How Much Is Workers' Comp Insurance in Florida? 2026 Rates by Trade
Florida workers' comp is priced from a statewide rate per $100 of payroll for each class code, approved by the state. Here are the 2026 rates for the trades we insure most, how the premium is built, three worked examples, and what the 6.9% decrease did and did not change.
Florida workers' comp premium starts with a rate per $100 of payroll for each class code, filed by NCCI and approved by the Florida Office of Insurance Regulation. For policies effective on or after January 1, 2026, examples include $2.737 for plumbing (5183), $2.969 for electrical (5190), $2.995 for HVAC (5537), $6.752 for roofing (5551) and $7.689 for residential framing carpentry (5645). Multiply payroll ÷ 100 by the rate, apply your experience mod and any credits, then add the $160 expense constant. Rates fell an average of 6.9% on January 1, 2026, but each class moved differently.
This guide covers price. For who must carry comp in Florida, exemptions and penalties, see our Florida workers' compensation insurance page; for trades, subcontractors and permits, see workers' comp for Florida contractors.
2026 Florida rates for common trades
These are the rates per $100 of payroll on Florida's state rate pages, effective January 1, 2026. Unlike New York, Florida publishes full rates, not loss costs, so this is the base an insurer starts from before your experience mod, credits and any filed deviation.
| Class code | Work | Rate per $100 of payroll |
|---|---|---|
| 8810 | Clerical office employees | $0.105 |
| 5606 | Contractor executive supervisor or construction superintendent | $0.850 |
| 5183 | Plumbing | $2.737 |
| 5190 | Electrical wiring within buildings | $2.969 |
| 5537 | HVAC systems installation, service and repair | $2.995 |
| 6217 | Excavation | $3.270 |
| 5610 | Construction debris removal (cleaner) | $3.393 |
| 5221 | Concrete or cement work: floors, driveways, sidewalks | $3.873 |
| 5403 | Carpentry, NOC | $4.364 |
| 5474 | Painting | $4.481 |
| 5445 | Drywall (wallboard) installation | $4.526 |
| 5437 | Carpentry: cabinet work or interior trim | $4.570 |
| 5102 | Door, door frame or sash erection, metal | $4.779 |
| 5651 | Carpentry, dwellings three stories or less | $4.886 |
| 5213 | Concrete construction, NOC | $5.184 |
| 5022 | Masonry, NOC | $5.220 |
| 5551 | Roofing, all kinds | $6.752 |
| 5040 | Iron or steel erection, frame structures | $7.163 |
| 5645 | Carpentry, detached one- or two-family dwellings (framing) | $7.689 |
Source: NCCI Florida rate pages, effective January 1, 2026, as approved by the Florida Office of Insurance Regulation. The right class code depends on the work each employee actually does. Each class also carries a minimum premium.
How a Florida comp premium is built
- Rate: from the table above, per class code
- Experience mod: NCCI compares your claims to your class; below 1.00 is a discount, above 1.00 a surcharge
- Credits and deviations: schedule credits, premium discounts on larger policies, and Florida credits for certified drug-free workplace and safety programs where the carrier offers them
- Expense constant: a flat $160 per policy on Florida's 2026 rate pages
Three worked examples (illustrative)
| Contractor | Payroll | Math | Estimated premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| Roofer (5551), mod 1.00 | $150,000 | 1,500 × $6.752 = $10,128 + $160 | about $10,290 |
| Same roofer, mod 0.85 | $150,000 | $10,128 × 0.85 = $8,609 + $160 | about $8,770 |
| Electrician (5190), mod 1.00 | $80,000 | 800 × $2.969 = $2,375 + $160 | about $2,535 |
| Framing carpenter (5645), mod 1.00 | $60,000 | 600 × $7.689 = $4,613 + $160 | about $4,775 |
These examples use the published rate with no credits or deviations. Real quotes move with your mod, the carrier's filed deviation and schedule credits, and any state assessments, and the final premium is set by audit.
Classification is where the money is. A dollar of residential framing payroll (5645) costs more than twice what a dollar of electrical payroll (5190) costs, and clerical payroll (8810) costs almost nothing. Putting each employee in the right class, with records to support it, is the biggest lever you control.
What the 6.9% decrease changed
Florida approved an average 6.9% decrease in workers' comp rates for policies effective on or after January 1, 2026, the ninth straight annual decrease. It is an average across all classes, so some trades fell more and some less. NCCI has also proposed a further average 7.4% decrease for 2027; it still needs regulatory approval, so check the final number at your renewal.
Six ways to lower Florida workers' comp cost
- Check every class code against what each employee actually does
- Split payroll between field trades, supervisors (5606) and office staff (8810), with records to back it up
- Collect certificates from every sub: in Florida, an uninsured sub's workers become your employees for comp purposes, and the auditor charges you
- Use the exemption correctly: up to three qualifying corporate officers or LLC members in construction can exempt themselves, which removes their payroll
- Ask about drug-free workplace and safety program credits
- Bring your mod down with fast claim reporting and return-to-work
Working in New York too? See New York workers' comp cost by class code and our Florida and New York employer guide.
Fastest way to a quote: email your current policy (dec page and all endorsements), payroll by class code and 5 years of loss runs to adolfo@nextguardinsurance.com. One complete submission moves faster than ten phone calls.
Get your real Florida comp number
Tell us your trade, payroll and employees. We check your class codes, quote the carriers that write your trade in Florida, and send options side by side. Quote in 48 hours once we have your payroll and loss runs.
Watch: NextGuard on YouTube
Short explainers on contractor, trucking and commercial insurance in Florida and New York, in English and Spanish.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much is workers' comp insurance in Florida?
It depends on your class codes and payroll. For policies effective on or after January 1, 2026, Florida rates per $100 of payroll include $2.737 for plumbing (5183), $2.969 for electrical (5190), $2.995 for HVAC (5537), $6.752 for roofing (5551) and $7.689 for residential framing carpentry (5645). The premium is payroll divided by 100, times the rate, times your experience mod, minus credits, plus a $160 expense constant.
What is the expense constant on a Florida workers' comp policy?
Florida's 2026 rate pages set an expense constant of $160 per policy. It is a flat charge added after the rate and experience mod are applied.
How much is workers' comp for roofers in Florida?
The 2026 Florida rate for roofing (class 5551) is $6.752 per $100 of payroll. A roofing company with $150,000 of payroll and a 1.00 experience mod would pay about $10,290 before credits and deviations, including the $160 expense constant.
Did Florida workers' comp rates go down in 2026?
Yes. Florida approved an average 6.9% decrease for policies effective on or after January 1, 2026, the ninth consecutive annual decrease. It is an average across all classes, so individual trades moved by different amounts. NCCI has proposed a further average 7.4% decrease for 2027, subject to approval.
Why is carpentry so expensive for workers' comp in Florida?
Residential framing carpentry on one- and two-family dwellings (class 5645) carries a 2026 rate of $7.689 per $100 of payroll because of injury frequency and severity in that work. Interior trim and cabinet work (5437) and carpentry NOC (5403) are rated lower.
How can I lower my Florida workers' comp premium?
Make sure each employee is in the correct class code, separate supervisor and clerical payroll where records support it, collect certificates from every subcontractor, use the construction officer exemption correctly, ask about drug-free workplace and safety program credits, and work on your experience mod.
Worked with us? Tell other contractors.
Reviews help Florida employers find a broker who gets the classifications right. It takes a minute.
Google Leave a review