Payroll calculator
What an employee actually costs
Salary is not the cost of an employee. Enter a wage to see the employer contributions that sit on top of it, using the current year figures.
Prepared by HBT Accounting, a CPA led firm in CalgaryUpdated 5.0 on Google, 59 reviews
2026 figures
Gross wage before any deductions.
Employer cost, 2026
The employee also pays CPP of $3,659.25 and EI of $1,059.50 from their own pay, which is withheld and remitted with the employer portion.
What this does not cover. Covers employer CPP and EI at the federal rates only, so it does not fit Quebec, which has the QPP, QPIP and a lower EI rate. Income tax withholding is not included, because it depends on claim codes and pay period and needs the CRA payroll formulas. Vacation pay, benefits and workers compensation premiums are also not included. This is an estimate for planning, not advice for your situation and not a filing.
How much does an employee cost above their salary?
For 2026, an employer pays CPP at 5.95 percent on earnings between the $3,500 basic exemption and the $74,600 first ceiling, a further 4 percent on earnings up to $85,000, and EI at 1.4 times the employee rate of 1.63 percent on earnings up to $68,900. At or above the ceilings that is $4,646.45 of CPP and $1,572.30 of EI per employee.
Official sources
If these figures raise a question about your own return, call or ask for a call back. The first conversation is free and carries no obligation.