Estimate employee cost in California
Calculate a planning range for hiring a W-2 employee in California, including federal payroll taxes, SUTA, workers comp, benefits, and payroll admin.
Estimated annual cost
$0 - $0
Federal payroll taxes are high-confidence. SUTA and workers compensation are planning estimates unless you enter assigned rates.
General planning estimate only. Not payroll, tax, legal, insurance, or HR compliance advice.
CA employer cost guide
Employee cost calculator for California
Estimate the annual employer cost of hiring a W-2 employee in California. This page uses the shared federal model plus a California SUTA baseline and workers compensation planning ranges.
State notes
- California has a low UI wage base, but workers compensation and state disability rules can materially affect total employment cost.
- The default calculator treats SDI as employee-paid and excludes it from employer cost unless the employer pays additional benefits.
What cannot be promised with precision
The exact California cost depends on your assigned UI rate, workers compensation class code, payroll size, claims history, benefits design, and local or industry-specific obligations.