Payroll Burden Calculator
Last updated: October 15, 2026
Estimate an employer’s total payroll cost and burden rate from wages, payroll taxes, insurance, benefits, retirement and administration.
Estimated total monthly payroll cost
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- Employer taxes and insurance: —
- Retirement contributions: —
- Non-wage benefits and administration: —
- Estimated payroll burden rate: —
On this page
Quick summary: Estimate an employer’s total payroll cost and burden rate from wages, payroll taxes, insurance, benefits, retirement and administration.
Read the method, example and limitations
Updated reference sections in this guide are in English.
Guide language: English. Updated October 15, 2026.
What this calculator estimates
Payroll Burden Calculator
Inputs and units
Use the units shown for Gross monthly wages ($), Employer payroll taxes (%), Workers compensation and unemployment (%), Health and other benefits per month ($), Retirement contributions (% of wages), Monthly bonus and incentive accrual ($), Payroll, HR and administration ($). Required fields cannot be blank. Use zero only where that field and the model allow it. Select Calculate after changing a scenario.
Method and assumptions
The payroll-tax percentage applies to base wages plus the bonus accrual. The separately entered workers-compensation/unemployment percentage and retirement percentage apply to base wages only. Add benefits, bonuses and administration to base wages and these calculated costs.
Worked example
Base wages 1,000, bonus 200 and an assumed 10% payroll tax, with every other cost zero, total 1,320; tax cost is 120.
Limitations
Base wages should exclude the separately entered bonus accrual. Rates are planning assumptions, not a statutory tax computation. If your workers-compensation or retirement base includes bonuses, adjust the input costs or model separately.