Employer payroll taxes in Connecticut for 2026
On top of each paycheck, a Connecticut employer pays these taxes. None of them come out of the employee's pay. On a $60,000 salary they add $5,145.00 a year, so the employee costs $65,145.00.
| 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 |
| Connecticut unemployment (SUTA) | 1.9% for new employers | First $27,000 |
Connecticut unemployment tax (SUTA)
Connecticut employers pay state unemployment tax on the first $27,000 of each employee's wages in 2026. A new employer starts at 1.9%, and experienced employers pay from 1.1% to 9.9% depending on their layoff history.
New employers pay 1.9% in 2026, down from 2.2%.
What an employee costs in Connecticut
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 | $2,850.00 | $32,850 | 9.5% | $25,774 |
| $40,000 | $3,615.00 | $43,615 | 9% | $32,928 |
| $50,000 | $4,380.00 | $54,380 | 8.8% | $40,305 |
| $60,000 | $5,145.00 | $65,145 | 8.6% | $47,773 |
| $75,000 | $6,292.50 | $81,293 | 8.4% | $57,743 |
| $100,000 | $8,205.00 | $108,205 | 8.2% | $73,705 |
| $125,000 | $10,117.50 | $135,118 | 8.1% | $89,479 |
| $150,000 | $12,030.00 | $162,030 | 8% | $104,816 |
Withholding from Connecticut paychecks
From the employee's pay you withhold federal income tax under the W-4, 6.2% Social Security, 1.45% Medicare and Connecticut income tax, along with CT paid leave. Employees checking their own pay can use the Connecticut paycheck calculator. Running a bonus? Use the bonus payroll calculator.
Connecticut employer taxes compared with nearby states
The same $60,000 employee, at each state's new-employer unemployment rate. Of the states that border Connecticut, Massachusetts has the lowest employer taxes.
| State | State unemployment | All employer taxes | Total cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Connecticut | $513.00 | $5,145.00 | $65,145 |
| Massachusetts payroll calculator | $371.40 | $5,003.40 | $65,003 |
| New York payroll calculator | $721.60 | $5,353.60 | $65,354 |
| Rhode Island payroll calculator | $372.68 | $5,004.68 | $65,005 |
Sources
Connecticut unemployment and program rates come from the state's own 2026 figures: portal.ct.gov, portal.ct.gov, portal.ct.gov. Federal figures follow IRS Publication 15 and Publication 15-T. See how we calculate for the withholding method.