Workers’ Compensation Laws State-by-State

Read our Advertiser Disclosure.
Contributor, Benzinga
October 31, 2022

Workers’ compensation laws vary by state, and not all workers’ compensation policies are created equal. State statutes establish the benefits and enforce them with different laws and requirements. Some states allow for higher benefits than other states, and some regulations are geared toward a particular industry.  

Learn more about worker’s compensation laws state-by-state with Benzinga’s guide.

BZ

Key Points

  • Workers’ compensation rules and benefits vary by state
  • Private businesses and state employees are covered under state workers’ comp statutes
  • Federal employees are covered under the Department of Labor not state statutes
  • Injured workers can choose their own doctor under both state and federal law
  • There are deadlines to file for workers’ compensation benefits
  • Injured workers covered under workers’ comp cannot sue their employer for damages

Workers' Compensation Laws for Federal Employees

While each state has its workers' compensation laws, local workers don't realize that there is a federal workers' comp plan. This plan, operated by the Department of Labor and run by the Office of Workers’ Compensation Programs, offers compensation for civilian employees who work for agencies within the federal government.

It is vital to be aware of the variance between federal and state workers' compensation claims if injured at work. You may also want to know what benefits your case might qualify for.       

Federal Workers' Compensation is the Department of Labor's Workers' Compensation Program for employees of the federal government who have suffered injuries and illnesses on the job. Employees are also guaranteed certain rights after their recovery under the law. 

For example, for benefits and privileges based on length of service, employees are treated like they never left work upon their return to work. Workers' compensation laws for federal government employees may vary from state laws. 

The only difference in eligibility between a federal and state workers' compensation claim is you must be a civilian worker in the federal government to be eligible for benefits from the Office of Workers’ Compensation Programs, and you must also have an employment-related injury or illness. If you are not an employee of the federal government, you apply for workers’ compensation benefits through your employer. 

Injured employees can receive compensation from the federal and state governments for medical expenses, hospitalizations and surgeries. 

These benefits include:

  • Choice of doctor: Injured persons can choose their doctor or clinic according to state and federal law. However, after treatment, any new attending physician must be approved by the OWCP.
  • Temporary total disabilities: An employee can request a continuation in regular salary under the OWCP. The disability must not last more than 45 days. If their disability is more than 45 days, they will be paid at a lower rate. Employees with permanent disabilities can receive a cash settlement through federal workers' comp claims. However, the calculation considers the nature and extent of the disability and loss in earning power, as well as any injuries to bodily organs.
  • Sovereign immunity: The federal government and associated agencies are exempted from public employer liability. State workers’ compensation claims are not exempted. This excludes acts of violence or negligence that caused the injury. Federal workers are not allowed to sue the government, but state workers can. Federal employees may file a lawsuit against a third party even though they are not directly employed by it.

Filing Workers' Compensation Claims

Nearly all states require affected workers to report any occupational illness or injury to their employer to receive workers' compensation benefits. However, there are different deadlines for reporting a work-related injury or illness to an employer in each state. The usual deadline is 30 days, but it can vary between a few days to a full year.

When an injured worker files a claim, the insurance company takes on paying benefits per the state statute in exchange for premium payment made by the employer.

Employees need to inform their employer about their injury as soon as possible. If not turned in by the state-mandated deadline for filing for benefits, the employer and its insurance company will be less likely to accept a claim. Therefore, the sooner one files a claim, the sooner one will collect benefits.  

If a worker's injury is serious, they should seek immediate medical attention. They can visit the nearest urgent care or emergency room for emergency treatment. Injured workers will need to comply with the state rules for medical treatment.

Employers provide the necessary forms once a worker has reported an injury. These forms will be submitted to the state workers' compensation agency and the employer's insurance company. This will mark the official beginning of a workers' comp claim in some states. If a worker is denied benefits and wishes to appeal, they will need the official paperwork filed with the state workers' compensation agency.

In North Dakota, Ohio, Washington and Wyoming, injured workers must file a workers' comp claim with the state workers’ compensation agency. The deadline varies from one state to the next. The deadline for filing a claim can often be 1 year. However, in some states, the time frame could be much shorter.

Each state's workers’ compensation agency can provide detailed information, forms and assistance. If an employer is unwilling to cooperate in filing a claim, injured workers can contact their state's workers' compensation office.

Federal employees have a different workers' compensation system. The Division of Federal Employees' Compensation website has information and forms for filing.  

