Workers' Comp Rates for Carpentry - Detached One or Two Family Dwellings (Class Code 5645)
Last verified: 2026-05-08 · Reviewed against NCCI and state rating-bureau filings — how we verify
Description
NCCI Class Code 5645 covers carpentry work on detached one- or two-family dwellings, including framing, siding, windows, doors, decks, fencing, and residential garages built with the dwelling. General carpentry NOC (commercial, multi-story) is rated under 5403; cabinet and interior-trim installation is 5437.
Common Businesses
Hazard Group
F
National Avg Rate
$13.39
per $100 payroll
Most Expensive States
- New York$18.13
- Alaska$17.75
- California$16.88
Rates by State for Class Code 5645
47 jurisdictions rate this code per $100 of payroll. North Dakota, Ohio, Washington and Wyoming are not included. 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 average or rank.
| State | Rate per $100 | vs. National Avg | Effective |
|---|---|---|---|
| Indiana | $9.75 | -3.64 | 2026-01-01 |
| Texas | $9.86 | -3.53 | 2026-07-01 |
| Virginia | $10.38 | -3.01 | 2026-04-01 |
| Utah | $10.63 | -2.76 | 2026-02-01 |
| Arkansas | $11.00 | -2.39 | 2026-07-01 |
| Colorado | $11.13 | -2.26 | 2026-01-01 |
| Tennessee | $11.38 | -2.01 | 2026-03-01 |
| Arizona | $11.50 | -1.89 | 2026-01-01 |
| South Dakota | $11.63 | -1.76 | 2026-07-01 |
| Nebraska | $11.75 | -1.64 | 2026-02-01 |
| North Carolina | $11.75 | -1.64 | 2026-04-01 |
| Idaho | $11.88 | -1.51 | 2026-01-01 |
| Kansas | $12.00 | -1.39 | 2026-01-01 |
| Mississippi | $12.13 | -1.26 | 2026-03-01 |
| New Mexico | $12.25 | -1.14 | 2026-01-01 |
| South Carolina | $12.38 | -1.01 | 2026-04-01 |
| Kentucky | $12.50 | -0.89 | 2026-01-01 |
| Iowa | $12.75 | -0.64 | 2026-01-01 |
| Missouri | $12.88 | -0.51 | 2026-01-01 |
| Nevada | $13.00 | -0.39 | 2026-03-01 |
| Georgia | $13.13 | -0.26 | 2026-03-01 |
| Maryland | $13.13 | -0.26 | 2026-01-01 |
| Oregon | $13.25 | -0.14 | 2026-01-01 |
| West Virginia | $13.38 | -0.01 | 2026-01-01 |
| Alabama | $13.50 | +0.11 | 2026-03-01 |
| Minnesota | $13.50 | +0.11 | 2026-01-01 |
| New Hampshire | $13.50 | +0.11 | 2026-01-01 |
| Delaware | $13.75 | +0.36 | 2025-12-01 |
| Maine | $13.75 | +0.36 | 2025-04-01 |
| Wisconsin | $13.75 | +0.36 | 2025-10-01 |
| Michigan | $14.00 | +0.61 | 2026-01-01 |
| Vermont | $14.00 | +0.61 | 2026-04-01 |
| Rhode Island | $14.25 | +0.86 | 2026-08-01 |
| Florida | $14.37 | +0.98 | 2026-01-01 |
| Montana | $14.37 | +0.98 | 2026-07-01 |
| District of Columbia | $14.75 | +1.36 | 2026-01-01 |
| Massachusetts | $14.75 | +1.36 | 2024-07-01 |
| Oklahoma | $14.75 | +1.36 | 2026-01-01 |
| Illinois | $15.00 | +1.61 | 2026-01-01 |
| Connecticut | $15.25 | +1.86 | 2026-01-01 |
| Louisiana | $15.63 | +2.24 | 2026-05-01 |
| Hawaii | $16.00 | +2.61 | 2026-01-01 |
| Pennsylvania | $16.00 | +2.61 | 2026-04-01 |
| New Jersey | $16.25 | +2.86 | 2026-01-01 |
| California | $16.88 | +3.49 | 2025-09-01 |
| Alaska | $17.75 | +4.36 | 2026-01-01 |
| New York | $18.13 | +4.74 | 2025-10-01 |
How Class Code 5645 Rates Are Spread Across the States
Across 47 states, the estimated workers' comp rate for NCCI class code 5645 (Carpentry - Detached One or Two Family Dwellings) ranges from $9.75 to $18.13 per $100 of payroll, with a national average of $13.39 and a median of $13.38. Each bar counts the states whose estimated rate falls in that range — shaded cheaper (green) to pricier (red). The dashed line marks the national average.
