Workers' Comp Rates for Carpentry NOC (Class Code 5403)
Last verified: 2026-05-30 · Reviewed against NCCI and state rating-bureau filings — how we verify
Description
Covers general carpentry work not otherwise classified, including commercial and multi-unit building carpentry, wood structure work, remodeling, and repair when no more specific carpentry class applies. Detached one- or two-family dwelling carpentry belongs under 5645; cabinet and interior trim installation belongs under 5437.
Common Businesses
Hazard Group
G
National Avg Rate
$12.05
per $100 payroll
Most Expensive States
- New York$16.31
- Alaska$15.98
- California$15.19
Rates by State for Class Code 5403
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 | $8.78 | -3.27 | 2026-01-01 |
| Texas | $8.88 | -3.17 | 2026-07-01 |
| Virginia | $9.34 | -2.71 | 2026-04-01 |
| Utah | $9.56 | -2.49 | 2026-02-01 |
| Arkansas | $9.90 | -2.15 | 2026-07-01 |
| Colorado | $10.01 | -2.04 | 2026-01-01 |
| Tennessee | $10.24 | -1.81 | 2026-03-01 |
| Arizona | $10.35 | -1.70 | 2026-01-01 |
| South Dakota | $10.46 | -1.59 | 2026-07-01 |
| Nebraska | $10.58 | -1.47 | 2026-02-01 |
| North Carolina | $10.58 | -1.47 | 2026-04-01 |
| Idaho | $10.69 | -1.36 | 2026-01-01 |
| Kansas | $10.80 | -1.25 | 2026-01-01 |
| Mississippi | $10.91 | -1.14 | 2026-03-01 |
| New Mexico | $11.03 | -1.02 | 2026-01-01 |
| South Carolina | $11.14 | -0.91 | 2026-04-01 |
| Kentucky | $11.25 | -0.80 | 2026-01-01 |
| Iowa | $11.48 | -0.57 | 2026-01-01 |
| Missouri | $11.59 | -0.46 | 2026-01-01 |
| Nevada | $11.70 | -0.35 | 2026-03-01 |
| Georgia | $11.81 | -0.24 | 2026-03-01 |
| Maryland | $11.81 | -0.24 | 2026-01-01 |
| Oregon | $11.93 | -0.12 | 2026-01-01 |
| West Virginia | $12.04 | -0.01 | 2026-01-01 |
| Alabama | $12.15 | +0.10 | 2026-03-01 |
| Minnesota | $12.15 | +0.10 | 2026-01-01 |
| New Hampshire | $12.15 | +0.10 | 2026-01-01 |
| Delaware | $12.38 | +0.33 | 2025-12-01 |
| Maine | $12.38 | +0.33 | 2025-04-01 |
| Wisconsin | $12.38 | +0.33 | 2025-10-01 |
| Michigan | $12.60 | +0.55 | 2026-01-01 |
| Vermont | $12.60 | +0.55 | 2026-04-01 |
| Rhode Island | $12.83 | +0.78 | 2026-08-01 |
| Florida | $12.94 | +0.89 | 2026-01-01 |
| Montana | $12.94 | +0.89 | 2026-07-01 |
| District of Columbia | $13.27 | +1.22 | 2026-01-01 |
| Massachusetts | $13.27 | +1.22 | 2024-07-01 |
| Oklahoma | $13.27 | +1.22 | 2026-01-01 |
| Illinois | $13.50 | +1.45 | 2026-01-01 |
| Connecticut | $13.73 | +1.68 | 2026-01-01 |
| Louisiana | $14.06 | +2.01 | 2026-05-01 |
| Hawaii | $14.40 | +2.35 | 2026-01-01 |
| Pennsylvania | $14.40 | +2.35 | 2026-04-01 |
| New Jersey | $14.63 | +2.58 | 2026-01-01 |
| California | $15.19 | +3.14 | 2025-09-01 |
| Alaska | $15.98 | +3.93 | 2026-01-01 |
| New York | $16.31 | +4.26 | 2025-10-01 |
How Class Code 5403 Rates Are Spread Across the States
Across 47 states, the estimated workers' comp rate for NCCI class code 5403 (Carpentry NOC) ranges from $8.78 to $16.31 per $100 of payroll, with a national average of $12.05 and a median of $12.04. 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 2026-05-30) 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 |
|---|---|---|
| $8.78–$9.72 | 4 | Indiana, Texas, Virginia, Utah |
| $9.72–$10.66 | 7 | Arkansas, Colorado, Tennessee, Arizona, South Dakota, Nebraska, North Carolina |
| $10.66–$11.60 | 8 | Idaho, Kansas, Mississippi, New Mexico, South Carolina, Kentucky, Iowa, Missouri |
| $11.60–$12.54 | 11 | Nevada, Georgia, Maryland, Oregon, West Virginia, Alabama, Minnesota, New Hampshire, Delaware, Maine, Wisconsin |
| $12.54–$13.49 | 8 | Michigan, Vermont, Rhode Island, Florida, Montana, District of Columbia, Massachusetts, Oklahoma |
| $13.49–$14.43 | 5 | Illinois, Connecticut, Louisiana, Hawaii, Pennsylvania |
| $14.43–$15.37 | 2 | New Jersey, California |
| $15.37–$16.31 | 2 | Alaska, New York |
| Summary | 47 | Min $8.78 · Median $12.04 · Avg $12.05 · Max $16.31 |
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 5403 with your own payroll and experience mod.
