Massachusetts vs Connecticut: paid leave cost compared, 2026
On 25 employees and $2,000,000 of annual payroll, Massachusetts costs $17,600 in total premium and Connecticut costs $10,000 — a difference of $7,600 a year. The employer’s own exposure differs by more, because the two states split the premium differently.
Massachusetts
$17,600
total premium on 25 staff and $2,000,000 payroll
- Employer pays
- $8,400
- Employees pay
- $9,200
- Rate applied
- 0.88%
Connecticut
$10,000
total premium on 25 staff and $2,000,000 payroll
- Employer pays
- $0
- Employees pay
- $10,000
- Rate applied
- 0.5%
Estimates only. Confirm current rates with your state agency before filing or budgeting.
Rules side by side
| Massachusetts | Connecticut | |
|---|---|---|
| Program | Paid Family and Medical Leave | Connecticut Paid Leave |
| Total contribution rate | 0.88% | 0.5% |
| Employer share | 47.73% | 0% |
| Employee share | 52.27% | 100% |
| Wage cap per employee | $184,500 | $184,500 |
| Small-employer relief | Relief under 25 employees → 0.46% | None |
| Private plan allowed | Yes | Yes |
| Maximum weekly benefit | $1,230 | $1,016 |
What actually differs
- Who funds it. Massachusetts splits it 47.73% employer to 52.27% employee. Connecticut is entirely employee-funded, so the employer's cost is administrative only. Comparing the headline rates alone will mislead you whenever the splits differ this much.
- Where the cost stops. Both cap subject wages at $184,500 per employee — the federal Social Security base — so the rate difference is the whole story here.
- Small-employer treatment. Massachusetts reduces the rate to 0.46% for employers with fewer than 25 employees, counted in-state only. Connecticut offers none — the full rate applies from your first employee. If you are near either threshold, check which headcount basis applies before assuming you qualify.
Last verified August 25, 2026Source: Department of Family and Medical Leave (DFML)
Last verified August 18, 2026Source: Connecticut Paid Leave Authority
Employing in both?
Add Massachusetts and Connecticut to the multi-state calculator and see the combined figure, with each state’s cap and small-employer rule applied separately.
Calculate both together