Before approving or denying your claim, the insurance company will investigate. The insurer will usually inform the employee within two to four weeks what its decision was. A claim will be automatically approved in certain states if it is not denied before the deadline.

StateState Workers' Comp DivisionWorkers' Compensation StatuteCovered EmployeesPersons Not Covered
AlabamaAlabama Department of LaborAlabama Code §25-5-1 et seq.Most employees are covered.Domestic servants
Farm laborers
Casual employees
Employees of business with less than five people
Licensed real estate brokers
Product demonstrators
AlaskaDepartment of Labor & Workforce DevelopmentAS §23.30.005, et. seqMost employees are covered including any person employed by the State or its political subdivision or a person employing one or more persons in connection with a business or industry carried on in Alaska.Part-time babysitters
Domestic servants
Harvest and similar transient help
Contract entertainers
Statutorily-defined taxi cab drivers
Statutorily-defined commercial fishermen
ArizonaIndustrial Commission of ArizonaArizona Revised Statutes Annotated §§ 23-901, et seqEvery person in the service of the state, any political subdivision or any person in the service of any employer subject to the workers' compensation provisions is considered to be an employee.Casual employees or not in the usual course of a trade
Independent contractors
ArkansasArkansas Workers' Compensation CommissionArkansas Code Annotated § 11-9-101 et seqAny person, including a minor, whether lawfully or unlawfully employed under any contract of hire, written or oral, express or implied.Agricultural farm laborers
State employees
Casual employees
Inmates
CaliforniaDepartment of Industrial RelationsCalifornia Labor Code Division 3, section 2700 through Division 4.7, section 6208Every person in the service of an employer under any appointment or contract of hire or apprenticeship, express or implied, oral or written, whether lawfully or unlawfully employed.Domestic employees employed by his or her parent, spouse or child
Deputy sheriffs or deputy
clerks
Persons performing services in return for aid or sustenance only
Persons officiating amateur sporting events, including intercollegiate or interscholastic sports events
Any person performing voluntary services at or for a non-profit recreational camp
or as a ski patroller
ColoradoDepartment of Labor and EmploymentColorado Revised Statutes §8-40-101, et seqEvery person in the service of any person, association of persons, firm, or private corporation, under any contract of hire, express or implied, including aliens and also including minors, whether lawfully or unlawfully employed.Inmates
VolunteersDrivers under a lease agreement with a common carrier or contract carrier
ConnecticutWorkers' Compensation CommissionConnecticut General Statutes Sections 31-275 through 31-355a, et seqAny person who has entered into or works under any contract of service or apprenticeship with an employer.Sole proprietor or business partners
Independent contractors
Casual employees
DelawareDepartment of LaborDelaware Code Annotated Title 19, §§ 2301-2397Every person in service of any corporation, association, firm or person under any contract of hire or performing services for a valuable considerationA spouse and minor children of a farm employer if they are not named in an endorsement to the farm employer's contract of insurance
Casual employees
Any person to whom articles or materials are furnished or repaired, or adopted for
sale in the employee's own home, or on the premises not under the control or management of the employer
District of ColumbiaDepartment of Employment ServicesDistrict of Columbia Code Annotated §32-1501, et seqEvery person, including a minor, in the service of another under any contract of hire or apprenticeship, written or impliedAn employee whose employer is an uninsured sub-contractor can assert a claim against the general contractor
FloridaDepartment of Financial ServicesChapter 440, Florida Statutes, et seq.Every person in the service of any person, association of persons, firm, or private corporation, under any contract of hire, express or implied, including aliens and also including minors, whether lawfully or unlawfully employed.Independent contractor (excluding the construction industry)
Licensed real estate brokers
Bands, orchestras, and musical and theatrical performers, including disc jockeys
Casual employees
Volunteers
Certain taxicab, limousine, or other passenger vehicle-for-hire drivers
Some sports officials
GeorgiaGeorgia State Board of Workers' CompensationOfficial Code of Georgia Annotated §§ 34-9-1, et seqEmployees of a business that employ three or more employees and some unpaid persons can be considered employees under limited circumstances.Rail common carriers engaged in interstate or intrastate commerce
Farm laborers
Domestic
servants
Licensed real estate salespeople or associate brokers
Independent contractors
HawaiiDepartment of Labor and Industrial RelationsHawaii Revised Statutes, Chapter 386Any individual in the employment of another person.Some exceptions for primary and secondary contractors
IdahoIndustrial CommissionIdaho Code § 72-101, et. seq.Any person who has entered into employment or who works under a contract of service or apprenticeship with an employer.Domestic servants
Casual workers
Pilots of agricultural spraying or dusting planes
Real estate brokers and real estate salesmen
Volunteer ski patrollers
Officials of athletic contests involving secondary