Distribution across 47 states. Rates are a modeled benchmark (NCCI base-rate catalogue × state rate multiplier, catalogue retrieved 2026-05-08) and are not reconciled to filed state loss costs — see the calibration measurement and our rate disclaimer.
View the rate distribution as a data table
| Rate range / $100 | States | Which states |
|---|---|---|
| $9.75–$10.80 | 4 | Indiana, Texas, Virginia, Utah |
| $10.80–$11.84 | 7 | Arkansas, Colorado, Tennessee, Arizona, South Dakota, Nebraska, North Carolina |
| $11.84–$12.89 | 8 | Idaho, Kansas, Mississippi, New Mexico, South Carolina, Kentucky, Iowa, Missouri |
| $12.89–$13.94 | 11 | Nevada, Georgia, Maryland, Oregon, West Virginia, Alabama, Minnesota, New Hampshire, Delaware, Maine, Wisconsin |
| $13.94–$14.99 | 8 | Michigan, Vermont, Rhode Island, Florida, Montana, District of Columbia, Massachusetts, Oklahoma |
| $14.99–$16.04 | 5 | Illinois, Connecticut, Louisiana, Hawaii, Pennsylvania |
| $16.04–$17.08 | 2 | New Jersey, California |
| $17.08–$18.13 | 2 | Alaska, New York |
| Summary | 47 | Min $9.75 · Median $13.38 · Avg $13.39 · Max $18.13 |
The rates above are manual rates — step 1 of the eight-step rating-bureau premium algorithm. See what your carrier applies after that, or estimate premium for code 5645 with your own payroll and experience mod.
Related Class Codes
About Class Code 5645: Scope, Inclusions, and Common Misclassifications
NCCI Class Code 5645 — "Carpentry — Detached One or Two-Family Dwellings — All Operations to Completion" — covers the full scope of carpentry work on standalone single- and two-family residential structures. Despite the legacy "-commercial" slug carried over from this page's URL, the official NCCI/NYCIRB scope is residential and applies to detached homes, duplexes, and the residential garages built alongside them. The classification is hazard group F and is one of the most commonly mis-assigned construction codes because three other carpentry codes — 5403, 5437, and 5651 — overlap depending on building type, height, and the specific carpentry operation.
All-operations-to-completion means a 5645 contractor's payroll is not split among multiple class codes for the same project: framing, siding, window install, door hanging, interior trim that is part of the original construction, decking, residential fencing, and the small wood garage built with the home are all reported under 5645. The five other codes apply only when a different employer or specialty contractor performs the work as a standalone job.
What's Included Under Class Code 5645
NCCI's Scopes text and the NYCIRB Classification Digest assign 5645 to all carpentry operations performed during the construction of a detached one- or two-family dwelling: footings work that does not involve concrete, sill plates, framing of floors and walls, roof framing and trusses, exterior sheathing, exterior finish carpentry, installation of windows and doors, hanging of interior trim and doors as part of the original build, drywall installation when performed by the framing crew, decks, porches, patios, exterior stairs, fences, and the residential garage when constructed in connection with the dwelling. Cleanup, helpers, and miscellaneous job-site labor are also included.
