How much are employer payroll taxes?

Employer payroll taxes are at a rate of 6.2% for social security and 1.45% for Medicare. This number is through the Federal Insurance Contribution Act (FICA). The total due every pay period is 15.3% of an individual's wages. Half of that is paid by the employee and the other half is paid for by the employer.

If someone is self-employed, they are responsible for paying the entirety of the 15.3% FICA tax. As the employer cost for payroll is based on a specific rate rather than a specific number, there is a wide range of how much an employer pays in payroll taxes. This range is based on the number of employees an employer has as well as how much each employee is paid.