Workers' Comp Rates by State & Class Code — Compare Costs

WC Required · Bureau: NCCI

WC Required · Bureau: NCCI

WC Required · Bureau: NCCI

WC Required · Bureau: NCCI

WC Required · Bureau: WCIRB

WC Required · Bureau: NCCI

Office & Professional

Workers' compensation for office-based businesses including law firms, accounting practices, tech companies, and professional services. These roles carry minimal physical risk, resulting in some of the lowest WC rates in the industry. Typical rates range from $0.15 to $0.55 per $100 of payroll depending on the state.

Avg rate: $0.30 / $100

Restaurants & Food Service

Workers' compensation for restaurants, bars, cafes, catering companies, and fast-food establishments. Kitchen staff face burns, cuts, and slips while servers risk falls and repetitive strain injuries. Average rates range from $1.50 to $4.00 per $100 of payroll, making food service a moderately high-risk industry for WC.

Avg rate: $2.05 / $100

Construction

Workers' compensation for construction trades including carpentry, electrical, HVAC, plumbing, roofing, masonry, and general contracting. Construction consistently carries some of the highest WC rates due to severe injury risks from falls, power tools, and heavy equipment. Rates typically range from $5.00 to $25.00 per $100 of payroll.

Avg rate: $10.00 / $100

Healthcare

Workers' compensation for medical offices, clinics, hospitals, home health agencies, nursing homes, and mental health programs. Healthcare workers face risks from patient handling, needlestick injuries, and exposure to infectious disease. Rates range from $0.50 for physician offices to $5.00 or more for nursing home and hospital staff.

Avg rate: $1.50 / $100

Automotive

Workers' compensation for auto repair shops, body shops, dealerships, and auto parts stores. Mechanics and technicians face injury risks from heavy equipment, hydraulic lifts, chemicals, and repetitive motions. Rates typically range from $2.50 to $7.00 per $100 of payroll depending on the specific operation and state.

Avg rate: $3.75 / $100

Real Estate & Property

Workers' compensation for property management companies, building owners, and real estate operations. Employees performing building maintenance, janitorial duties, and minor repairs face moderate risks from ladders, cleaning chemicals, and equipment. Rates generally fall between $1.50 and $4.00 per $100 of payroll.

Avg rate: $2.45 / $100

Transportation & Trucking

Workers' compensation for trucking companies, delivery services, bus operators, and air carriers. Drivers face high risks from vehicle accidents, loading and unloading cargo, and long hours behind the wheel. Rates are among the highest across all industries, typically ranging from $5.00 to $15.00 per $100 of payroll.

Avg rate: $8.25 / $100

Retail

Workers' compensation for retail stores, grocery stores, hardware stores, furniture stores, and wholesale operations. Retail employees face moderate risks from lifting, stocking shelves, operating equipment, and slips and falls. Average rates range from $1.25 to $3.50 per $100 of payroll.

Avg rate: $1.95 / $100

Services

Workers' compensation for service-oriented businesses including janitorial, landscaping, building maintenance, and fitness centers. Risk levels vary significantly within this group, from moderate chemical exposure in cleaning to physical strain in landscaping. Rates typically range from $2.00 to $6.00 per $100 of payroll.

Avg rate: $3.60 / $100

Manufacturing

Workers' compensation for manufacturing operations including machine shops, tool manufacturing, and welding. Workers face significant risks from heavy machinery, metal fabrication equipment, and repetitive motions. Manufacturing rates are among the higher-risk categories, typically ranging from $4.00 to $12.00 per $100 of payroll.

Avg rate: $6.50 / $100

Agriculture

Workers' compensation for farms, nurseries, florists, and tree-care operations. Agricultural workers face risks from heavy equipment, chemical pesticides, repetitive manual labor, and outdoor weather exposure. Rates vary widely by operation type, ranging from $3.00 for nursery employees to $10.00 or more for tree pruning and farm labor.

Avg rate: $5.80 / $100

Technology

Workers' compensation for technology companies including software development, IT services, and telecom firms. Tech employees primarily work at desks or in office environments, resulting in very low injury rates. WC rates for technology businesses are among the lowest available, typically ranging from $0.10 to $0.40 per $100 of payroll.

Avg rate: $0.22 / $100

Education

Workers' compensation for schools, colleges, universities, and educational institutions. Professional educators face relatively low physical risk, though some exposure exists from classroom activities, laboratory work, and campus duties. Rates generally range from $0.30 to $1.50 per $100 of payroll depending on the institution type.

Avg rate: $0.65 / $100

Hospitality

Workers' compensation for hotels, motels, resorts, and lodging establishments. Hospitality workers face risks from housekeeping duties, maintenance tasks, laundry operations, and guest services. Rates typically range from $2.00 to $5.00 per $100 of payroll, reflecting moderate physical demands across front-desk and back-of-house roles.

Avg rate: $3.10 / $100