Reference Tool
Workers' Compensation Rating Bureaus by State
Every U.S. state delegates workers' compensation rate-making and class-code administration to a designated rating bureau. Hover any state for its bureau, click for full details and direct links — the authoritative source for loss costs, class codes, and experience modification factors in that jurisdiction. Use this map when you need to know who governs WC filings in any state, or to reach a state's workers' comp department directly.
Interactive Map
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Tip: hover any state for a quick view, or click a state to see full details and links in the panel to the right.
Complete Reference Table
All 50 states plus the District of Columbia, with rating bureau, state workers' compensation department, and direct links to both. Sortable, searchable.
| State | Code | Rating Bureau | State WC Dept. | Type |
|---|
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About Workers' Compensation Rating Bureaus
A workers' compensation rating bureau is a state-licensed statistical agency that collects exposure (payroll) and loss data from every WC insurance carrier writing business in that state, then publishes the actuarial foundation the market is built on: loss costs (the pure-premium component before carrier expense/profit), classification codes (the 600+ industry categories that determine base rates), experience rating values (the inputs to each employer's experience modification factor), and approved policy forms and endorsements.
Bureau structure varies. The National Council on Compensation Insurance (NCCI) is the largest, serving 36 states plus the District of Columbia. NCCI publishes the standard nationwide class code system most agents are familiar with, along with each state's loss cost filings. NCCI is privately owned by member carriers but operates as a regulated rate-service organization.
Eleven states operate independent state bureaus with their own class codes (often overlapping NCCI codes but with state-specific additions), filing schedules, and experience rating methodologies. California's WCIRB is the most prominent independent bureau, governing the largest WC market in the country. New York's NYCIRB, Pennsylvania's PCRB, North Carolina's NCRB, and New Jersey's NJCRIB are also independent. Agents and brokers placing risks in independent bureau states should verify class codes and rating values against the state bureau's published values rather than assuming NCCI conventions apply.
The four monopolistic states
Four states do not permit private-market workers' compensation insurance at all. Employers in these states must purchase coverage from the state-administered fund:
- blockNorth Dakota — Workforce Safety & Insurance (WSI)
- blockOhio — Bureau of Workers' Compensation (BWC)
- blockWashington — Department of Labor & Industries (L&I)
- blockWyoming — Workers' Compensation Division
Private carriers can still write Employers Liability (Stop-Gap) coverage in monopolistic states to fill the gap left by the state fund (which typically does not include Employers Liability). For multi-state employers, this means coordinating state-fund WC + private Stop-Gap + traditional WC for the remaining states — exactly the kind of complexity Justin specializes in unwinding for retail brokers.
Why this matters for placement
Bureau identity dictates the operational mechanics of every submission: which class code dictionary you reference, which loss cost filing is in effect on a given effective date, what experience rating data you'll see, and what state-specific endorsements you'll need to attach. A submission packaged with the wrong assumptions (NCCI defaults applied to a Pennsylvania risk, for example) will at best create rework, and at worst result in a binding error.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a workers' compensation rating bureau?expand_more
A state-licensed organization that collects loss and exposure data from insurance carriers and publishes loss costs, class codes, experience modification factors, and policy forms used by insurers in that state. NCCI serves 36 states + DC; the other 11 states use independent bureaus.
What are the monopolistic workers' compensation states?expand_more
North Dakota (WSI), Ohio (BWC), Washington (L&I), and Wyoming (DWC). Employers in these four states must buy WC from the state fund — no private market. Employers Liability "Stop-Gap" coverage is still available from private carriers.
How many states use NCCI for workers' compensation?expand_more
36 states plus the District of Columbia. Independent bureau states are CA, DE, IN, MA, MI, MN, NJ, NY, NC, PA, TX, and WI. The four monopolistic state funds (ND, OH, WA, WY) operate outside the traditional bureau structure.
How do I look up workers' comp class codes for my state?expand_more
Use the bureau link above for your state. For NCCI states, ncci.com has a free Class Look-Up tool plus subscription access to the full manual. Independent bureau states may use a mix of NCCI codes and state-specific codes — always defer to that state's bureau as authoritative.
Who regulates workers' compensation insurance in each state?expand_more
Two bodies: the rating bureau publishes loss costs and class codes (actuarial), and the state's WC department or industrial commission enforces compliance, handles disputes, and oversees claims (regulatory). Both are linked for every state in the table above.
Need to place workers' comp in a tough state?
Multi-state risks, high-mod accounts, monopolistic-state Stop-Gap coordination, or specialty class codes — that's what I do. National wholesale access for retail brokers through Burns & Wilcox.
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