Workers' Compensation Rates in Wisconsin (2026)

Last verified: 2026-06-01 · Reviewed against NCCI and state rating-bureau filings — how we verify

State Overview

WC Requirement

Mandatory

Minimum Employees

3

Effective Date

2025-10-01

Wisconsin has its own independent rating bureau (WCRB), which files advisory rates effective October 1 each year. The October 1, 2025 revision cut rates an average of 3.2% — the tenth consecutive annual decrease. The state requires workers' comp for employers with three or more employees.

Average Rate (All Class Codes)

$5.83

per $100 of payroll

Least Expensive Class Codes

  • 8815Bank - All Employees$0.17
  • 8865Court Reporter$0.17
  • 8801Credit Union - All Employees$0.17

Most Expensive Class Codes

Understanding Wisconsin Workers' Comp Rates

Wisconsin is one of the most distinctive workers' compensation markets in the country because it is not an NCCI state and it does not allow carriers to compete on base rates. The Wisconsin Compensation Rating Bureau (WCRB) — not NCCI — classifies employers, sets the rates and rating plans, and collects the loss data, all subject to approval by the Wisconsin Office of the Commissioner of Insurance (OCI). The Worker's Compensation Division of the Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development (DWD) administers the benefit system itself: it resolves disputes, enforces the coverage mandate, and approves self-insurers.

The feature that sets Wisconsin apart is administered pricing. Rate deviations are not permitted: every insurer must charge the identical WCRB-filed base rate for a given class code, so the headline rate for code 8810 Clerical or 9014 Janitorial is the same no matter which carrier writes the policy. Because base rates are fixed by regulation, Wisconsin carriers compete on premium discounts (commonly available once premium exceeds about $10,000) and on year-end policy dividends rather than on the per-$100 rate. WCRB rates take effect annually on October 1, and recent filings have continued a multi-year trend of declining Wisconsin worker's compensation rates. The rates table on this page reflects WCRB-filed base rates — what every Wisconsin carrier must use as the starting point — before your experience modification, premium discount, and any dividend.

Why Wisconsin Rates Don't Vary by Carrier

In most states NCCI files advisory loss costs and each insurer multiplies them by its own loss-cost multiplier (LCM), so two carriers can quote the same class code at very different prices. Wisconsin does not work that way. The WCRB files full manual rates — not loss costs — and OCI approves them, and insurers are prohibited from deviating from those rates. That means for the same class code and the same payroll, the base premium is identical across every admitted carrier in Wisconsin. The only legitimate sources of price difference are the experience modification factor (which reflects your own claim history), premium discount tiers on larger policies, and dividend plans that return underwriting profit after the policy year if losses are low.

For a small-business shopper this changes how to comparison-shop. Comparing base rates between Wisconsin carriers is pointless because they are the same by law; the meaningful comparison is the dividend history, the discount schedule, the service and claims handling, and whether your classification is correct. A misclassification — being placed in a higher-rated code than your actual operations warrant — costs far more in Wisconsin than carrier shopping ever could, because no carrier can undercut the filed rate to make up for it.

Who Must Carry Coverage in Wisconsin

Wisconsin's coverage mandate has two triggers under the Worker's Compensation Act. An employer with three or more full-time or part-time employees must carry insurance on the day the third employee is hired. Separately, an employer with one or more employees who has paid gross combined wages of $500 or more in any calendar quarter for work done in Wisconsin must be insured by the 10th day of the first month of the following quarter. Either trigger creates the obligation, so a very small employer can be required to carry coverage well before reaching three workers.

Coverage cannot simply be dropped once a business slows down. An employer that no longer meets either threshold must have gone a full calendar year without employing three or more workers and without paying $500 or more in combined gross wages in any quarter, then file a notice of withdrawal with the Worker's Compensation Division and wait 30 days before the obligation ends. Sole proprietors, partners, and most LLC members are not counted as employees on themselves but may elect coverage; corporate officers have specific inclusion rules. The DWD enforces the mandate and can assess penalties for uninsured periods.

