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

Name: 2026 Workers' Compensation Relative Cost Index by U.S. State
Creator: WorkersCompCost.com
Published: 2026-10-12
License: https://workerscompcost.com/terms/

Free workers' compensation lookup. Find your class code, see the filed figures states publish, compare how states rank, and get a competitive quote in minutes.

Every State, Every Class Code — Workers' Comp Cost, Visualized

Each tile is one state, shaded by its relative cost index — how its workers' comp cost level compares with the median state (1.00). California runs the highest at 1.34; Indiana the lowest at 0.73. The index ranks states; it is not a price. Select any state for its class codes and, where its regulator publishes them, its filed figures.

47 jurisdictions are indexed here. North Dakota, Ohio, Washington and Wyoming carry no index: each is a monopolistic state fund that sets premium on its own basis rather than on an NCCI class-code rate per $100 of payroll, so there is no comparable figure to shade or rank. Their tiles link to a page explaining what the fund actually charges on.

Scroll the map sideways for the eastern states, or jump to the ranked list of all 51 jurisdictions.

Well below the median state (< 0.90)Below the median (0.90–0.97)Near the median (0.98–1.02)Above the median (1.03–1.09)Well above the median (≥ 1.10)State fund — not rated per $100 of NCCI payroll

Cost index = the state's modelled cost level ÷ the median of the 47 indexed jurisdictions (rebuilt 2026-10-12). It is a relative position, not a price, and it is not reconciled to filed state loss costs — see the calibration measurement and our rate disclaimer.

Rank all 51 jurisdictions, cheapest to most expensive

2026 workers' compensation relative cost index by U.S. state, ranked cheapest to most expensive, followed by the monopolistic state funds that carry no index.
Rank	State	Cost index	Filed	Bureau
1	Indianaindependent	0.73	—	independent
2	Texasncci	0.74	—	ncci
3	Virginiancci	0.78	—	ncci
4	Utahncci	0.79	—	ncci
5	Arkansasncci	0.82	—	ncci
6	South Dakotancci	0.83	—	ncci
7	Coloradoncci	0.83	—	ncci
8	Arizonancci	0.86	—	ncci
9	North Carolinaindependent	0.88	—	independent
10	Nebraskancci	0.88	—	ncci
11	Tennesseencci	0.89	—	ncci
12	Idahoncci	0.89	—	ncci
13	Kansasncci	0.90	—	ncci
14	Mississippincci	0.91	—	ncci
15	New Mexiconcci	0.92	—	ncci
16	South Carolinancci	0.93	—	ncci
17	Kentuckyncci	0.93	—	ncci
18	Iowancci	0.95	—	ncci
19	Missourincci	0.96	—	ncci
20	Nevadancci	0.97	—	ncci
21	Marylandncci	0.98	—	ncci
22	Georgiancci	0.98	—	ncci
23	Oregonncci	0.99	—	ncci
24	West Virginiancci	1.00	—	ncci
25	Wisconsinindependent	1.01	Yes	independent
26	New Hampshirencci	1.01	—	ncci
27	Minnesotaindependent	1.01	—	independent
28	Alabamancci	1.01	—	ncci
29	Mainencci	1.03	—	ncci
30	Delawareindependent	1.03	Yes	independent
31	Rhode Islandncci	1.04	—	ncci
32	Vermontncci	1.05	—	ncci
33	Michiganindependent	1.05	—	independent
34	New Yorkindependent	1.06	Yes	independent
35	Montanancci	1.07	—	ncci
36	Floridancci	1.07	—	ncci
37	Oklahomancci	1.10	—	ncci
38	Massachusettsindependent	1.10	—	independent
39	District of Columbiancci	1.10	—	ncci
40	Illinoisncci	1.12	—	ncci
41	Connecticutncci	1.14	—	ncci
42	Louisianancci	1.17	—	ncci
43	Pennsylvaniaindependent	1.20	Yes	independent
44	Hawaiincci	1.20	—	ncci
45	New Jerseyindependent	1.21	—	independent
46	Alaskancci	1.33	—	ncci
47	Californiaindependent	1.34	—	independent
—	North Dakotamonopoly	Not rated per $100 of NCCI payroll — rated on the fund's own classification manual		monopoly
—	Ohiomonopoly	Not rated per $100 of NCCI payroll — rated on the fund's own filed base rates		monopoly
—	Washingtonmonopoly	Not rated per $100 of NCCI payroll — rated per hour worked		monopoly
—	Wyomingmonopoly	Not rated per $100 of NCCI payroll — rated by NAICS industry class		monopoly

state with filed figures

Browse by Industry

All industries

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. How low still depends on the state and the exact class code.

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. Rates sit well above office codes, making food service a moderately high-risk industry for WC.

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 vary widely by trade and by state.

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 run from low for physician offices to several times higher for nursing home and hospital staff.

Automotive

Workers' compensation for auto repair shops, body shops, dealerships, auto recycling yards, and auto parts stores. Mechanics and technicians face injury risks from heavy equipment, hydraulic lifts, chemicals, and repetitive motions. Rates vary with the specific operation and the state.

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 sit between office codes and the construction trades.

Transportation & Trucking

Workers' compensation for trucking companies, towing and roadside assistance businesses, delivery services, bus operators, bus garages, taxicab companies, and air carriers. Drivers and garage employees face high risks from vehicle accidents, loading and unloading cargo, and vehicle maintenance work. Rates are among the highest across all industries.

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. Rates generally sit in the moderate range, above office codes but well below construction.

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 vary just as widely, by class code and by state.

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 is among the higher-rated categories for WC.

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, with tree pruning and farm labor rated well above nursery employees.

Technology

Workers' compensation for technology companies including software development and IT services. 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.

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 are generally low and vary by institution type.

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 reflect the moderate physical demands across front-desk and back-of-house roles.

How It Works

1. Find Your Class Code

Search by job description or industry to find the NCCI class code that matches your business.

2. Compare Rates

See the filed figures states publish for your class code and how every state ranks against the median state.

3. Get a Quote

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