The "detached" qualifier matters: 5645 applies to standalone homes that share no party walls. A duplex with two units side-by-side under one roof is still 5645 because the structure is detached from any other building. A townhouse in a row of three or more attached units is not 5645 — that work moves to NCCI Class Code 5651 (Carpentry — Dwellings — Three Stories or Less) in NCCI states that have adopted 5651, or to 5403 (Carpentry NOC) in states that have not. New York and several other independent-bureau states do not use 5651 at all and assign attached townhouse carpentry directly to 5403.
The "three stories or less" height limit also matters. A three-story duplex is still 5645. A four-story walk-up apartment building is not 5645 under any state's scope — multi-family carpentry above three stories goes to 5403 (Carpentry NOC). Roofing operations are excluded from 5645 in every state and are assigned to a separate roofing classification (5551).
5645 vs 5403, 5437, and 5651
Class Code 5403 (Carpentry NOC) is the catch-all for any carpentry that does not fit the more specific codes. It applies to commercial buildings, multi-family above three stories, public/institutional buildings (schools, hospitals when not under a single all-operations classification), and any carpentry operation NCCI has not assigned to a dedicated code. 5403 typically carries a higher rate than 5645 because the work involves taller structures, heavier materials, and more equipment risk. The most common 5645/5403 audit dispute is whether a townhouse project is detached (5645) or attached (5403/5651) — auditors look at the architectural plans and the recorded subdivision documents.
Class Code 5437 (Carpentry — Installation of Cabinet Work or Interior Trim) applies only when a specialty contractor is hired to install finish carpentry — kitchen cabinets, bathroom vanities, interior trim, baseboards, crown molding, finished wood flooring, interior staircases, and railings — as a standalone job, separate from the framing or original construction. When the same general contractor or framing crew does the cabinet and trim work as part of building the home, the trim payroll is consolidated into 5645 under the all-operations-to-completion rule. NCCI's 2023 Class Inspection Program reported 5437 as one of the most reclassified codes in the country precisely because employers often misassign trim crews to the lower-rated 5437 when the work is actually part of a 5645 project.
Class Code 5651 (Carpentry — Dwellings — Three Stories or Less) is used by NCCI in some states (Florida, Georgia, Indiana, and others use a slightly different phraseology — "Construction of Residential Dwellings Not Exceeding Three Stories in Height") to cover townhouses, attached duplexes, and three-or-less-story multi-family residential carpentry that does not qualify as detached one- or two-family. New York (NYCIRB), California (WCIRB), Pennsylvania (PCRB), Delaware (DCRB), New Jersey (NJCRIB), and Michigan (CAOM) operate independent rating bureaus and may not use 5651 at all — verify the local bureau's classification text before quoting a rate. The boundary test: if every dwelling in the project shares no walls with any other dwelling, it is 5645; if the project includes any attached unit, it is 5651 (or 5403 in non-5651 states).
Common 5645 Misclassifications and Audit Disputes
The most frequent 5645 misclassification is the "5437 split" — a residential builder's framing crew also installs the kitchen cabinets and bathroom vanities and the bookkeeper records that payroll under 5437 to obtain a lower rate. NCCI's all-operations-to-completion rule for 5645 does not permit this split when the same employer is responsible for the entire project. The cabinet and trim payroll consolidates into 5645 unless the cabinet installer is a separate specialty contractor billed and paid separately by the homeowner or a sub-tier general contractor.
The second frequent misclassification is the "detached vs attached" question for new-construction townhouses and zero-lot-line duplexes. Modern subdivision design often produces what marketing materials call "detached" homes that share a fire-rated party wall a few inches apart — under NCCI scope these are attached and rate to 5651/5403, not 5645. Auditors examine the recorded plat and the building permit's structural classification to make the call.
The third frequent dispute involves remodels. NCCI 5645 covers "general carpentry repairs or remodeling" on detached one- or two-family dwellings, but only when the work is genuine carpentry. A remodel that is mostly demolition, electrical, plumbing, concrete driveway or floor work 5221, or drywall finishing / plastering performed by a general contractor often gets misclassified as 5645 when it should be assigned to the trade-specific codes. Audit best practice: track payroll by trade for any remodel project that involves multiple trades.
