Employer payroll taxes in Missouri for 2026
On top of each paycheck, a Missouri employer pays these taxes. None of them come out of the employee's pay. On a $60,000 salary they add $4,845.84 a year, so the employee costs $64,845.84.
| 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 |
| Missouri unemployment (SUTA) | 2.376% for new employers | First $9,000 |
Missouri unemployment tax (SUTA)
Missouri employers pay state unemployment tax on the first $9,000 of each employee's wages in 2026. A new employer starts at 2.376%, and experienced employers pay from 0% to 6% depending on their layoff history.
New employers in every industry pay 2.376% for 2026.
What an employee costs in Missouri
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 | $2,550.84 | $32,551 | 8.5% | $25,812 |
| $40,000 | $3,315.84 | $43,316 | 8.3% | $33,377 |
| $50,000 | $4,080.84 | $54,081 | 8.2% | $40,942 |
| $60,000 | $4,845.84 | $64,846 | 8.1% | $48,507 |
| $75,000 | $5,993.34 | $80,993 | 8% | $59,005 |
| $100,000 | $7,905.84 | $107,906 | 7.9% | $75,417 |
| $125,000 | $9,818.34 | $134,818 | 7.9% | $91,766 |
| $150,000 | $11,730.84 | $161,731 | 7.8% | $107,678 |
Withholding from Missouri paychecks
From the employee's pay you withhold federal income tax under the W-4, 6.2% Social Security, 1.45% Medicare and Missouri income tax. Employees checking their own pay can use the Missouri paycheck calculator. Running a bonus? Use the bonus payroll calculator.
Missouri employer taxes compared with nearby states
The same $60,000 employee, at each state's new-employer unemployment rate. Of the states that border Missouri, Nebraska has the lowest employer taxes.
| State | State unemployment | All employer taxes | Total cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Missouri | $213.84 | $4,845.84 | $64,846 |
| Arkansas payroll calculator | $140.00 | $4,772.00 | $64,772 |
| Illinois payroll calculator | $477.38 | $5,109.38 | $65,109 |
| Iowa payroll calculator | $204.00 | $4,836.00 | $64,836 |
| Kansas payroll calculator | $264.25 | $4,896.25 | $64,896 |
| Kentucky payroll calculator | $324.00 | $4,956.00 | $64,956 |
| Nebraska payroll calculator | $112.50 | $4,744.50 | $64,745 |
| Oklahoma payroll calculator | $375.00 | $5,007.00 | $65,007 |
| Tennessee payroll calculator | $189.00 | $4,821.00 | $64,821 |
Sources
Missouri unemployment and program rates come from the state's own 2026 figures: labor.mo.gov. Federal figures follow IRS Publication 15 and Publication 15-T. See how we calculate for the withholding method.