Related Class Codes
About Class Code 5403: Scope, Inclusions, and Common Misclassifications
NCCI Class Code 5403 — "Carpentry NOC" (Not Otherwise Classified) — is the catch-all construction classification for carpentry work that does not fit one of the more specific carpentry codes. It covers commercial building construction, residential dwellings exceeding three stories in height, mixed-use buildings, and any framing, sheathing, siding, decking, or finish carpentry that the bureau has not assigned to a dedicated code. Because it is the residual code in the carpentry family, 5403 generally carries a higher base rate than the residential code 5645, since the work involves taller structures, heavier materials, and more equipment exposure.
5403 is hazard group F and one of the four overlapping carpentry codes — 5403, 5645, 5437 cabinet and interior trim, and 5651 — that employers and auditors most frequently confuse. The classification turns on building type, building height, and whether the carpentry is performed as part of a complete project or as a standalone specialty job. This page compares filed base-rate estimates for 5403 across states so a general or commercial carpentry contractor can see the spread before requesting a quote.
What's Included Under Class Code 5403
NCCI Scopes language assigns 5403 to general carpentry not otherwise classified. Included operations are broad: carpentry on commercial structures, construction of residential dwellings more than three stories in height and the repair or remodeling of those structures, mixed-use building carpentry, scaffolding erection by the carpentry crew, and all types of siding installation. The code also contemplates carpentry on building raising or moving operations, the wrecking of wooden buildings or structures, construction of wooden bridges and decks, set-up of wood silos, tanks, gazebos, pergolas, and trellises, set-up of wood or plastic playground equipment, and carpentry repair work involving termite control.
Like the residential carpentry codes, 5403 is duties-driven rather than title-driven. An employee is assigned to 5403 based on the carpentry operations actually performed during the policy year, not on a job title. Helpers, cleanup labor, and miscellaneous job-site workers attached to a 5403 carpentry operation are normally included with the carpentry payroll rather than split to a separate code.
5403 vs 5645, 5651, and 5437
The key boundary is between 5403 and the residential code 5645 (Carpentry — Detached One or Two-Family Dwellings). 5645 covers carpentry on standalone single- and two-family homes up to three stories, performed under the all-operations-to-completion rule. The moment a project is commercial, a residential building exceeds three stories, or a multi-family structure has attached units, the carpentry moves out of 5645. In NCCI states that have adopted the intermediate code 5651 (Carpentry — Dwellings — Three Stories or Less), attached townhouses and three-or-less-story multi-family residential carpentry rate to 5651; in states that have not adopted 5651, that work falls to 5403. New York (NYCIRB) and several independent-bureau states do not use 5651 at all and assign attached townhouse carpentry directly to 5403.
5437 (Carpentry — Installation of Cabinet Work or Interior Trim) applies only to specialty contractors who perform interior trim and cabinet installation as a standalone job and who are not responsible for the complete construction project. A 5403 contractor running a full commercial or high-rise residential build does not split its trim payroll to 5437. The most common audit dispute in the carpentry family is whether a residential project is detached (5645), attached / three-or-less stories (5651), or commercial / over-three-stories (5403) — auditors look at the architectural plans, the recorded plat, and the building permit's structural classification rather than marketing labels.
Independent-bureau states matter for 5403. California (WCIRB), Pennsylvania (PCRB), Delaware (DCRB), New Jersey (NJCRIB), Michigan (CAOM), and North Carolina (NCRB) operate independent rating bureaus and may use different carpentry phraseology, code numbers, or boundary tests than NCCI's 5403. California in particular is fully independent of NCCI and does not use the 5403 number — a California carpentry contractor should check WCIRB's classification search rather than rely on a national 5403 comparison.