Sources
- NYCIRB Classification Digest — Class 5645 Phraseology and Description (retrieved 2026-05-08)
- NCCI — 2023 Class Inspection Program: Top Reclassified Codes (retrieved 2026-05-08)
- Workers Compensation Consultants — Project Classification 5645 / 5437 / 5403 (retrieved 2026-05-08)
Frequently Asked Questions
- What is workers' comp class code 5645?
- NCCI Class Code 5645 ("Carpentry — Detached One or Two-Family Dwellings — All Operations to Completion") covers all carpentry work performed on standalone single- and two-family residential structures, including framing, siding, windows, doors, decks, fencing, residential garages built with the dwelling, and remodels. It is hazard group F. The classification's all-operations-to-completion rule means a single 5645 contractor's framing, exterior, and interior carpentry payroll is reported together — it does not get split into 5437 (cabinet/trim) or 5403 (NOC) when the same employer performs all the work.
- How much is workers' comp insurance for class code 5645?
- The national average rate for class code 5645 is $13.39 per $100 of payroll, across the 47 jurisdictions rated on that basis. Cheapest states: Indiana ($9.75), Texas ($9.86), Virginia ($10.38). Most expensive: New York ($18.13), Alaska ($17.75), California ($16.88). Actual premium depends on your state, payroll, experience modifier, and carrier. North Dakota, Ohio, Washington and Wyoming are not included. 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 average or rank.
- What businesses use workers' comp class code 5645?
- Class code 5645 typically applies to Detached single-family home builders, Two-family residential builders, Residential framing crews, Residential siding contractors, Residential remodel carpenters.
- What is the difference between class codes 5645 and 5403?
- 5645 (Carpentry — Detached One or Two-Family Dwellings) covers residential carpentry on standalone homes ≤ three stories. 5403 (Carpentry NOC) is the catch-all for everything else: commercial buildings, multi-family above three stories, public buildings, and any carpentry not assigned to a more specific code. 5403 typically carries a higher rate because the work involves taller structures and heavier loads. If a project involves any attached townhouse unit or any building over three stories, the carpentry rates to 5403 (or to 5651 in NCCI states that have adopted that intermediate code), not 5645.
- Does class code 5645 include cabinet installation?
- Yes — when the cabinet and interior-trim work is performed by the same employer building the dwelling, NCCI's all-operations-to-completion rule consolidates the trim payroll into 5645. Cabinet installation rates separately under Class Code 5437 only when a standalone specialty contractor is hired to do the cabinet and trim work as a separate job. NCCI's 2023 Class Inspection Program flagged 5437 as one of the most reclassified codes in the country because employers commonly misassign in-house trim crews to 5437 to obtain a lower rate when the work actually belongs in 5645.
- How many stories does class code 5645 cover?
- Class Code 5645 covers carpentry on detached one- or two-family dwellings up to three stories in height. Carpentry on a four-or-more-story residential building is rated under 5403 (Carpentry NOC) regardless of whether the building is residential. For attached townhouse and multi-family residential carpentry up to three stories, NCCI uses Class Code 5651 in states that have adopted it (Florida, Georgia, Indiana use the phraseology "Construction of Residential Dwellings Not Exceeding Three Stories in Height"); independent-bureau states (NY/CA/PA/DE/NJ/MI/NC) may use a different mapping — verify the local bureau's text.
- Why does my workers' comp policy show 5645 for a townhouse project?
- If your project is a row of attached townhouses sharing party walls, 5645 is likely a misclassification — attached dwellings rate to 5651 or 5403 depending on the state. Auditors test "detached" by examining the recorded plat and the building permit: if every dwelling stands alone with no shared walls, 5645 applies; if any unit shares a wall with another, the project is not 5645. Marketing terms like "detached townhouse" do not control — the structural classification on the building permit does. Ask your carrier to confirm the classification before the audit, especially for zero-lot-line and side-by-side duplex products that look detached but share a fire wall.
Get a Workers' Comp Quote
Compare rates for Carpentry - Detached One or Two Family Dwellings from top-rated carriers.
Get Quote