At a glance. Georgia sits right at the national median for workers' comp cost — ranked 26th of 51 at $1.09 per $100 of payroll in Oregon's 2024 study, the latest available[1]. Coverage is required at three employees[2]. The maximum temporary total disability benefit is $800 a week for injuries on or after July 1, 2023[2].
Georgia at a glance
| Cost rank | 26th of 51 (1 = most expensive); index rate $1.09 per $100 of payroll — exactly the national median[1][4] |
| Trend | Moved from 31st in the 2022 study to 26th in 2024 — relatively more expensive than before[4] |
| Rating bureau | NCCI; the State Board posts NCCI's advisory loss costs for Georgia[3] (see the bureau map) |
| Who must carry coverage | Employers with three or more employees[2] |
| Maximum weekly benefits | Temporary total disability (TTD) $800; temporary partial disability (TPD) $533 — injuries on or after July 1, 2023[2] |
| Benefits regulator | State Board of Workers' Compensation[2] |
Who has to carry workers' comp in Georgia
The State Board's summary of benefit provisions lists the threshold as three or more employees[2]. That is lower than South Carolina's four, so a small insured operating in both states can be required to carry coverage in Georgia but not in South Carolina.
Benefits: what a Georgia claim pays
From the State Board's provisions summary (revised July 1, 2025)[2]:
- Weekly income benefits: two-thirds of the average weekly wage, based on the 13 weeks before the accident
- Maximums: TTD $800 a week and TPD $533 a week, for injuries on or after July 1, 2023; minimum TTD $50
- Waiting period: seven days, paid back if the disability lasts 21 consecutive days
- Medical: no dollar cap; medical benefits run up to 400 weeks for non-catastrophic injuries and without a time limit for catastrophic injuries
- No benefit-rate changes were made in 2024 or 2025
No benefit change had been announced as of October 2026; the Board's latest summary is dated July 1, 2025[2]. Check the Board's site before quoting benefit levels to an insured.
How Georgia compares with its neighbors
From the Oregon Premium Rate Ranking (2024 study, the latest available), which prices the same job classes in every state[1][4]:
| State | Rank (1 = most expensive) | Index rate per $100 payroll | % of median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | 24 | $1.11 | 101% |
| Georgia | 26 | $1.09 | 100% |
| South Carolina | 29 | $1.03 | 94% |
| Florida | 30 | $1.00 | 92% |
| North Carolina | 33 | $0.95 | 87% |
| Tennessee | 39 | $0.80 | 73% |
Georgia sits in the more expensive half of the Southeast, behind only Alabama among these neighbors. Index rates are for comparison only — actual premium depends on class, experience mod, and carrier pricing[4]. See all 51 jurisdictions in the rates-by-state table.
Quick checklist for Georgia accounts
- Apply the three-employee threshold, not the four used next door in South Carolina
- Use NCCI class codes and the Georgia advisory loss costs[3]
- For insureds with operations in several states, confirm each state's threshold and benefit levels separately
- Check the experience mod worksheet before renewal — see the high-mod guide
Frequently asked questions
How many employees before workers' comp is required in Georgia?
Three or more employees, according to the State Board of Workers' Compensation.
What is the maximum workers' comp weekly benefit in Georgia?
$800 a week for temporary total disability and $533 a week for temporary partial disability, for injuries on or after July 1, 2023. The Board reported no benefit-rate changes in 2024 or 2025.
Is Georgia workers' comp expensive?
Georgia is right at the national median. Oregon's 2024 Premium Rate Ranking puts it 26th of 51 jurisdictions at $1.09 per $100 of payroll.
Sources
- 2024 Workers' Compensation Premium Index Rates — Oregon Department of Consumer and Business Services, published June 2025. Accessed October 7, 2026.
- Workers' Compensation Benefit Provisions (summary, revised 07/01/25) — Georgia State Board of Workers' Compensation, July 1, 2025. Accessed October 7, 2026.
- Advisory Loss Costs — Georgia (version posted by the State Board, effective March 1, 2025) — Georgia State Board of Workers' Compensation / NCCI. Accessed October 7, 2026.
- Oregon Workers' Compensation Premium Rate Ranking, Calendar Year 2024 (full report) — Oregon Department of Consumer and Business Services, June 2025. Accessed October 7, 2026.