Michigan · 2026 and 2027
Michigan employer payroll taxes and employee cost: 2.7% SUTA on $9,000
In Michigan, a $50,000 employee costs a new employer about $60,820 a year in 2026: 21.6% 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 Michigan
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 a Michigan 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 Michigan unemployment tax on time.
per Internal Revenue Service, as of Jan 1, 2026
- Michigan unemployment insurance (SUTA)
2.7% of $9,000
New employers pay 2.7% on the first $9,000 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
Michigan has no employer-paid family leave or disability insurance premium among the state programs we track.
- Paid sick leave
40 hours / 72 hours a year
One hour per 30 hours worked; up to 72 hours of paid use a year with 11 or more employees, 40 hours for small businesses. The hours are paid but not worked, so they raise the cost per hour worked.
per Michigan Department of Labor and Economic Opportunity, as of Feb 21, 2025
- Workers' compensation
$0.90 per $100 of payroll
Index rate for a standard mix of job classes: rank 36 of 51 (1 = highest) and 82% 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)
$6,260 single / $17,363 family
Average employer contribution per enrolled employee a year at Michigan private-sector employers that offer coverage, 2025 survey.
per Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (MEPS-IC), as of Jan 1, 2025
- Minimum wage
$13.73 in 2026, $15 in 2027
Michigan's rate since Jan 1, 2026. Applies to employers with 2 or more employees From January 1, 2027: $15.
per Michigan Department of Labor and Economic Opportunity, as of Jan 1, 2026
Checked against each source on Oct 23, 2026.
Two worked examples in Michigan
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 worked2,040 hours | $49,038 |
|---|---|
| Paid sick leave required by law40 hours | $962 |
| 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 $9,000 | $243 |
| Workers' compensation (state index rate)$0.90 per $100 of payroll | $450 |
| Health insurance (single coverage, state average)average employer contribution | $6,260 |
| Total cost a year | $60,820 |
21.6% on top of pay · $29.81 per hour worked
Hourly employee at $18 an hour
$18 an hour for 40 hours a week, 52 weeks.
| Pay for hours worked2,040 hours | $36,720 |
|---|---|
| Paid sick leave required by law40 hours | $720 |
| 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 $9,000 | $243 |
| Workers' compensation (state index rate)$0.90 per $100 of payroll | $337 |
| Health insurance (single coverage, state average)average employer contribution | $6,260 |
| Total cost a year | $47,186 |
26% on top of pay · $23.13 per hour worked
What changes for Michigan 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
- Michigan's minimum wage becomes $15 an hour on January 1, 2027. per Michigan Department of Labor and Economic Opportunity, as of Jan 1, 2027
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 Michigan?
About $60,820 a year in 2026 for a $50,000 employee of a new Michigan employer with 10 staff: $10,820 above pay, of which $6,260 is health coverage, $450 workers' comp and $243 Michigan unemployment tax. At $18 an hour full time: $47,186.
What payroll taxes do employers pay in Michigan?
Michigan new employers pay $4,110 yearly on a $50,000 salary, $243 of it state unemployment tax.
What is the Michigan SUTA rate for new employers in 2026?
2.7% on the first $9,000 of each employee's pay: up to $243 per employee a year.
What is the minimum wage in Michigan in 2027?
$15 an hour from January 1, 2027, after $13.73 an hour in 2026: $31,200 for a full-time year.
Is paid sick leave required in Michigan?
Yes. One hour per 30 hours worked; up to 72 hours of paid use a year with 11 or more employees, 40 hours for small businesses. That is 69 paid hours a year for a full-time Michigan employee at 100 employees.
How much does workers' comp cost in Michigan?
$0.90 per $100 of payroll at Michigan's index rate (rank 36 of 51, 82% of the median): about $450 on $50,000 of pay.
How much do Michigan employers pay for health insurance?
$6,260 a year per employee with single coverage and $17,363 with family coverage, the average Michigan private-employer share of $8,230 and $23,800 premiums in 2025.
More employer cost pages
Data and rules for every state
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.