Workers Comp Rates by State: All 50 States + DC Ranked
Workers' compensation insurance rates vary significantly across the United States, from $0.68 per $100 of payroll in Virginia to $2.15 per $100 in Alaska. The national average is approximately $1.19 per $100. 4 states require employers to purchase coverage through a state fund (monopolistic), while 47 states allow private insurers to compete (competitive market). Click any state for detailed city-level rates and coverage requirements.
All States Ranked by Workers Comp Rate
The table below ranks every US state and the District of Columbia by average workers' compensation rate from most expensive to cheapest. Rates are color-coded: red for expensive states, yellow for average, and green for below-average. The "Est. Cost" column shows the estimated annual premium for a $250,000 payroll.
| # | State | Rate/$100 | Type | Min Employees | Waiting Period | Max Weekly Benefit | Est. Cost ($250K) | Tier |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Alaska (AK) | $2.15 | Competitive | 1+ | 3 days | $1,334 | $5,375 | Very Expensive |
| 2 | Hawaii (HI) | $1.85 | Competitive | 1+ | 3 days | $1,166 | $4,625 | Very Expensive |
| 3 | Connecticut (CT) | $1.60 | Competitive | 1+ | 3 days | $1,547 | $4,000 | Expensive |
| 4 | Pennsylvania (PA) | $1.55 | Competitive | 1+ | 7 days | $1,273 | $3,875 | Expensive |
| 5 | California (CA) | $1.45 | Competitive | 1+ | 3 days | $1,619 | $3,625 | Expensive |
| 6 | Rhode Island (RI) | $1.42 | Competitive | 1+ | 3 days | $1,096 | $3,550 | Expensive |
| 7 | Florida (FL) | $1.40 | Competitive | 4+ | 7 days | $1,099 | $3,500 | Expensive |
| 8 | Washington (WA) | $1.40 | Monopolistic | 1+ | 3 days | $1,568 | $3,500 | Expensive |
| 9 | New Jersey (NJ) | $1.38 | Competitive | 1+ | 7 days | $1,099 | $3,450 | Average |
| 10 | District of Columbia (DC) | $1.35 | Competitive | 1+ | 3 days | $1,773 | $3,375 | Average |
| 11 | Louisiana (LA) | $1.35 | Competitive | 1+ | 7 days | $843 | $3,375 | Average |
| 12 | Vermont (VT) | $1.32 | Competitive | 1+ | 3 days | $1,207 | $3,300 | Average |
| 13 | Delaware (DE) | $1.30 | Competitive | 1+ | 3 days | $913 | $3,250 | Average |
| 14 | Illinois (IL) | $1.30 | Competitive | 1+ | 3 days | $1,396 | $3,250 | Average |
| 15 | West Virginia (WV) | $1.28 | Competitive | 1+ | 3 days | $893 | $3,200 | Average |
| 16 | New York (NY) | $1.25 | Competitive | 1+ | 7 days | $1,145 | $3,125 | Average |
| 17 | Massachusetts (MA) | $1.22 | Competitive | 1+ | 5 days | $1,694 | $3,050 | Average |
| 18 | South Carolina (SC) | $1.20 | Competitive | 4+ | 7 days | $933 | $3,000 | Average |
| 19 | Wyoming (WY) | $1.20 | Monopolistic | 1+ | 3 days | $949 | $3,000 | Average |
| 20 | Maine (ME) | $1.18 | Competitive | 1+ | 7 days | $1,048 | $2,950 | Average |
| 21 | Montana (MT) | $1.18 | Competitive | 1+ | 5 days | $814 | $2,950 | Average |
| 22 | Oklahoma (OK) | $1.18 | Competitive | 1+ | 3 days | $934 | $2,950 | Average |
| 23 | Alabama (AL) | $1.15 | Competitive | 5+ | 3 days | $1,035 | $2,875 | Average |
| 24 | Minnesota (MN) | $1.15 | Competitive | 1+ | 3 days | $1,260 | $2,875 | Average |
| 25 | New Hampshire (NH) | $1.15 | Competitive | 1+ | 3 days | $1,753 | $2,875 | Average |
| 26 | Wisconsin (WI) | $1.15 | Competitive | 3+ | 3 days | $1,186 | $2,875 | Average |
| 27 | Michigan (MI) | $1.12 | Competitive | 1+ | 7 days | $1,048 | $2,800 | Average |
| 28 | Oregon (OR) | $1.12 | Competitive | 1+ | 3 days | $1,362 | $2,800 | Average |
| 29 | Georgia (GA) | $1.10 | Competitive | 3+ | 7 days | $800 | $2,750 | Average |
| 30 | Maryland (MD) | $1.10 | Competitive | 1+ | 3 days | $1,153 | $2,750 | Average |
| 31 | Mississippi (MS) | $1.10 | Competitive | 5+ | 5 days | $696 | $2,750 | Average |
| 32 | Missouri (MO) | $1.10 | Competitive | 5+ | 3 days | $1,082 | $2,750 | Average |
| 33 | Ohio (OH) | $1.10 | Monopolistic | 1+ | 7 days | $1,048 | $2,750 | Average |