schools
IllinoisIllinois Workers' Compensation Commission820 Illinois Compiled Statutes Annotated 305/1, et seq.Every person under the service of another or under a contract for hire. Certain businesses are considered "extra-hazardous" with all employees covered automatically by law.Real estate brokers/salespeople on commission
Farmers
Jurors
IndianaWorkers' Compensation Board of IndianaInd. Code § 22-3-1-1 et seq.Every person, including minors, contractors or apprenticeship, written or implied, except one whose employment is both casual and not in the course of trade, business, occupation, or profession of the employer.Railroad engineers, firemen, conductors, brakemen, flagmen, baggage men
Foremen in charge of yard engines
Employees of a fire or police department of any municipality who partake in a firefighter or police officer pension fund
Casual laborers
Farm or agricultural employees
Household employees
IowaIowa Workforce DevelopmentIowa Code §85.1 et seq.All employees not specifically excepted are covered.Household employees earning less than $1,500 during 12 months prior to an injury
Casual employees earning less than $1,500 for 12 consecutive months prior to an injury
Agricultural employees where the employer's nonexempt cash payroll is less than $2,500 for the preceding calendar year
Relatives of farm employer and employer's spouse
Officers of a family farm
Some officers of a corporation
KansasDepartment of LaborKansas Statutes Annotated §44-501 et seqAny person who has entered into the employment of or works under any contract of service or apprenticeship with an employer.N/A
KentuckyKentucky Labor CabinetKentucky Revised Statutes § 342.0011 et seq.; 803 Kentucky AdministrativeRegulations. 25:009 et seq.All persons, including minors, lawfully or unlawfully employed under any contract of hire; helpers, paid or not if hired with the knowledge of the employer; corporate executive officers; volunteer fire, police, civil defense personnel or trainees and members of the National Guard on active duty; newspaper sellers or distributorsDomestic servants, if there are less than 2 regularly employed in a private home for 40 hours or less per week
Maintenance, repair and similar employees employed in a private home if the employer has no other employees subject to workers' comp
LouisianaLouisiana Workforce CommissionLouisiana Revised Statutes Annotated §23:1021 et seq.Louisiana Revised Statutes Annotated §33:2581Most persons in an employment setting including all persons in the service of the state, or a political subdivision or of any incorporated public board, or under any appointment or contract of hire.Employees of private residential household and private unincorporated farms
Musicians and performers under contract
MaineWorkers' Compensation BoardMaine RevisedStatutes Annotated, title 39-A, or 39-A M.R.S.A. § 101 et seq.Every person in the service of another under any contract of hire, expressed or implied, oral or written.Independent contractors
Persons engaged in maritime employment covered under admiralty law
Certain agricultural employees
MarylandWorkers' Compensation CommissionMaryland Code Ann., Lab & Empl. §9-101 (2014) et seq.; Code of Maryland Regulations(COMAR) Title 14, §09.01.01 et seq.Any regular payroll employee is a covered employee while in the service of an employerIndependent contractors
Various other persons employed
MassachusettsExecutive Office of Labor and Workforce DevelopmentMassachusetts General Laws, Chapter 152Any person in the service of another under any contract of hire, express or implied, oral or written.Masters of and seamen on vessels engaged in interstate or foreign commerce
Persons employed to participate in organized professional athletics
Real estate brokers and other salespeople working on commission only
Persons employed by an employer engaged in interstate or foreign commerce but only so far as the laws of the United States provide for compensation
MichiganDepartment of Licensing and Regulatory AffairsMichigan Compiled Laws Annotated 418.101-941Any employee in the service of another, under any contract of hire.Exclusions for smaller employers
Some agricultural employees and domestic workers and real estate brokers or agents
MinnesotaDepartment of Labor and IndustryMinnesota Statutes Annotated Ch. 175A and 176, et seq.Any person who performs services for another for hire.Farmers or members of their family who exchange work with other farmers in the same community
Other various exceptions
MississippiWorkers' Compensation CommissionSection 71-3-1 et. seq., MISS. CODE ANNAny person, including a minor, whether lawfully or unlawfully employed in the service of an employer under any contract of hire or apprenticeship, written or oral, express or implied.Independent contractors
Other various exceptions
MissouriDepartment of Labor and Industrial RelationsChapter 287 R.S.Mo. 2005Any person in the service of an employer under a contract of hire, appointment or election, including officers of corporations.Owner/operators of leased trucks in
interstate commerce
Farm labor
Domestic servants
Family chauffeurs and licensed real estate agentsInmatesVolunteers of tax exempt organizations
Sports officials
Direct sellers
MontanaDepartment of Labor and IndustryMont. Code Ann. § 39-71-101, et.seqMost employed persons except for those listed in the statute.Domestic servants
Casual employment
Dependent member of the employer's family
Certain sole proprietors
Real estate brokers or salesmen
Direct sellers
Certain officials at athletic events
