Workers’ comp insurance cost for carpenters in Massachusetts

Published 2026-06-11 · by Brokly

Direct answer: Massachusetts carpentry contractors pay a filed workers’-comp manual rate of $3.07 per $100 of payroll (2024 filed rate) — the 44th-highest of 51 US jurisdictions. Modeled on real payrolls, most <5-employee carpentry contractors land around $1.7k–$6.6k/yr, before experience mods and schedule credits.

What do Massachusetts carpentry contractors pay for workers’ comp?

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

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

typical · most MA carpentry contractors
<5 emp
$2.7k/yr
5–9 emp
$14k/yr
10–19 emp
$32k/yr
20–49 emp
$83k/yr
SMALLER
MID-SIZE
LARGER
A <5-employee MA carpentry shop: modeled $1.7k–$6.6k/yr in workers’-comp premium (that band’s own average wage, before experience mods and schedule credits). Bar heights show how many of the 979 MA carpentry contractors fall in each size band.

Cohort: size distribution of 979 MA carpentry contractors (Census CBP 2023); premiums modeled from one filed rate ($3.07/$100 payroll, 2024). Bands shown cover 972 of 979 establishments (99.3%) 7 establishments in larger, very small-count, or data-suppressed size bands are not shown. 2023 payroll dollars, not inflation-adjusted. Illustrative benchmark — not a quote or coverage recommendation.

Filed manual rate (MA)
$3.07 / $100 payroll
as of 2024
Typical <5-employee carpentry shop (81% of MA)
$1.7k–$6.6k / 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 Massachusetts compare to nearby ranks?

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

RankStateRate / $100 payroll
40Wyoming$3.32
41Utah$3.27
42Nevada$3.26
43Tennessee$3.15
44Massachusetts$3.07
45Texas$2.93
46Arizona$2.90
47North Dakota$2.78
48Arkansas$2.76

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 Massachusetts?

Modeled from the 2024 filed manual rate of $3.07 per $100 of payroll: a <5-employee carpentry shop lands around $1.7k–$6.6k 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: Tennessee ($3.15) · Texas ($2.93) · Arizona ($2.90) · Utah ($3.27)

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Illustrative benchmark — not a quote or coverage recommendation. Figures are modeled from public filings and Census data for 979 Massachusetts carpentry contractors; your premium depends on your payroll, claims history, and carrier.