Are you trying to look up workers’ compensation rates by classification code? Are you finding it difficult to locate the right one(s) for your business?

With hundreds of different classification codes — many of which can sound similar — it can be time-consuming and challenging to find what you’re looking for and to make accurate selections. And should you choose the wrong class code, it could cost you time and money in the future.

What are Workers’ Compensation Class Codes?

A workers’ comp classification code is a three- or four-digit number assigned to a business when they’re quoted a workers’ compensation insurance policy. As you review these codes, you’ll find that many of them are easily confused. For example, if you own a painting company, you’ll have to answer questions such as:

• Do you only work on residential interior projects?
• Do you work on both residential and commercial projects?
• Do you take on exterior projects, such as those that require employees to work at height?

To accurately assess the risk and provide your company with the proper coverage, insurance companies must have a clear understanding of the tasks and responsibilities of each employee.

Top Workers’ Compensation Class Codes

Some workers’ compensation class codes are more common than others, such as those for clerical office employees, salespeople and delivery drivers. Here’s a list of more than 100 common class codes:

• 0042 Landscape Gardening & Drivers
• 0106 Tree Pruning, Spraying, Repairing—All Operations & Drivers
• 0908 Domestic Workers—Residences—Part-Time
• 0913 Domestic Workers—Residences—Full-Time
• 0917 Pet Sitting Services & Drivers
• 0917 Residential Cleaning Services by Contractor—Inside
• 2003 Bakery—Salespersons & Drivers
• 2130 Alcohol Mfg.—Grain—All Operations
• 2143 Winery & Drivers
• 2157 Beverage Mfg.—Carbonated—All Operations, Route Supervisors, & Drivers
• 2503 Dressmaking or Tailoring—Custom Exclusively
• 2585 Carpet, Rug, or Upholstery Cleaning—Shop or Outside & Drivers
• 2589 Dry Cleaning and Laundry Store—Retail & Route Supervisors, Drivers
• 2701 Logging or Tree Removal—Log Hauling & Drivers
• 2881 Furniture Manufacturing and Cabinet Shop—Assembly by Hand—Wood
• 3632 Machine Shop NOC
• 3632 Tool Sharpening—Industrial Tools—Shop Only
• 4361 Photographer—All Employees & Clerical, Salespersons, Drivers
• 5022 Fireplace Construction
• 5022 Masonry NOC
• 5022 Plastering or Stucco Work on Outside of Buildings
• 5037 Painting
• 5102 Decorating
• 5102 Door and Window Installation—All Types—Residential and Commercial
• 5183 Plumbing NOC & Drivers
• 5190 Electrical Wiring—Within Buildings & Drivers
• 5213 Cleaning or Renovating Building Exteriors
• 5215 Concrete Work—Incidental to the Construction of Private Residence
• 5221 Paving or Repaving Floors, Driveways, Yards, or Sidewalks & Drivers
• 5222 Chimney Construction—Not Metal
• 5223 Swimming Pool—Construction—Not Iron or Steel & Drivers
• 5348 Ceramic Tile, Indoor Stone, Marble, or Mosaic Work
• 5403 Carpentry—Construction of Residential Dwellings Exceeding Three Stories in Height or Commercial Buildings and Structures
• 5437 Carpentry—Installation of Cabinet Work or Interior Trim
• 5474 Painting NOC & Shop Operations, Drivers
• 5478 Floor Covering Installation—Resilient Flooring—Carpet and Laminate Flooring
• 5479 Insulation Work NOC & Drivers
• 5480 Plastering NOC & Drivers
• 5537 Heating, Ventilation, Air-Conditioning and Refrigeration Systems—Installation, Service and Repair, Shop, Yard Work & Drivers
• 5551 Roofing—All Kinds & Drivers
• 5606 Contractor—Project Manager, Construction Executive, Construction Manager or Construction Superintendent
• 5645 Carpentry—Construction of Residential Dwellings Not Exceeding Three Stories in Height
• 7228 Snow Removal—Hauling Snow Under Contract—Local Hauling Only—No Snow Clearing—All Employees & Drivers
• 7231 Mail, Parcel, or Package Delivery and Courier or Messenger Service Companies —All Employees & Drivers
• 7370 Taxicab Co.—All Other Employees & Drivers
• 7720 Security Enforcement or Protection—Contract & Drivers
• 8001 Florist
• 8002 Automobile—Rental Co.—All Other Employees & Counter Personnel, Drivers
• 8002 Truck—Rental—All Other Employees & Counter Personnel, Drivers
• 8006 Coffee, Tea, or Grocer Dealer—Retail
• 8006 Gasoline Station—Self-Service and Convenience/Grocery—Retail
• 8006 Grocery, Tea or Coffee Dealer—Retail
• 8006 Household Furnishings or Wearing Apparel Dealer—Retail
• 8006 Store—Coffee, Tea, or Spice—Retail
• 8006 Store—Convenience—Retail
• 8006 Store—Dairy Products—Retail
• 8006 Store—Delicatessen—Retail
• 8006 Store—Grocery—Retail
• 8006 Store—Vegetable or Fruit—Retail.
• 8006 Tea, Coffee, or Grocery Dealer—Retail.
• 8008 Store—Clothing, Wearing Apparel, or Dry Goods—Retail
• 8008 Store—Shoe—Retail
• 8010 Bicycles—Retail Sale or Rental
• 8010 Locksmith—Shop and Outside
• 8010 Store—Audio or Video Parts And Accessories
• 8010 Store—Hardware
• 8013 Store—Jewelry
• 8015 Quick Printing—Copying or Duplicating Service—All Employees & Clerical, Salespersons, Drivers
• 8017 Beer or Ale Dealer—Retail
• 8017 Laundry—Self-Service
• 8017 Pawn Shop
• 8017 Shoe Repair Store
• 8017 Store—Pet and Pet Supply—Retail
• 8017 Store—Retail NOC
• 8017 Store—Sporting Goods—Retail
• 8017 Tailor Shop
• 8018 Barber or Beauty Parlor Supply House
• 8018 Store—Grocery—Wholesale
• 8031 Store—Fish, Meat or Poultry—Retail
• 8032 Store—Clothing, Wearing Apparel, or Dry Goods—Wholesale
• 8033 Store—Supermarket
• 8037 Store—Superstores and Warehouse Clubs
• 8039 Store—Department—Retail
• 8044 Furniture Rental—Chairs, Coat Racks, Dishes & Drivers
• 8044 Store—Furniture & Drivers
• 8044 Store—Household Appliance—Electrical & Drivers
• 8058 Home Improvement Center—New Materials Only—Store Employees
• 8058 Lumberyard—New Materials Only—Store Employees
• 8072 Store—Audio or Video Cassette, Book, Record, Compact Disc, Software—Retail
• 8111 Plumbers’ Supplies Dealer & Drivers
• 8291 Warehousing—Cold Storage
• 8292 Storage Warehouse NOC
• 8293 Furniture Moving & Storage, Drivers
• 8380 Air Conditioning Systems—Automobile—Installation, Service or Repair & Drivers
• 8380 Gasoline Station NOC—Retail & Drivers
• 8393 Automobile—Body Repair
• 8601 Architectural or Engineering Firm— Including Salespersons & Drivers
• 8721 Real Estate Agency—Outside Employees & Collectors
• 8721 Real Estate Appraisal Company—Outside Employees
• 8723 Insurance Companies—Including Clerical & Salespersons
• 8755 Labor Union—All Employees
• 8810 Clerical Office Employees NOC
• 8810 Computer—System Designers or Programmers—Exclusively Office
• 8810 Public Library or Museum—Professional Employees & Clerical
• 8832 Dentist & Clerical
• 8832 Physician & Clerical
• 8835 Home, Public, and Traveling Healthcare—All Employees
• 8869 Child Care Center—All Employees Including Clerical, Salespersons & Drivers
• 8869 Child Day Camp—All Employees Including Clerical, Salespersons & Drivers
• 9012 Building or Property Management—Property Managers and Leasing Agents & Clerical, Salespersons
• 9014 Janitorial Services by Contractors—No Window Cleaning Above Ground Level & Drivers
• 9052 Hotel—All Other Employees & Salespersons, Drivers
• 9052 Motel, Motor Court, Tourist Court, or Cabin—All Other Employees & Salespersons, Drivers
• 9082 Caterer
• 9082 Restaurant NOC
• 9083 Doughnut Shop—Retail
• 9083 Restaurant: Fast Food
• 9084 Bar, Discotheque, Lounge, Nightclub or Tavern
• 9102 Lawn Maintenance—Commercial or Domestic & Drivers
• 9170 Janitorial Services by Contractors—Includes Window Cleaning Above Ground Level & Drivers
• 9402 Sewer Cleaning & Drivers
• 9402 Snow Removal—Clearing Snow From Streets or Roads & Drivers
• 9586 Beauty Shop, Barber Shop, or Hair Styling Salon

