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How Much Does Workers Comp Cost for a Contractor?
Workers comp premium depends on your trade, payroll, and claims history — but knowing the formula lets you predict and control your cost.
- ✓Rates range from $1.50 to $22+ per $100 of payroll depending on trade
- ✓Your EMR multiplies the base rate up or down
- ✓Pay-as-you-go billing matches premium to actual payroll
- ✓We shop dozens of carriers for the lowest qualified rate
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The Formula Behind Your Workers Comp Premium
Workers comp premium is calculated as: (Estimated Annual Payroll ÷ 100) × Class Code Rate × Experience Modification Rate. Each piece of that formula is something you can control — the class code by ensuring accurate classification, the EMR by managing claims, and payroll by using pay-as-you-go billing.
A painting contractor with $200,000 in payroll at a $3.50 rate and a 1.0 EMR pays $7,000 annually. The same contractor with a 0.85 EMR pays $5,950 — a $1,050 savings that compounds every renewal year.
At renewal, we compare your current policy against competing carriers. Rate differences of 10–20% for the same risk are common in the contractor workers comp market — especially for mid-size contractors with variable payrolls.
Cost by Trade — Typical Annual Ranges
Roofing contractors: $8–$22 per $100 of payroll. A roofing company with $400,000 in payroll could pay $32,000 to $88,000 annually. Roofing consistently carries the highest workers comp rates in construction due to fall-from-height injury frequency and severity.
Electrical, plumbing, and HVAC: $2.50–$6.00 per $100. Carpentry and framing: $4–$9 per $100. Drywall, insulation, and interior finish: $2–$4.50 per $100. Landscaping: $2–$4 per $100. Ghost policies for sole proprietors typically have minimum premiums of $500–$1,500 regardless of trade.
The biggest variable beyond trade is your EMR. A roofing contractor with a 0.75 EMR and one with a 1.40 EMR doing identical work will pay dramatically different premiums. Managing claims aggressively is the most direct path to long-term cost reduction.
Get Your Actual Rate in Minutes
Tell us your trade and payroll — we’ll compare rates from dozens of carriers and show you the lowest qualified premium available.