All Class Codes & Rates in Wisconsin

CodePhraseologyHazard GroupRate per $100
8823Accountant - CPAA$0.20
8862Advertising AgencyA$0.24
7403Aircraft Operation - NOCE$10.18
7605Alarm Installation or RepairD$5.23
5047Aluminum InstallationE$8.53
8836Ambulance Service - All EmployeesC$6.05
7398Ambulette/Medical TransportD$6.05
9067Amusement Park - Mechanical RidesD$5.78
9016Amusement Park or Exhibition Operation & DriversD$4.51
7520Amusement Ride OperationD$6.33
8831Animal Hospital - VeterinaryC$2.48
8861Architect or Engineer - ConsultingB$0.44
5473Asphalt PavingF$11.28
9625Assisted Living FacilityD$4.95
9182Athletic Teams - AmateurE$7.98
9180Athletic Teams - ProfessionalF$13.75
8820Attorney - All Employees & ClericalA$0.22
8803Auditing, Accounting or Management ConsultingA$0.22
8046Auto Accessories StoreB$1.38
5188Automatic Sprinkler InstallationE$8.64
8393Automobile Body Repair & DriversC$7.98
8748Automobile Dealer - All EmployeesD$4.13
3821Automobile Recycling & DriversD$7.48
8380Automobile Service or Repair Center & DriversD$4.95
7225Automobile Towing & DriversE$9.35
7422Aviation - Ground CrewE$7.98
2003BakeryC$3.85
3724Bakery - ManufacturingD$4.68
8815Bank - All EmployeesA$0.17
8855Banks and Trust Companies - All EmployeesA$0.19
9586Barber Shop or Beauty ParlorC$1.65
7337Boat Building - MetalF$10.73
7335Boat Building - WoodE$8.25
3027Boiler ManufacturingE$8.53
8072Book StoreA$0.55
2157BottlingC$3.58
9071Bowling Alley - All EmployeesC$2.70
9070Bowling Center - AllC$2.75
2065BreweryC$3.58
9650Building InspectionC$2.48
8232Building Material Yard & DriversE$6.33
8058Building Materials DealerD$5.78
9015Building Operation - All Other EmployeesC$3.41
9012Building or Property Management - Property Managers and Leasing Agents & Clerical, SalespersonsB$0.83
8385Bus Co - Garage EmployeesE$8.91
7382Bus Company - All EmployeesD$8.25
8850Bus/Taxi - DispatchingA$0.50
5148Cabinet Manufacturing & InstallD$6.60
2812Cabinet/Wood Products ManufacturingD$6.88
9055Camps - Day/OvernightC$3.58
2095Candy ManufacturingC$3.30
2111CanneryD$5.78
9602Car WashC$2.75
5645Carpentry - Detached One or Two Family DwellingsF$13.75
5432Carpentry - Detached One/Two FamilyE$10.18
5436Carpentry - Finish DetachedD$7.15
5404Carpentry - Install CabinetsD$7.70
5437Carpentry - Installation of Cabinet Work or Interior TrimF$15.68
2802Carpentry - Shop OnlyD$6.05
5403Carpentry NOCG$12.38
9536Carpet CleaningC$3.30
9519Catering NOCC$3.85
5020Ceiling InstallationE$9.35
9610Cemetery - AllD$3.85
5348Ceramic Tile, Indoor Stone, Marble, or Mosaic WorkE$6.05
2131Cereal ManufacturingC$3.19
7405Charter AircraftF$14.03
8826Chiropractic OfficeB$0.99
8812Clerical - Drafting EmployeesA$0.24
8810Clerical Office EmployeesA$0.28
8871Clerical Telecommuter EmployeesB$0.33
2501Clothing ManufacturingB$2.48
8008Clothing or Wearing Apparel Store - RetailC$2.04
9061Club NOC - All EmployeesC$3.08
8844Collection AgencyA$0.24
8868College or University - Professional EmployeesB$0.50
7380Commercial DriversD$9.35
8859Computer Programming or Software DevelopmentA$0.20
5201Concrete Block ManufacturingE$8.80
5213Concrete Construction NOCF$10.73
5214Concrete NOC - PouredF$11.28
5221Concrete or Cement Work - Floors, Driveways, YardsF$9.79
5070Concrete Products ManufacturingE$7.15
5215Concrete WorkF$12.65
5222Concrete/Cement - FloorsE$9.08
8227Construction Material - UsedD$6.33
8019Convenience StoreC$2.48
7715Corrections OfficersG$10.18
9558Courier/Document DeliveryC$3.58
7719Court EmployeesB$1.38
