Alabama · 2026 and 2027
Alabama employer payroll taxes and employee cost: 2.7% SUTA on $8,000
In Alabama, a $50,000 employee costs a new employer about $60,759 a year in 2026: 21.5% on top of pay for payroll taxes, unemployment insurance, workers' comp and health coverage. Change any input to see your own number.
Calculate the cost of an employee in Alabama
Estimates for planning, not tax or legal advice. Rates change and some depend on your business; confirm yours with your state agencies, insurer or payroll provider.
What an Alabama employer pays on top of pay
Every line of the calculator, explained, with the official source of each number.
- Social Security and Medicare
7.65% of pay
The employer matches the employee: 6.2% Social Security on pay up to $184,500 in 2026 ($192,300 in 2027) and 1.45% Medicare on all pay.
per Social Security Administration, as of Jan 1, 2026
- Federal unemployment tax (FUTA)
$42 per employee
6% of the first $7,000 of each employee's pay, less the 5.4% credit for paying Alabama unemployment tax on time.
per Internal Revenue Service, as of Jan 1, 2026
- Alabama unemployment insurance (SUTA)
2.7% of $8,000
New employers pay 2.7% on the first $8,000 of each employee's pay in 2026. After two to three years the rate follows your own claims history.
per U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration, as of Jan 1, 2026
- State paid leave and disability premiums
None
Alabama has no employer-paid family leave or disability insurance premium among the state programs we track.
- Paid sick leave
No state requirement
Alabama has no statewide paid sick leave requirement among the laws we track; city rules may apply.
- Workers' compensation
$1.11 per $100 of payroll
Index rate for a standard mix of job classes: rank 24 of 51 (1 = highest) and 101% of the national median in the 2024 study. Your premium depends on your job classes and claims history.
per Oregon Department of Consumer and Business Services, as of Jan 1, 2024
- Health insurance (employer share)
$6,121 single / $16,014 family
Average employer contribution per enrolled employee a year at Alabama private-sector employers that offer coverage, 2025 survey.
per Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (MEPS-IC), as of Jan 1, 2025
- Minimum wage
$7.25 in 2026
Alabama pays the federal $7.25 minimum. No state minimum wage law.
per U.S. Department of Labor, Wage and Hour Division, as of Nov 3, 2026
Checked against each source on Oct 23, 2026. Press image of these numbers, free to use with attribution: PNG · SVG.
Two worked examples in Alabama
Both for a new employer with 10 employees in a general industry in 2026, with single health coverage at the state average.
Salaried employee at $50,000
A $50,000 salary, 40 hours a week.
| Pay for hours worked2,080 hours | $50,000 |
|---|---|
| Social Security (employer share)6.2% of $50,000 | $3,100 |
| Medicare (employer share)1.45% of $50,000 | $725 |
| FUTA (federal unemployment tax)0.6% of $7,000 | $42 |
| State unemployment insurance (new employer)2.7% of $8,000 | $216 |
| Workers' compensation (state index rate)$1.11 per $100 of payroll | $555 |
| Health insurance (single coverage, state average)average employer contribution | $6,121 |
| Total cost a year | $60,759 |
21.5% on top of pay · $29.21 per hour worked
Hourly employee at $18 an hour
$18 an hour for 40 hours a week, 52 weeks.
| Pay for hours worked2,080 hours | $37,440 |
|---|---|
| Social Security (employer share)6.2% of $37,440 | $2,321 |
| Medicare (employer share)1.45% of $37,440 | $543 |
| FUTA (federal unemployment tax)0.6% of $7,000 | $42 |
| State unemployment insurance (new employer)2.7% of $8,000 | $216 |
| Workers' compensation (state index rate)$1.11 per $100 of payroll | $416 |
| Health insurance (single coverage, state average)average employer contribution | $6,121 |
| Total cost a year | $47,099 |
25.8% on top of pay · $22.64 per hour worked
What changes for Alabama employers in 2027
- The Social Security wage base rises from $184,500 to $192,300: up to $484 more employer tax for employees paid above it. per Social Security Administration, as of Jan 1, 2027
Not announced yet
- 2027 unemployment insurance wage base: not announced yet; 2026: $8,000. per U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration, as of Jan 1, 2026
- 2027 new-employer unemployment rate: not announced yet; 2026: 2.7%. per U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration, as of Jan 1, 2026
Only changes already official on Oct 23, 2026. Most states publish next year's unemployment insurance rates in November and December; this page is updated when they do.
Frequently asked questions
How much does it cost to hire an employee in Alabama?
About $60,759 a year in 2026 for a $50,000 employee of a new Alabama employer with 10 staff: $10,759 above pay, of which $6,121 is health coverage, $555 workers' comp and $216 Alabama unemployment tax. At $18 an hour full time: $47,099.
What payroll taxes do employers pay in Alabama?
Alabama new employers pay $4,083 yearly on a $50,000 salary, $216 of it state unemployment tax.
What is the Alabama SUTA rate for new employers in 2026?
2.7% on the first $8,000 of each employee's pay: up to $216 per employee a year.
Is paid sick leave required in Alabama?
No statewide requirement in Alabama among the laws we track.
How much does workers' comp cost in Alabama?
$1.11 per $100 of payroll at Alabama's index rate (rank 24 of 51, 101% of the median): about $555 on $50,000 of pay.
How much do Alabama employers pay for health insurance?
$6,121 a year per employee with single coverage and $16,014 with family coverage, the average Alabama private-employer share of $8,169 and $23,554 premiums in 2025.
More employer cost pages
Minimum wage in Alabama
Data and rules for every state
Terms on this page
Software and services for these costs
- Payroll Software
Calculates and files these payroll taxes for every state you hire in.
- PEO Services
Takes on payroll taxes, workers' comp and benefits, often at group rates.
- Benefits Administration
Runs the health plan and leave programs behind the benefits lines.
Benefits and workers’ comp are most of this cost
A PEO pools employers for health insurance and workers’ comp, often at group rates. Compare PEOs we research, with verified prices and features.