Employer payroll taxes in Alaska for 2026
On top of each paycheck, a Alaska employer pays these taxes. None of them come out of the employee's pay. On a $60,000 salary they add $5,174.00 a year, so the employee costs $65,174.00.
| Employer tax | Rate | Wages taxed |
|---|---|---|
| Social Security | 6.2% | First $184,500 |
| Medicare | 1.45% | No limit |
| Federal unemployment (FUTA) | 0.6% | First $7,000 |
| Alaska unemployment (SUTA) | 1% for new employers | First $54,200 |
Alaska unemployment tax (SUTA)
Alaska employers pay state unemployment tax on the first $54,200 of each employee's wages in 2026. A new employer starts at 1%, and experienced employers pay from 1% to 5.4% depending on their layoff history.
Every new employer pays 1%, construction included. Employees pay another 0.5% of their own wages.
Alaska employees also pay unemployment tax out of their own wages. The calculator withholds it with the employee's taxes.
What an employee costs in Alaska
Yearly employer taxes and total cost for a single filer paid every two weeks, at the new-employer unemployment rate, for an employer with 10 employees. Benefits and workers' compensation insurance are extra.
| Salary | Employer taxes | Total cost | Added to pay | Employee take-home |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $30,000 | $2,637.00 | $32,637 | 8.8% | $26,135 |
| $40,000 | $3,502.00 | $43,502 | 8.8% | $34,120 |
| $50,000 | $4,367.00 | $54,367 | 8.7% | $42,105 |
| $60,000 | $5,174.00 | $65,174 | 8.6% | $50,119 |
| $75,000 | $6,321.50 | $81,322 | 8.4% | $61,322 |
| $100,000 | $8,234.00 | $108,234 | 8.2% | $78,909 |
| $125,000 | $10,146.50 | $135,147 | 8.1% | $96,433 |
| $150,000 | $12,059.00 | $162,059 | 8% | $113,520 |
Withholding from Alaska paychecks
From the employee's pay you withhold federal income tax under the W-4, 6.2% Social Security, 1.45% Medicare . Alaska has no state income tax on wages, so there is nothing to withhold for it, along with AK unemployment insurance. Employees checking their own pay can use the Alaska paycheck calculator. Running a bonus? Use the bonus payroll calculator.
Alaska employer taxes compared with nearby states
The same $60,000 employee, at each state's new-employer unemployment rate. Of the states that border Alaska, Washington has the lowest employer taxes.
| State | State unemployment | All employer taxes | Total cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alaska | $542.00 | $5,174.00 | $65,174 |
| Washington payroll calculator | $0.00 | $4,632.00 | $64,632 |
| Hawaii payroll calculator | $1,446.00 | $6,078.00 | $66,078 |
Sources
Alaska unemployment and program rates come from the state's own 2026 figures: labor.alaska.gov, labor.alaska.gov. Federal figures follow IRS Publication 15 and Publication 15-T. See how we calculate for the withholding method.