Connecticut employer payroll tax calculator 2026
Hiring in Connecticut? New Connecticut employers pay 1.9% state unemployment tax on the first $27,000 of each employee's wages, on top of the federal 6.2% Social Security, 1.45% Medicare and FUTA. For a $60,000 employee that's about $5,145 a year in employer payroll taxes — $513.00 of it to Connecticut.
| Wages | $60,000.00 |
| Employer Social Security | $3,720.00 |
| Employer Medicare | $870.00 |
| FUTA (0.6% on $7,000.00) | $42.00 |
| State unemployment insurance (SUI) (1.9% on $27,000.00) | $513.00 |
| Employer payroll taxes | $5,145.00 |
| Total cost before benefits | $65,145.00 |
Per two-week payroll: $2,505.58. Add health insurance, retirement and workers' compensation in the cost of an employee calculator.
Connecticut unemployment tax (SUTA) for new employers
Connecticut's 2026 new-employer rate is 1.9%. The state also has a 1.0% fund solvency tax that it adds to charged rates; the notice doesn't say whether the new-employer rate includes it, so check your rate notice.
After a few years the state assigns your own rate based on your layoff history; enter it in the calculator once you have it. Your rate also earns the usual federal FUTA credit: pay Connecticut on time and FUTA is 0.6% on the first $7,000. If Connecticut ends up a credit-reduction state for the year (the Department of Labor lists them each November), FUTA is higher.
Other Connecticut payroll programs
- CT Paid Leave (0.5% of wages up to $184,500) is paid by employees and withheld by you; there is no employer share.
What an employee costs in Connecticut
| Salary | Federal employer taxes | Connecticut employer taxes | Total cost | Taxes as % of pay |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $40,000 | $3,102.00 | $513.00 | $43,615.00 | 9.0% |
| $60,000 | $4,632.00 | $513.00 | $65,145.00 | 8.6% |
| $100,000 | $7,692.00 | $513.00 | $108,205.00 | 8.2% |
A year, before benefits. New-employer rates, 5 employees, full FUTA credit.
How much does a $40,000 employee cost in Connecticut?
About $43,615 a year: the $40,000 salary plus $3,102.00 of federal employer taxes and $513.00 of Connecticut employer taxes, before benefits. That's $1,677.50 per two-week payroll.
How much does a $60,000 employee cost in Connecticut?
About $65,145 a year: the $60,000 salary plus $4,632.00 of federal employer taxes and $513.00 of Connecticut employer taxes, before benefits. That's $2,505.58 per two-week payroll.
How much does a $100,000 employee cost in Connecticut?
About $108,205 a year: the $100,000 salary plus $7,692.00 of federal employer taxes and $513.00 of Connecticut employer taxes, before benefits. That's $4,161.73 per two-week payroll.
Both halves of one paycheck
On a $60,000 salary paid every two weeks, the employee sees $12,227 a year taken out of pay — federal income tax, their own Social Security and Medicare and Connecticut taxes — and takes home $47,773 (single filer, standard W-4). That money is withheld from their wages, not an extra cost to you. On top of the salary, you pay $5,145.00 of employer taxes. See the employee's side line by line in the Connecticut paycheck calculator.
More employer tools
Cost of an employee (benefits and cost per hour) · Employer payroll tax calculator (all states) · Employer payroll taxes guide
Connecticut figures checked 2026-09-28 against the state's own publications. Planning estimate, not a payroll return: your rate notice and the state's rules decide the final amount.
Sources
- Connecticut DOL — Unemployment tax rate for calendar year 2026 — taxable wage base $27,000; new employer rate 1.9%; fund solvency tax rate 1.0%; 2026 contribution rates 1.1%–9.9% (checked 2026-09-28)
- CT Paid Leave — Contributions — 0.5% for 2026, deducted from employees up to the Social Security limit
- IRS Publication 15 (2026), Employer's Tax Guide — 2026 employer Social Security and Medicare rates and wage limits; FUTA
- IRS — FUTA credit reduction — 6.0% FUTA on the first $7,000; usual 5.4% credit; credit-reduction states lose part of the credit
- U.S. Department of Labor — FUTA credit reductions — the list of credit-reduction states for each year (checked 2026-09-28)
Questions
What is the Connecticut SUTA rate for new employers?
1.9% in 2026, on the first $27,000 of each employee's wages. Connecticut's 2026 new-employer rate is 1.9%. The state also has a 1.0% fund solvency tax that it adds to charged rates; the notice doesn't say whether the new-employer rate includes it, so check your rate notice.
What is the Connecticut unemployment tax wage base for 2026?
$27,000 per employee per year.
How much does it cost to employ someone for $60,000 in Connecticut?
About $65,145 a year before benefits: $4,632.00 of federal employer taxes and $513.00 for Connecticut, at the new-employer rate with 5 employees.