Guides
Plain English explainers that sit behind the calculators. Every guide states its assumptions and links back to the model that uses them.
State guides
Employer cost by state: new employer unemployment rates, taxable wage bases, workers compensation notes and a worked example for ten of the largest hiring states.
Browse the state guidesHow much does an employee really cost in 2026
The full stack of employer cost above salary, why the common 1.25 to 1.4 multiplier is too crude, and where the money actually goes.
Read guideEmployer payroll taxes explained state by state
Social Security, Medicare, FUTA and the state unemployment schedules that quietly swing employer cost by thousands of dollars.
Read guideContractor vs employee: the real cost comparison
Why a 750 dollar day rate is not four times a salaried equivalent, and the duration at which permanent hiring wins.
Read guideWhat benefits actually cost per employee
Medical, dental, vision, disability, life and retirement match, priced per head with the levers that move the total.
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