Florida · 2026 employer costs
How much does an employee cost in Florida?
Florida calls its unemployment tax the Reemployment Tax, but the mechanics are the same as SUI elsewhere. Combined with no state income tax, Florida is one of the lower mandatory-cost states to hire in.
A $60,000 Florida employee costs about
$64,821
in mandatory employer costs alone — before any optional benefits.
- New-employer Reemployment Tax: 2.7% on the first $7,000 of wages, fixed for your first 10 quarters.
- Standard FUTA rate applies: 0.6% — Florida is not subject to a federal credit reduction for 2026.
- No state income tax, for either employer or employee.
After 10 quarters, Florida moves employers to an experience rate that can range from 0.1% up to 5.4% depending on claims history — budget for this to change once you're past your first two-plus years.
What you’d pay this person — before taxes or benefits.
Used only for employer-size rules. The estimate below is for one new hire.
Health insurance, 401(k) match, bonus, and more. Off by default.
2026 calculation assumptions▾
Source: SSA / IRS
Source: IRS
Source: IRS / U.S. Dept. of Labor
Florida calls this the Reemployment Tax. New employers pay 2.7% for their first 10 quarters.
Source: Florida Department of Revenue (Reemployment Tax)
This estimate assumes your business is a new employer (not yet experience-rated) for unemployment insurance purposes. An established business’s actual SUI rate may be higher or lower depending on its claims history. “Current employees” is used only to check headcount-based thresholds (paid sick leave tiers, the ACA’s 50-employee mark) — it doesn’t change the tax rates themselves.
Reverse the question
Not “what will it cost?” — what can I afford?
Enter what your business can put toward one new hire each month, all-in. We’ll work backward through FL payroll taxes to the highest salary it supports.
Estimated affordable salary
$77,816
per year