EC EmployerCost

EmployerCost decision engine

Move from “what does this hire cost?” to “what should we do?”

Use one sourced calculation engine to test a role, work backward from a fixed budget, compare states, plan several hires, and prepare a decision-ready report.

Calculate one hire Build a hiring plan
Jurisdictions50 + DC
Shared model2026.07
Generic state fallbacksNone

Choose the decision

Seven tools, one calculation model

Each tool keeps uncertain items visible and points back to the underlying state or federal source.

01 Employer cost calculator

Estimate one W-2 employee with FICA, FUTA, SUTA, workers compensation, benefits, and administration.

Best for: one role, one state 02 Maximum salary from budget

Enter the total amount the business can spend and solve backward to a conservative salary ceiling.

Best for: first hires and runway decisions 03 Compare 2–4 states

Hold salary and benefits constant, then isolate the employer-cost difference between hiring locations.

Best for: remote and expansion planning 04 Hiring plan workspace

Add roles, headcount, states, and start dates to see annual run rate and scheduled cost. Stored only on the device.

Best for: founders, finance, and managers 05 Payroll provider cost

Translate headcount and operating model into a public-price comparison for payroll, PEO, global payroll, or EOR.

Best for: moving from budget to implementation 06 2026 source ledger

Search and download the official source links, wage bases, rate models, and activation status for every jurisdiction.

Best for: review and data provenance 07 Free advisor widget

Embed a private, network-free employer-cost estimator on an accounting, recruiting, finance, or HR website.

Best for: advisors and publishers

A reusable planning workflow

Calculate, compare, share, then choose a provider

  1. Calculate: establish a sourced range for one role.
  2. Compare: test the budget or hiring location without changing hidden assumptions.
  3. Share: copy the scenario URL or print a versioned report with the source ledger.
  4. Implement: compare payroll or PEO fees only after the hiring model is clear.

Planning boundaries

Useful because uncertainty stays visible

EmployerCost does not turn every state rule into a false point estimate. When a rate depends on an employer notice, industry schedule, experience account, or carrier class code, the tool shows a range or asks for the assigned value.

Read the methodology or inspect the public source ledger before using a result in a budget.

decision = sourced estimate + explicit assumptions + visible uncertainty shared scenario = inputs + model version + source links implementation = employer notice + provider quote + advisor review