8865Court ReporterA$0.17
2070Creamery/Dairy ProductsC$4.13
8801Credit Union - All EmployeesA$0.17
8805Credit Union/SavingsA$0.17
9059Day SpaB$1.65
8854Daycare CenterC$2.75
8822Dental LaboratoryB$0.83
8824Dental Office - All EmployeesB$0.61
8039Department Store - RetailC$2.20
2102DistilleryC$3.41
5108Door/Window InstallationD$6.88
5152Drilling NOCF$14.85
8047Drug StoreB$1.05
2688Dry CleaningC$3.58
8866Election CampaignB$0.94
7539Electric Light/Power CompaniesF$11.55
3082Electrical Apparatus ManufacturingD$4.95
5140Electrical Installation - InteriorD$5.78
5193Electrical Wiring - AlarmD$6.05
5190Electrical Wiring - Within BuildingsE$6.88
9653Elevator InspectionC$2.20
5160Elevator InstallationF$11.55
5162Elevator Service/MaintenanceE$9.08
8858Employment AgencyA$0.22
7711EMT/ParamedicsF$8.25
6217Excavation NOCF$11.88
8809Executive Officers NOC - Not Foremen, Workers or SalespersonsA$0.22
0035Farm - DairyE$9.63
0005Farm - Field CropsE$10.45
0016Farm - LivestockF$11.28
0050Farm - Orchard or GroveE$8.58
8116Farm Machinery Dealer - All Operations & DriversC$3.58
8841Financial AdvisorA$0.19
7710Firefighters and DriversD$7.15
2161Fish ProcessingE$7.15
8032Florist - RetailB$1.26
2130Flour MillingD$4.68
7350Freight HandlingE$7.98
2143Fruit ProcessingD$4.40
9620Funeral Directors - All EmployeesC$1.93
2883Furniture ManufacturingD$6.05
8293Furniture Moving & Storage, DriversE$5.23
5146Furniture or Fixtures Installation - Portable NOCD$7.43
8044Furniture Store - Wholesale or Retail & DriversC$3.03
7590Garbage/Ash CollectionF$10.73
2913Glass ManufacturingE$8.25
2915Glass MerchantD$5.78
5462GlazierE$9.35
9056Golf ClubC$2.75
8811Government ClericalA$0.24
8304Grain ElevatorE$7.70
2041Grain MillingD$4.95
8006Grocery Store - RetailC$2.75
9585Hair SalonB$1.38
8010Hardware Store - Wholesale or RetailC$2.86
5137Heating Equipment InstallationD$6.33
5185Heating System InstallationD$6.05
5537Heating, Ventilation, Air Conditioning and RefrigerationE$6.33
8851Home for Aged - AllD$5.78
8835Home Health Care ServicesC$4.57
9040Hospital - All Other EmployeesB$6.05
8833Hospital - Professional EmployeesC$3.14
9058Hotel - Restaurant EmployeesC$3.85
9052Hotel NOC - All Other Employees & DriversC$4.02
9529House CleaningC$3.58
9033Housing AuthorityB$1.65
2039Ice Cream ManufacturingC$3.85
8215Ice DealerC$3.30
8203Ice ManufacturingD$4.95
5479Insulation WorkE$8.25
8845Investigator/DetectiveC$2.48
8840Investment CompanyA$0.17
5038Iron Doors/Gates InstallationF$15.95
5057Iron or Steel Erection - NOCG$18.98
5102Iron or Steel Erection - StructuralG$20.35
5069Iron/Steel - NOCG$23.10
5059Iron/Steel - OrnamentalF$13.48
5040Iron/Steel Erection - FrameG$26.95
8106Iron/Steel MerchantD$6.05
6229Irrigation Works - All OperationsE$7.15
9014Janitorial Services - By ContractorC$4.68
8013Jewelry StoreB$0.94
8263Junk DealerD$6.05
0917Landscape Gardening - NOCD$5.78
5443LathingE$9.63
2660Laundry NOCC$3.85
2586Leather Goods ManufacturingC$3.30
9034Library - All EmployeesA$0.72
7716LifeguardsD$4.13
7317Longshore WorkersG$20.90
8061Lumber DealerD$6.33
3632Machine Shop NOCD$5.23
3030Machinery ManufacturingD$6.05
3685Machinist NOCD$5.61
7327Marine TransportationF$13.75
5029Masonry - DecorativeE$10.45
5027Masonry - FireproofF$12.10
5028Masonry - StoneF$14.03
5022Masonry NOCF$11.55
8031Meat Market - RetailC$3.03
2001Meat PackingF$9.63
8033Meat, Fish or Poultry Dealer - RetailC$3.58
8021Meat, Fish or Poultry Dealer - WholesaleC$2.75
8838Medical LabB$0.83
7360Messenger ServiceC$3.85
