Workers Compensation Insurance

Pennsylvania workers comp costs range from under $0.10 to more than $15.00 per $100 of payroll, depending on job classification, according to the Pennsylvania Compensation Rating Bureau (PCRB). Typical rates: clerical/office (Code 8810) $0.09-$0.50, retail/light commercial $1.00-$3.00, restaurant (full service) $1.50-$3.50, landscaping $2.49-$3.47, trucking (long-haul) $5.00-$7.00, and roofing $10.00-$15.00+. Your final premium also depends on your specific class codes, experience modification factor, and chosen carrier.

Turnaround varies by payroll details, classification codes, and carrier requirements. We will confirm timing after review.

The two levers that move workers comp premium the most are your experience modification rate (EMR) and accurate class code assignment. A documented safety program, a return-to-work policy that gets injured employees back on light duty quickly, and correcting any misclassified job duties can measurably lower your rate at the next renewal. Many carriers also offer a premium credit for a formal safety committee or completed safety training.

A class code is a 4-digit number assigned by NCCI (or a state bureau like PCRB in Pennsylvania) to a specific type of work, and it is the single biggest driver of your base rate. Every job duty at your business gets mapped to a code; a business with both office staff and field crews will typically carry more than one class code, each rated separately per $100 of payroll.

General contractors typically must carry their own workers comp and also verify that subcontractors carry theirs, since an uninsured subcontractor's injured worker can become the general contractor's liability under most state laws. Request a certificate of insurance from every subcontractor before they start work, and confirm the certificate is still active before final payment, since coverage can lapse mid-project.

Seasonal and part-time employees are covered the same as full-time employees in every state Dragon serves; there is no seasonal exemption. Report seasonal payroll accurately during your policy period rather than waiting for the annual audit, since a large undisclosed seasonal payroll spike is one of the most common reasons for an unexpected audit bill.

Pennsylvania workers comp covers four categories of benefits for injured employees: medical benefits (100% of necessary and reasonable treatment with no deductible or co-pay), wage loss benefits (66.67% of the worker's average weekly wage, subject to the state maximum), specific loss benefits (scheduled lump-sum payments for permanent loss of body parts under PA's statutory loss schedule, such as a hand, eye, or foot), and death benefits (51% of the decedent's average weekly wage to a surviving spouse plus 8% per dependent child). Claims must be reported to the employer within 21 days of the injury to preserve full back-pay eligibility.