| 34 | Kansas (KS) | $1.08 | Competitive | 1+ | 7 days | $782 | $2,700 | Below Average |
| 35 | Nebraska (NE) | $1.08 | Competitive | 1+ | 7 days | $993 | $2,700 | Below Average |
| 36 | Arizona (AZ) | $1.05 | Competitive | 1+ | 7 days | $1,035 | $2,625 | Below Average |
| 37 | Iowa (IA) | $1.05 | Competitive | 1+ | 3 days | $1,963 | $2,625 | Below Average |
| 38 | North Dakota (ND) | $1.05 | Monopolistic | 1+ | 5 days | $1,048 | $2,625 | Below Average |
| 39 | Nevada (NV) | $1.02 | Competitive | 1+ | 5 days | $1,085 | $2,550 | Below Average |
| 40 | New Mexico (NM) | $1.00 | Competitive | 3+ | 7 days | $882 | $2,500 | Below Average |
| 41 | North Carolina (NC) | $1.00 | Competitive | 3+ | 7 days | $1,150 | $2,500 | Below Average |
| 42 | Kentucky (KY) | $0.98 | Competitive | 1+ | 7 days | $1,001 | $2,450 | Below Average |
| 43 | Tennessee (TN) | $0.98 | Competitive | 5+ | 7 days | $1,108 | $2,450 | Below Average |
| 44 | Idaho (ID) | $0.95 | Competitive | 1+ | 5 days | $862 | $2,375 | Below Average |
| 45 | South Dakota (SD) | $0.95 | Competitive | 1+ | 7 days | $812 | $2,375 | Below Average |
| 46 | Colorado (CO) | $0.92 | Competitive | 1+ | 3 days | $1,178 | $2,300 | Below Average |
| 47 | Texas (TX) | $0.90 | Competitive | 1+ | 7 days | $1,053 | $2,250 | Below Average |
| 48 | Utah (UT) | $0.85 | Competitive | 1+ | 3 days | $1,024 | $2,125 | Below Average |
| 49 | Indiana (IN) | $0.80 | Competitive | 1+ | 7 days | $862 | $2,000 | Below Average |
| 50 | Arkansas (AR) | $0.75 | Competitive | 3+ | 7 days | $790 | $1,875 | Low Cost |
| 51 | Virginia (VA) | $0.68 | Competitive | 2+ | 7 days | $1,273 | $1,700 | Low Cost |
Regional Workers Comp Rate Patterns
High-Cost States: Northeast and Remote Locations
The most expensive states for workers' compensation include Alaska ($2.15/$100), Hawaii ($1.85/$100), Connecticut ($1.60/$100), and Pennsylvania ($1.55/$100). These states have high rates due to a combination of factors: generous benefit levels, higher cost of living, hazardous industries (fishing, mining, oil), and mature legal frameworks that favor employees. California ($1.45/$100) and New York ($1.25/$100) are also above average due to their large, complex markets and litigious environments.
Low-Cost States: Southeast and Mountain West
The cheapest states for workers' comp include Virginia ($0.68/$100), Arkansas ($0.75/$100), Indiana ($0.80/$100), and Utah ($0.85/$100). These states typically have lower benefit levels, business-friendly regulatory environments, and fewer high-risk industries. Texas ($0.90/$100) also ranks low partly because coverage is optional, which means only employers who choose to participate are in the system, improving the overall risk pool.
Monopolistic States
The four monopolistic states — Ohio, North Dakota, Washington, and Wyoming — have rates ranging from $1.05 to $1.40 per $100 of payroll. In these states, employers cannot purchase workers' comp from private insurers and must use the state fund. While this limits employer choice, state funds can sometimes offer more stable pricing since they are not driven by profit motives. Large employers in monopolistic states may be able to self-insure if they meet certain financial requirements.
About This Data
Workers' compensation rates in our database represent statewide averages across all industry classifications. Actual rates vary significantly by industry class code — for example, clerical office work may cost $0.20/$100 while roofing can exceed $20/$100 in the same state. These averages are useful for comparing states but should not be used as exact quotes. For specific premium quotes, contact a licensed insurance agent in your state. Rates are based on data from the National Academy of Social Insurance, NCCI, and state regulatory filings.
Use our calculator tool to estimate costs for your specific state and payroll, or click any state for detailed city-level rates, coverage requirements, and penalty information.