Employer payroll taxes in Arkansas for 2026
On top of each paycheck, a Arkansas employer pays these taxes. None of them come out of the employee's pay. On a $60,000 salary they add $4,772.00 a year, so the employee costs $64,772.00.
| 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 |
| Arkansas unemployment (SUTA) | 2% for new employers | First $7,000 |
Arkansas unemployment tax (SUTA)
Arkansas employers pay state unemployment tax on the first $7,000 of each employee's wages in 2026. A new employer starts at 2%, and experienced employers pay from 0.2% to 10.1% depending on their layoff history.
New employers pay 2% until they have three years of benefit history.
What an employee costs in Arkansas
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 | $2,477.00 | $32,477 | 8.3% | $25,662 |
| $40,000 | $3,242.00 | $43,242 | 8.1% | $33,327 |
| $50,000 | $4,007.00 | $54,007 | 8% | $40,992 |
| $60,000 | $4,772.00 | $64,772 | 8% | $48,657 |
| $75,000 | $5,919.50 | $80,920 | 7.9% | $59,305 |
| $100,000 | $7,832.00 | $107,832 | 7.8% | $75,690 |
| $125,000 | $9,744.50 | $134,745 | 7.8% | $92,279 |
| $150,000 | $11,657.00 | $161,657 | 7.8% | $108,441 |
Withholding from Arkansas paychecks
From the employee's pay you withhold federal income tax under the W-4, 6.2% Social Security, 1.45% Medicare and Arkansas income tax. Employees checking their own pay can use the Arkansas paycheck calculator. Running a bonus? Use the bonus payroll calculator.
Arkansas employer taxes compared with nearby states
The same $60,000 employee, at each state's new-employer unemployment rate. Of the states that border Arkansas, Louisiana has the lowest employer taxes.
| State | State unemployment | All employer taxes | Total cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Arkansas | $140.00 | $4,772.00 | $64,772 |
| Louisiana payroll calculator | $0.00 | $4,632.00 | $64,632 |
| Mississippi payroll calculator | $168.00 | $4,800.00 | $64,800 |
| Missouri payroll calculator | $213.84 | $4,845.84 | $64,846 |
| Oklahoma payroll calculator | $375.00 | $5,007.00 | $65,007 |
| Tennessee payroll calculator | $189.00 | $4,821.00 | $64,821 |
| Texas payroll calculator | $243.00 | $4,875.00 | $64,875 |
Sources
Arkansas unemployment and program rates come from the state's own 2026 figures: dws.arkansas.gov, dws.arkansas.gov, oui.doleta.gov. Federal figures follow IRS Publication 15 and Publication 15-T. See how we calculate for the withholding method.