Freelance photographers and authors
Newspaper carriers
Cosmetologist or barber services
Petroleum land workers
Professionals jockeys
Ordained ministers
Officer or manager of a ditch company
Persons working for enrolled tribal members who operate solely within the exterior boundaries of Indian reservations
NebraskaWorkers' Compensation CourtNebraska Revised Statutes § 48-101 et. seq.Employees of the state, every government agency created by it, and every employer in Nebraska, including nonresident employers performing work in the state employing one or more employees in the regular trade, business, profession, or vocation of such employerDomestic servantsAgricultural operations employees
Employees of railroad companies
engaged in interstate or foreign commerce
NevadaDepartment of Business & IndustryNev. Rev. Stat. Chapters 616A-616D, Nev. Rev. Stat. Chapter 617Every person in the service of an employer under any appointment or contract of hire or apprenticeship, express or implied, oral or written, whether lawfully or unlawfully employed.Casual employees
Theatrical or stager performers
Musicians whose services do not last more than two consecutive days
Domestic workers
Voluntary ski patrol
Sports officials paid a nominal fee
Any member of the clergy
Real estate brokers
Direct salespersons working on commission
New HampshireWorkers' Compensation DivisionNew Hampshire Revised Statutes Annotated 281-AAny person in the service of an employer under any express or implied, oral or written, contract of hireRailroad employee engaged in interstate commerce
Direct sellers
Real estate brokers, agents or appraisers
People providing services as part of residential placement for individuals with developmental, acquired or emotional disabilities
New JerseyDepartment of Labor and Workforce DevelopmentNew Jersey Statutes Annotated 34:15-1 et seq.Most employees are covered with some exceptions.Independent contractors
Domestic workers
An employee who is willfully negligent
Inmates
Casual employees
New MexicoWorkers' Compensation AdministrationNew Mexico Workers' Compensation Act, New Mexico Statutes Annotated §§52-1-1, etseqMost employees are covered.Farm employees
Domestic servants
Real estate agents
Persons who file a written waiver with the State of New Mexico
New York StateWorkers' Compensation BoardWorkers' Compensation Law of the State of New YorkMost employees in the State of New YorkDomestic employees working less than 40 hours per week
Clergymen
Employees of municipalities and other political subdivisions who are not engaged in hazardous employment
Uniformed sanitation workers, firefighters and police officers in the employment of the City of New York
Babysitters and minors over the age of 14 engaged in casual employment 
Longshoremen and harbor workers
Railroad employees
Anyone engaged in yard work or household chores or making repairs or painting in and about a single family, owner-occupied residence
North CarolinaIndustrial CommissionN.C. Gen. Stat. §97Any person engaged in employment under any employment or contract of hire or apprenticeship, express or implied, oral or written, including aliens and also including minors, whether lawfully or unlawfully employed.Casual employees and those not in the course of the trade, business, profession or occupation of his or her employer
North DakotaWorkforce Safety and InsuranceNorth Dakota Century Code Title 65 (Chapters 65-01 through 65-10)Every person who performs services for another for pay, including all elected and appointed officials of the state and its political subdivisions, the legislative assembly, elective officials of the state's counties, and all elective peace officers of any city and aliens, county general assistance workers and minors.Independent contractors
Casual employees
Any person who is engaged in an illegal enterprise or occupation
Spouse or child under the age of 22, of the employer
Real estate broker or real estate salesperson
Members of the board of directors of a business corporation
Newspapers delivery persons
OhioBureau of Workers' CompensationOhio Revised Code §4121.01 et. seq.Ohio Administrative Code §4121-01 et. seq.Any person in the service of the state, or any county or municipal corporation, and any person in the service of any person, firm, private, or public corporation that employs one or more employees or operatives regularly in the same business or in or about the same establishment under any contract of hire, express or implied, oral or writtenN/A
OklahomaWorkers' Compensation CourtOkla. Stat. tit. 85, §§ 301-413Any person engaged in the employment of an employer covered by the terms of the Workers' Compensation Code including members of the Oklahoma National Guard and participants in a sheltered workshop program certified by the U.S. Department of Labor.Horticulture employees not employed in using motorized machines
Licensed real estate brokersEmployees providing services in medical care or social services program
Anyone employed by an employer with less than five employees all related by blood or marriage
Employees of youth sports leagues qualifying as tax-exempt
Sole proprietors
Volunteers
Owner-operators who lease tractor-trailers or trucks for hire
Domestic servants in private home
OregonWorkers' Compensation DivisionWorkers’ Compensation Law. Or. Rev. Stat. § 656.001Any person, including a minor, whether lawfully or unlawfully employed, who works for pay, including salaried, elected and appointed officials of the state, state agencies, counties, cities, school districts and other public corporations.Inmate or ward of a state institution
