Employer payroll taxes in Rhode Island for 2026
On top of each paycheck, a Rhode Island employer pays these taxes. None of them come out of the employee's pay. On a $60,000 salary they add $5,004.68 a year, so the employee costs $65,004.68.
| 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 |
| Rhode Island unemployment (SUTA) | 1.21% for new employers | First $30,800 |
Rhode Island unemployment tax (SUTA)
Rhode Island employers pay state unemployment tax on the first $30,800 of each employee's wages in 2026. A new employer starts at 1.21%, and experienced employers pay from 0.9% to 9.4% depending on their layoff history.
New employers pay 1% plus the 0.21% Job Development Assessment, 1.21% in all.
What an employee costs in Rhode Island
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 | $2,700.00 | $32,700 | 9% | $24,868 |
| $40,000 | $3,474.68 | $43,475 | 8.7% | $32,418 |
| $50,000 | $4,239.68 | $54,240 | 8.5% | $39,968 |
| $60,000 | $5,004.68 | $65,005 | 8.3% | $47,518 |
| $75,000 | $6,152.18 | $81,152 | 8.2% | $57,993 |
| $100,000 | $8,064.68 | $108,065 | 8.1% | $74,198 |
| $125,000 | $9,977.18 | $134,977 | 8% | $90,534 |
| $150,000 | $11,889.68 | $161,890 | 7.9% | $106,434 |
Withholding from Rhode Island paychecks
From the employee's pay you withhold federal income tax under the W-4, 6.2% Social Security, 1.45% Medicare and Rhode Island income tax, along with RI disability insurance. Employees checking their own pay can use the Rhode Island paycheck calculator. Running a bonus? Use the bonus payroll calculator.
Rhode Island employer taxes compared with nearby states
The same $60,000 employee, at each state's new-employer unemployment rate. Of the states that border Rhode Island, Massachusetts has the lowest employer taxes.
| State | State unemployment | All employer taxes | Total cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rhode Island | $372.68 | $5,004.68 | $65,005 |
| Connecticut payroll calculator | $513.00 | $5,145.00 | $65,145 |
| Massachusetts payroll calculator | $371.40 | $5,003.40 | $65,003 |
Sources
Rhode Island unemployment and program rates come from the state's own 2026 figures: dlt.ri.gov, dlt.ri.gov, dlt.ri.gov. Federal figures follow IRS Publication 15 and Publication 15-T. See how we calculate for the withholding method.