The arithmetic can be common; the inputs are not
Every contractor can add cost and divide by productive hours, but payroll obligations and insurance inputs can change by state, locality, employee, classification, and business history. A safe calculator should not present one state default as guaranteed.
Inputs that may vary
- State unemployment tax rate and taxable wage base.
- Workers’ compensation system, classification, and policy rate.
- State and local minimum wage.
- Paid sick leave or family-leave obligations.
- State overtime or daily-overtime rules.
- Local payroll taxes and public-work requirements.
Business-specific records still control
SUTA rates are often assigned to the employer. Workers’ compensation depends on policy and classification. A state selector can provide official links and a checklist, but the estimator should enter rates from current notices, payroll reports, and insurer documents.
Recommended MarginJob workflow
- Select the state only to display official starting links.
- Enter the employer’s actual SUTA and workers’ compensation information.
- Confirm local rules for the jobsite.
- Save the review date and source beside the estimate.
- Recheck rates when the year, policy, employee, or project changes.
Official starting points: U.S. DOL state labor-law directory, IRS Publication 15, and the applicable state tax and labor agencies.