rate (typical) 1.0%
SUTA Wage Base $44,800
Workers' Compensation (avg) 0.85% of payroll
State Income Tax Yes

Example Employer Costs in Utah

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 (UT) $400 $448 $448
Workers' Comp $340 $510 $680
Total Employer Taxes $3,842 $5,590 $7,290
Total Cost (salary + taxes) $43,842 (1.1x) $65,590 (1.09x) $87,290 (1.09x)

These estimates include mandatory employer payroll taxes only. Add benefits ($7K-$17K) and overhead (~10% of salary) for full cost.

How Utah Compares

Utah's typical SUTA rate of 1.0% is below the national average of ~1.70%. However, with a wage base of $44,800, which is well above the federal minimum of $7,000, the effective SUTA cost per employee can be significant.

Workers' compensation at 0.85% of payroll is below the national average of ~1.20%.

Calculate Your Exact Employee Cost

Use our interactive calculator with your specific salary, state, and benefits to get an exact number.

Open Employee Cost Calculator

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