Casual employees
PennsylvaniaBureau of Workers' CompensationWorker's Compensation Act of June 24, 1996, P.L. 350, No. 57All natural persons who perform services for another for a valuable consideration.Casual employees
Rhode IslandDepartment of Labor & TrainingR.I. Gen. Laws. 27-7.1-1, et. seq.;Any person who has entered into the employment of or works under the contract of service or apprenticeship with any employer. Any person employed by the State of Rhode Island.Sworn employees employed by the State of Rhode Island
Casual employees
Farmers
Nursery workers
Farm laborers
Real estate brokers
Salespersons
South CarolinaWorkers' Compensation CommissionS.C. Code Ann. § 42-1-110 et seq.Every person engaged in employment under any appointment, contract of hire or apprenticeship, express or implied, oral or written including members of the State and National Guard.Casual employees
South DakotaDepartment of Labor and RegulationSDCL Title 62Every person, including a minor, in the services of another under any contract of employment, express or implied.Volunteers
Independent contractors
Domestic servants working less than 20 hours in any calendar week and for more than 6 weeks in any 13 week period
Farm or agricultural laborers
TennesseeDepartment of Labor and Workforce DevelopmentT.C.A. § 50-6-101, et seq Every person under a contract of hire or apprenticeship, written or implied, including a paid corporate officer.Some undocumented workers
TexasDepartment of InsuranceTexas Labor Code Annotated § 401.001 et. seqPersons in the service of another under a contract of hire including anyone working in the usual course and scope of the employer's business who is temporarily asked to perform services outside the usual course and scope of the business and persons who are trainees under the Texans Work program.Independent contractors
Federal employees
Other excluded persons
UtahLabor CommissionUtah Code Annotated §34A-2-101, et seq.Employees include those engaged in government service, any express or implied contract of hire, lessees of mining property, and owners of a partnership or sole proprietorship if an election is made.Real estate agents or brokers
VermontDepartment of LaborVermont Statutes Annotated title 21, § 601 et seqPersons who are employed and work under a contract of service or apprenticeship with an employer.Casual employees
Persons engaged in amateur sports
Persons engaged in farm or
agricultural employment for an employer with an aggregate payroll of less than $10,000 per year
Members of an employer's family dwelling in the employer's house
Persons engaged in any type of service in or about a private dwelling
Sole proprietors or partners/owners of an unincorporated business
Real estate broker or real estate salespersons
Certain members of a corporation or LLC
Independent contractors
Assistant judges
Illegally hired minors
VirginiaWorkers' Compensation CommissionVirginia Workers' Compensation Act, Title 65.2 Code of Virginia 1950Persons, including aliens and minors, in the service of another under any contract of hire or apprenticeship, written or implied, whether lawfully or unlawfully employed.Persons whose employment is not within the usual course of the employer's business
WashingtonDepartment of Labor and IndustriesRCW 51.04.010 to 51.98.080Employees, and independent contractors, the essence of whose contract is his or her personal labor including all officers of the state, state agencies, counties, municipal corporations, or other public corporations, or political subdivisions.Certain workers for businesses registered within the Registration of Contractors or licensed Electricians and Electrical Installations
Domestic servants
Home gardening and maintenance workers
Employees not in the course of the trade, business, or profession of the employer
Services performed in return for aid or sustenance
Sole proprietors or
partners
Minor children employed by parents for agricultural activities on the family farm
Jockeys
Certain officers of a corporation
Entertainers for specific
performances
Newspaper delivery
Services performed by an insurance producer
Services performed by a booth renter, and certain LLC activities
West VirginiaOffices of the Insurance CommissionW. Va. Code § 23-1-1 et seq.All persons in the service of employers and employed by them for the purpose of carrying on the industry, business, service or work in which they are engaged.Domestic servants
Employers of five or fewer full-time employees engaged in agricultural service
Church workers
Casual employees
Employees engaged in organized professional sports activities, including employers of trainers and jockeys engaged in thoroughbred horse racing
Volunteer rescue or police
Federal employees
WisconsinDepartment of Workforce DevelopmentWis. Stat. §102.01-.89 (2011)Most workers and contract workers.Domestic servants
Most volunteers
WyomingDepartment of Workforce ServicesWyoming Statutes § 27-14-101, et seqAny person engaged in any extra hazardous employment under any appointment, contract of hire, or apprenticeship, express or implied, oral or written and includes legally employed minors, aliens authorized to work by the United States DOJ.Casual employees
Sole proprietors
Officer of a corporation
Independent contractors
Professional athletes
An employee in a private home
Federal government employees
Elected officials
Volunteers
Members of LLCs
Foster parents
Childcare workers who are paid by the Wyoming Department of Family Services