Audit Records for 5403 Carpentry
The audit file that protects a 5403 assignment documents the type and height of the structures worked on during the policy year. Keep contracts, building permits, and architectural plans that show commercial use or building height, payroll detail separating carpentry crews from genuinely separate trade work such as plumbing NOC 5183, masonry NOC 5022, plastering NOC 5480, or concrete flatwork class code 5221, and project records that establish whether the company was responsible for a complete project or only a standalone specialty scope. Auditors decide 5403 versus 5645/5651/5437 from what the crew actually built, not from the contractor's general license category.
Attempting to split carpentry payroll across multiple carpentry classes on a single project is a frequent source of audit reversals — bureaus generally consolidate the work into the governing carpentry code for the project. Track payroll by project so each job can be tied to the correct carpentry classification.
For quote shoppers, the rate table on this page is a benchmark, not a binding quote. The filed base-rate estimate still changes after payroll, carrier loss-cost multiplier, experience modification, schedule credits, minimum premium, and any reclassification to 5645, 5651, 5437, or a state-specific carpentry code.
Sources
- NCCI Scopes Manual search — Class 5403 Carpentry NOC (retrieved 2026-05-30)
- Workers Compensation Consultants — Project Classification 5645 / 5437 / 5403 (retrieved 2026-05-30)
- General Liability Insure — Workers Comp Class Code 5403 Carpentry NOC (retrieved 2026-05-30)
Frequently Asked Questions
- What is workers' comp class code 5403?
- Workers' comp class code 5403 is "Carpentry NOC" (Not Otherwise Classified) — the NCCI catch-all for carpentry work not assigned to a more specific code. It covers commercial building carpentry, residential dwellings over three stories, mixed-use buildings, siding installation, scaffolding erected by the carpentry crew, and wrecking of wooden structures. It is hazard group F and generally carries a higher rate than the residential carpentry code 5645 because the work involves taller structures and heavier materials.
- How much is workers' comp insurance for class code 5403?
- The national average rate for class code 5403 is $12.05 per $100 of payroll, across the 47 jurisdictions rated on that basis. Cheapest states: Indiana ($8.78), Texas ($8.88), Virginia ($9.34). Most expensive: New York ($16.31), Alaska ($15.98), California ($15.19). 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 5403?
- Class code 5403 typically applies to General carpentry contractors, Commercial carpentry contractors, Multi-family carpentry contractors, Carpentry repair contractors, Wood structure contractors.
- What is the difference between class codes 5403 and 5645?
- 5403 (Carpentry NOC) is the catch-all for commercial carpentry, residential buildings over three stories, and any carpentry not assigned to a more specific code. 5645 (Carpentry — Detached One or Two-Family Dwellings) covers carpentry on standalone single- and two-family homes up to three stories under the all-operations-to-completion rule. If a project is commercial, exceeds three stories, or involves attached residential units, the carpentry rates to 5403 (or to 5651 in NCCI states that have adopted that intermediate residential code), not 5645.
- Does class code 5403 cover residential carpentry?
- Only in specific cases. Carpentry on a detached one- or two-family home up to three stories belongs in 5645, and attached townhouses or three-or-less-story multi-family work belongs in 5651 (in states that use it). 5403 picks up residential carpentry when the building exceeds three stories, when a multi-family structure's carpentry is not covered by 5651 in that state, or when the project is otherwise not assigned to a dedicated residential code. A four-story-plus residential building's carpentry rates to 5403 regardless of being residential.
- What is the 5403 workers comp rate?
- There is no single national 5403 rate — workers' comp rates are filed per state, and 5403 base-rate estimates vary widely by state rating bureau, then change again after the carrier's loss-cost multiplier, the employer's experience modification factor, schedule credits, and minimum premium. The state-by-state table on this page shows filed base-rate estimates for 5403 so a commercial or general carpentry contractor can compare the spread, but the figure is a benchmark, not a binding quote. Independent-bureau states such as California (which does not use the 5403 number), Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and Delaware may file carpentry rates under different classifications.
- Is scaffolding work included in class code 5403?
- Scaffolding erected and used by the carpentry crew as part of a 5403 carpentry operation is generally included with the 5403 payroll. Standalone scaffolding contractors who erect and dismantle scaffolding as a separate specialty service are classified under a different code. As with all carpentry classifications, the assignment turns on what the crew actually does during the policy year, and the local rating bureau's scope text controls in independent-bureau states.