Workers’ comp insurance cost for carpenters in California

Q: What does workers' comp cost carpentry contractors in California?

Modeled from the 2024 filed manual rate of $5.42 per $100 of payroll: a <5-employee carpentry shop lands around $2.9k–$12k per year before experience mods and schedule credits.

Q: What drives the rate up or down?

Three levers: payroll (the exposure base), claims history (the experience modifier), and schedule credits/debits the insurer applies. Finish carpentry work is NCCI class 5437 (Carpentry — Cabinet and Trim Work) — jobsite installation of cabinetry, interior trim, stairs, and millwork; framing and general carpentry (class 5403) and new-dwelling construction are rated separately.

Published 2026-06-11 · by Brokly

Direct answer: California carpentry contractors pay a filed workers’-comp manual rate of $5.42 per $100 of payroll (2024 filed rate) — the 18th-highest of 51 US jurisdictions. Modeled on real payrolls, most <5-employee carpentry contractors land around $2.9k–$12k/yr, before experience mods and schedule credits.

64% of CA carpentry contractors have <5 employees — the chart below prices every size band from its own observed payroll.
California sits 18th of 51: NH pays more ($6.35), CO less ($4.94).
Workers’ comp is one of several coverages — see everything your carpentry shop needs in California →

What do California carpentry contractors pay for workers’ comp?

Modeled annual premium across the real size distribution of CA carpentry contractors

bar height = how many carpentry contractors are that size · figures = modeled annual cost

typical · most CA carpentry contractors

▼

<5 emp

≈$5.1k/yr

5–9 emp

≈$20k/yr

10–19 emp

≈$47k/yr

20–49 emp

≈$120k/yr

50–99 emp

≈$300k/yr

100–249 emp

≈$590k/yr

SMALLER

MID-SIZE

LARGER

A <5-employee CA carpentry shop: modeled $2.9k–$12k/yr in workers’-comp premium (that band’s own average wage, before experience mods and schedule credits). Bar heights show how many of the 2,784 CA carpentry contractors fall in each size band.

Cohort: size distribution of 2,784 CA carpentry contractors (Census CBP 2023); premiums modeled from one filed rate ($5.42/$100 payroll, 2024). Bands shown cover 2,784 of 2,784 establishments (100.0%). 2023 payroll dollars, not inflation-adjusted. Illustrative benchmark — not a quote or coverage recommendation.

Filed manual rate (CA)

$5.42 / $100 payroll

as of 2024

Typical <5-employee carpentry shop (64% of CA)

$2.9k–$12k / yr modeled

as of 2024 · CBP 2023

Sources: Oregon DCBS workers' compensation premium rate ranking study, June 2025 (calendar-year 2024 rates) (as of calendar year 2024, retrieved 2026-06-04) · US Census County Business Patterns 2023, state file (Finish carpentry contractors (NAICS 238350)) (as of 2023, retrieved 2026-06-05)

How does California compare to nearby ranks?

Calculated manual rates, $ per $100 payroll, NCCI class 5437 (Carpentry — Cabinet and Trim Work), 2024. See all 51 jurisdictions →

Rank	State	Rate / $100 payroll
14	Connecticut	$6.32
15	Maine	$6.11
16	Vermont	$6.00
17	Oklahoma	$5.57
18	California	$5.42
19	Missouri	$5.37
20	Alaska	$5.21
21	Michigan	$5.13
22	South Dakota	$5.01

Sources: Oregon DCBS workers' compensation premium rate ranking study, June 2025 (calendar-year 2024 rates) (as of calendar year 2024, retrieved 2026-06-04)

Frequently asked questions

What does workers' comp cost carpentry contractors in California?

Modeled from the 2024 filed manual rate of $5.42 per $100 of payroll: a <5-employee carpentry shop lands around $2.9k–$12k per year before experience mods and schedule credits.

What drives the rate up or down?

Three levers: payroll (the exposure base), claims history (the experience modifier), and schedule credits/debits the insurer applies. Finish carpentry work is NCCI class 5437 (Carpentry — Cabinet and Trim Work) — jobsite installation of cabinetry, interior trim, stairs, and millwork; framing and general carpentry (class 5403) and new-dwelling construction are rated separately.

Carpenters in nearby-ranked states: Missouri ($5.37) · Oklahoma ($5.57) · Michigan ($5.13) · Colorado ($4.94)

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Illustrative benchmark — not a quote or coverage recommendation. Figures are modeled from public filings and Census data for 2,784 California carpentry contractors; your premium depends on your payroll, claims history, and carrier.