Understand Workers’ Comp Insurance

Filing a workers' compensation claim is the first step in seeking benefits after an injury at work. Each state has different rules and procedures for filing a claim, and it is essential to understand each state’s requirements. 

Federal employees are covered under the Department of Labor, but all others are covered under the state statutes where they work. Learn more about workers’ compensation and insurance at Benzinga.

Try Simply Business

Simply Business offers a comprehensive suite of business insurance that specializes in making it easy to insure your business. Whether you’re looking for construction workers' insurance or liability insurance for your startup, Simply Business even helps you find the right workers’ comp coverage at the right price. Don’t turn to a thousand different carriers when you can get help from Simply Business.

Tell Simply Business a little bit about your business and you'll get almost-instantaneous affordable quotes from top insurance providers to protect your business and safeguard yourself. You can also look into business owner’s plans, additional liability insurance, commercial auto and more that will cover everyone on your team, and you can get covered in accordance with state law without overspending. 

Building your business is hard enough. Let Simply Business make it easier. Get a quote from Simply Business today.

What is Workers' Compensation?

Workers' compensation insurance covers workers who are hurt or become ill while at work. It also provides wage and medical benefits. 

Each state mandates coverage and the state's wage and medical benefits are different. It is based on a social agreement between management and labor. In exchange for workers' compensation insurance coverage, business owners are protected against civil lawsuits from injured workers on the job. Each party has its limitations. 

Workers' compensation insurance can be purchased by businesses and underwritten by insurance companies. Publicly supported state funds may also provide benefits in some states.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q

If my employer is in multiple states, which state laws come into play?

A

You may file for benefits in your home state or the state where you were injured.

Q

Who pays the premium for workers’ compensation insurance?

A

Employers pay workers’ compensation insurance premiums. Some large employers elect to self-fund their workers’ compensation benefits instead of using an insurance company.

Q

Do I have to file a workers’ comp claim if I get injured at work?

A

You do not have to file a claim. However, if you do not file within the state-mandated period, your claim can be denied, and you will not receive benefits.

Methodology

Benzinga crafted a specific methodology to rank workers comp insurance. We prioritized carriers based on coverage options, specialized industries, customer service experience and how quickly and easily you're able to get insured including online tool usage. We also included workers comp insurance quote aggregators in lists to make it easy and efficient to compare policy quotes and options. To see a comprehensive breakdown of our methodology, please visit see our Workers' Compensation Insurance Methodology page.

Most Dangerous Industries Per State

The construction industry reports the most injuries and workers' compensation claims in 38 out of 50 states.

Second place goes to the forestry industry, followed by the transportation industry. By law, businesses with more than 1 employee must carry workers' compensation insurance. Workers' compensation insurance protects both your business and employees and creates a safety net for wage replacements and medical benefits.

Use our calculator to determine how much workers' compensation will cost you and your business.

Sources

Maurice Draine

About Maurice Draine

Maurice Draine is a former insurance agent, broker, underwriter tech, and agent sales support rep with over 15 years of professional writing experience. Maurice helps insurance, financial, and various online and ad agencies, create the words that drive customers to their websites and keeps them there.