Hiring Your First Employee: State-by-State Guides (2026)
The federal steps are the same everywhere, but minimum wage, unemployment tax, new-hire deadlines, workers' comp, and leave rules change by state. Each guide links to the official state sources we checked.
Hiring Your First Employee in California (2026)
California first-hire checklist for 2026: minimum wage, SUTA rate (3.4% on $7,000), withholding registration, new-hire reporting, workers' comp, sick leave, posters, and a worked cost example.
Hiring Your First Employee in Texas (2026)
Texas first-hire checklist for 2026: minimum wage, SUTA rate (2.7% on $9,000), withholding registration, new-hire reporting, workers' comp, sick leave, posters, and a worked cost example.
Hiring Your First Employee in Florida (2026)
Florida first-hire checklist for 2026: minimum wage, SUTA rate (2.7% on $7,000), withholding registration, new-hire reporting, workers' comp, sick leave, posters, and a worked cost example.
Hiring Your First Employee in New York (2026)
New York first-hire checklist for 2026: minimum wage, SUTA rate (4.1% on $17,600), withholding registration, new-hire reporting, workers' comp, sick leave, posters, and a worked cost example.
Hiring Your First Employee in Pennsylvania (2026)
Pennsylvania first-hire checklist for 2026: minimum wage, SUTA rate (3.822% on $10,000), withholding registration, new-hire reporting, workers' comp, sick leave, posters, and a worked cost example.
Hiring Your First Employee in Illinois (2026)
Illinois first-hire checklist for 2026: minimum wage, SUTA rate (3.35% on $14,250), withholding registration, new-hire reporting, workers' comp, sick leave, posters, and a worked cost example.
Hiring Your First Employee in Ohio (2026)
Ohio first-hire checklist for 2026: minimum wage, SUTA rate (2.85% on $9,000), withholding registration, new-hire reporting, workers' comp, sick leave, posters, and a worked cost example.
Hiring Your First Employee in Georgia (2026)
Georgia first-hire checklist for 2026: minimum wage, SUTA rate (2.7% on $9,500), withholding registration, new-hire reporting, workers' comp, sick leave, posters, and a worked cost example.
Hiring Your First Employee in North Carolina (2026)
North Carolina first-hire checklist for 2026: minimum wage, SUTA rate (1% on $34,200), withholding registration, new-hire reporting, workers' comp, sick leave, posters, and a worked cost example.
Hiring Your First Employee in Michigan (2026)
Michigan first-hire checklist for 2026: minimum wage, SUTA rate (2.7% on $9,000), withholding registration, new-hire reporting, workers' comp, sick leave, posters, and a worked cost example.