Washington workers' comp cost (2026)
Washington is a monopolistic state — L&I administers workers' comp. Here's how rates work.
Washington workers' comp is administered by the Department of Labor & Industries (L&I) — not private carriers. Rates are set by risk class and are per-hour rather than per-payroll like most states.
A clerical office worker's rate can be under $0.15/hour. A roofer's rate can exceed $2.00/hour. Same employee, same wage — the injury frequency dictates rate.
Sample WA risk-class hourly rates
Clerical office (4904) · ~$0.10–$0.20/hr
Lowest class — office admin, back-office, receptionist.
Restaurant (3905) · ~$0.60–$1.00/hr
Server, kitchen, front-of-house.
General carpentry (0510) · ~$1.90–$2.60/hr
Framing, remodel, general carpentry.
Roofing (0507) · ~$2.10–$3.00/hr
Highest common construction class.
Trucking (1102) · ~$1.10–$1.60/hr
Applies to WA-based intrastate drivers.
Common new-employer mistakes
- Estimating hours instead of tracking actuals
- Misclassifying carpenters as clerical
- Failing to report owner/officer election properly
- Missing quarterly report deadlines (penalties)
- Not carrying separate voluntary comp for out-of-state work
Can owners opt out?
Yes — sole proprietors, partners, and corporate officers can elect out with the proper paperwork. But if you get hurt while opted out, there is no L&I safety net.
What if I have remote workers in another state?
L&I only covers Washington work. Employees working outside WA need a separate voluntary workers' comp policy for that state.
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