Note: This list is not comprehensive. National NCCI codes only.

The Different Types of Class Codes

Workers’ compensation is regulated at the state level. With this, each of the 50 states decides which rating agency it uses to assign class codes and rates. The most commonly used agency is the National Council on Compensation Insurance (NCCI). However, there are a handful of states that don’t rely on the NCCI for its data:

• California
• Delaware
• Indiana
• Massachusetts
• Michigan
• Minnesota
• New Jersey
• New York
• North Carolina
• Ohio
• Pennsylvania
• Washington
• Wisconsin

Delaware and Pennsylvania are the only two states that use a three-digit code.

Tips to Choose the Correct Class Code

Choosing the correct class code starts with answering questions such as:

• How would you describe your business? What industry category would you place it in?
• What type of product or service do you sell?
• What tasks do your employees perform?
• Do you have contractors who require coverage?
• Do any of your employees work in a potentially dangerous environment, such as with heavy machinery or at height?

As you answer these questions, others will move to the forefront. And as you address those, it’ll become clearer as to which class code best suits each type of employee.

How to Find Accurate Class Codes

When it comes to workers’ compensation insurance, “guessing and hoping for the best” isn’t a great strategy. It’s critical that you find and select accurate class codes the first time around.

Rather than take a risk, it’s best to consult with a workers’ compensation expert. At WorkCompOne, we have the experience and knowledge necessary to walk you through the process. From looking up class codes to choosing the right ones to making a purchase, we’re by your side every step of the way. Click here to get started.