How Much Does It Cost to Hire an Employee in Wisconsin? (2026)
State-specific payroll taxes, workers' comp, and total employer costs in Wisconsin.
Hiring a $60,000/year employee in Wisconsin costs employers approximately $65,732 total in 2026, including $5,732 in mandatory payroll taxes and workers' comp. That's a 1.1x multiplier on base salary.
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Total Cost at $60K Salary
$65,732
Cost multiplier: 1.1x
SUTA Rate (Mid)
2.8%
Wage base: $14,000
Workers' Comp Rate
1.18%
Has state income tax
Key Insight
For a $60,000 salary in Wisconsin, employers pay $5,732 in mandatory taxes — a 1.1x cost multiplier. Wisconsin's SUTA rate (2.8%) is above the national average of 1.70%.
Model your specific hire
Use our interactive calculator pre-loaded with Wisconsin's tax rates. Adjust salary, benefits, and overhead to get your true cost.
Wisconsin Employer Tax Details
State-specific payroll obligations for employers
| SUTA Rate Range | 0.0% – 9.0% |
| SUTA New Employer Rate (typical) | 2.8% ↓ 0.30% from 2025 |
| SUTA Wage Base | $14,000 |
| Workers' Compensation (avg) | 1.18% of payroll ↓ 0.02% from 2025 |
| State Income Tax | Yes |
2026 Rate Changes in Wisconsin
- ↓ SUTA rate decreased from 3.1% (2025) to 2.8% (2026) — a 0.30% reduction, saving $42 per $60K employee.
- ↓ Workers' comp rate decreased from 1.2% (2025) to 1.18% (2026) — saving approximately $12 per $60K employee per year.
Rate changes reflect Wisconsin #{TaxConstants::TAX_YEAR} announcements vs. 2025 baseline. Workers' comp rates are industry averages and vary by classification code.
Example Employer Costs in Wisconsin
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 (WI) | $392 | $392 | $392 |
| Workers' Comp | $472 | $708 | $944 |
| Total Employer Taxes | $3,966 | $5,732 | $7,498 |
| Total Cost (salary + taxes) | $43,966 (1.1x) | $65,732 (1.1x) | $87,498 (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 Wisconsin 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 Wisconsin Compares
Wisconsin's typical SUTA rate of 2.8% is above the national average of ~1.70%.
Workers' compensation at 1.18% of payroll is below the national average of ~1.20%.
Wisconsin Employer Environment
Moderate employer costs- State income tax applies — factor into total compensation packages
- Above-average SUTA rate (2.8% on $14,000 wage base) — one of the higher state unemployment rates nationally
- Workers' comp rate 1.18% — near national average, varies by industry classification
Wisconsin'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.
Wisconsin Employment Profile
Wisconsin has a moderate SUTA wage base and competitive workers' compensation costs, balancing its strong manufacturing base with a historically union-influenced labor market.
paper & printing, dairy processing, precision manufacturing & medical devices
Wisconsin's 2011 Act 10 significantly reduced public-sector union influence; the resulting wage gap between public and private sectors has shifted compensation benchmarks across the state.
Cost at Different Salary Levels in Wisconsin
Total employer cost including all mandatory payroll taxes
Compare Wisconsin With
Employee Costs in Other States
Hiring Cost by Industry in Wisconsin
Workers' comp rates vary significantly by industry — restaurant and construction workers cost far more to insure than office staff.
Average Wages by Occupation in Wisconsin
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 | $118,630 | 149,390 |
| Computer and Mathematical | $87,250 | 82,440 |
| Architecture and Engineering | $82,710 | 51,890 |
| Legal | $81,910 | 15,430 |
| Healthcare Practitioners and Technical | $81,620 | 182,980 |
| Business and Financial Operations | $76,490 | 184,610 |
| Life, Physical, and Social Science | $71,560 | 24,530 |
| Construction and Extraction | $62,170 | 112,180 |
States With Similar Hiring Costs
These states have SUTA rates close to Wisconsin's 2.8% — good for cost benchmarking.
Wisconsin Business Resources
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Specialized Calculators for Wisconsin Employers
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Simplify Payroll in Wisconsin
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