3581Metal Stamping - NOCE$6.77
9410Municipal, Township, County or State Employees - NOCC$3.85
9587Nail SalonB$1.10
8860Newspaper - DeliveryC$4.13
8869Newspaper or Magazine Publishing - All EmployeesB$0.39
8807Newspaper PublishingB$0.94
0042Nursery EmployeesE$6.88
9046Nursing - Home/VisitingD$6.33
9049Nursing Home - AllD$6.05
8829Nursing Home - All EmployeesC$5.78
5191Office Machine Installation, Inspection, Adjustment, or RepairE$4.68
8825Optometry OfficeA$0.44
8742Outside Sales PersonnelB$0.61
8055Packaging - Contract - Retail Size PackagesC$2.75
8037Paint StoreB$1.10
5474Painting NOC & Shop Operations, DriversE$8.25
7721Park RangersD$3.85
8821Patent/Copyright AttorneyA$0.22
4361Pest Control ServicesD$4.95
9549Pet GroomingC$1.93
8099Pet StoreB$1.26
8846Pharmaceutical SalesB$0.61
8839Pharmacy - RetailB$0.99
7600Phone/Telegraph InstallationE$7.70
8832Physician & ClericalB$0.50
2110Pickle ManufacturingC$3.14
7313Pier/Wharf OperationF$12.38
5480Plastering NOCE$7.98
8111Plumber - CommercialE$6.60
5183Plumbing NOCE$7.43
7723Police Officers - MountedF$11.83
7720Police Officers and DriversD$6.33
8816Post OfficeC$3.03
2002Poultry ProcessingF$9.35
3076Printing - Offset or DigitalD$3.41
8843Psychiatric HospitalD$4.95
8015Quick PrintingB$1.10
8857Radio Station - ClericalA$0.20
7610Radio/TV BroadcastingB$1.38
7855Railroad OperationE$8.25
8856Real Estate Agency - All EmployeesC$1.32
8817Real Estate ManagementB$1.38
9077Recreation CenterC$2.75
3060Refrigerator ManufacturingD$5.23
8849Research Lab - AnalyticalB$1.21
9079Restaurant - Fast FoodC$3.58
9083Restaurant - Fast Food - Including DeliveryD$4.51
9082Restaurant NOCD$4.13
8045Retail Store - Cannabis/DispensaryC$2.37
8017Retail Store NOCC$2.31
5551Roofing - All EmployeesG$27.50
5606Roofing ContractorG$24.75
7724Sanitation WorkersF$9.35
9101School - All EmployeesB$2.04
9008Schools - VocationalC$3.03
9060Senior CenterB$1.93
5538Sheet Metal Work - HVAC DuctworkE$7.48
8090Shoe StoreA$0.61
5119Siding InstallationE$8.25
9554Sign Installation, Maintenance, Repair, Removal or Replacement NOC - Away From Shop & DriversF$9.08
9072Skating RinkC$3.03
8864Social Services OrganizationB$1.38
2105Soft Drink ManufacturingC$3.03
8078Sporting Goods StoreB$1.38
8279Stable/Riding AcademyD$5.78
7309StevedoringG$20.35
5506Street/Road ConstructionF$12.93
5507Street/Road Construction - ClearingF$11.00
8804Substance Use Disorder Recovery HomesC$4.95
2021Sugar ManufacturingD$4.68
5223Swimming Pool ConstructionF$10.18
9064Swimming Pool OperationC$3.03
2623TanningD$6.05
7370Taxi/RideshareD$7.43
7390Taxicab Company - All EmployeesD$8.58
8814Telephone Company - ClericalA$0.20
5037Tile RoofingG$24.20
2121Tobacco ManufacturingC$2.75
7229Trucking - HazmatG$16.23
7228Trucking - Local Hauling OnlyD$9.63
7219Trucking - Long HaulE$12.65
7232Trucking - Mail, Parcel or Package Delivery - Under Contract With USPSF$11.55
7231Trucking - Mail, Parcel, or Package DeliveryD$10.01
7202Trucking - NOCE$10.45
7227Trucking - RefrigeratedE$11.28
8847Trust CompanyA$0.17
9522UpholsteryC$3.03
9068Veterans HomeD$4.68
8842Veterinary Office - All EmployeesC$1.21
5180Water Main ConstructionF$13.20
3365Welding or Cutting NOCE$9.08
8018Wholesale Store NOCC$2.64
5196Wiring - Fire Detection SystemsD$5.23
2841Woodworking NOCD$6.33
2286Wool ProcessingC$3.47
8802Writer/AuthorA$0.22
2220Yarn/Thread ManufacturingC$3.30
9063YMCA, YWCA, or Health Club - All EmployeesC$3.14

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