Workers’ comp insurance cost for carpenters in North Carolina

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

Modeled from the 2024 filed manual rate of $4.38 per $100 of payroll: a <5-employee carpentry shop lands around $2.1k–$8.3k 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: North Carolina carpentry contractors pay a filed workers’-comp manual rate of $4.38 per $100 of payroll (2024 filed rate) — the 31st-highest of 51 US jurisdictions. Modeled on real payrolls, most <5-employee carpentry contractors land around $2.1k–$8.3k/yr, before experience mods and schedule credits.

76% of NC carpentry contractors have <5 employees — the chart below prices every size band from its own observed payroll.
North Carolina sits 31st of 51: WA pays more ($4.75), KS less ($3.88).
Workers’ comp is one of several coverages — see everything your carpentry shop needs in North Carolina →

What do North Carolina carpentry contractors pay for workers’ comp?

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

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

typical · most NC carpentry contractors

▼

<5 emp

≈$3.1k/yr

5–9 emp

≈$14k/yr

10–19 emp

≈$30k/yr

20–49 emp

≈$74k/yr

SMALLER

MID-SIZE

LARGER

A <5-employee NC carpentry shop: modeled $2.1k–$8.3k/yr in workers’-comp premium (that band’s own average wage, before experience mods and schedule credits). Bar heights show how many of the 1,121 NC carpentry contractors fall in each size band.

Cohort: size distribution of 1,121 NC carpentry contractors (Census CBP 2023); premiums modeled from one filed rate ($4.38/$100 payroll, 2024). Bands shown cover 1,114 of 1,121 establishments (99.4%) — 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 (NC)

$4.38 / $100 payroll

as of 2024

Typical <5-employee carpentry shop (76% of NC)

$2.1k–$8.3k / 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 North Carolina 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
27	Idaho	$4.54
28	Florida	$4.48
29	New Mexico	$4.46
30	Maryland	$4.40
31	North Carolina	$4.38
32	Nebraska	$4.30
33	Oregon	$4.09
34	Iowa	$3.97
35	District of Columbia	$3.89

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 North Carolina?

Modeled from the 2024 filed manual rate of $4.38 per $100 of payroll: a <5-employee carpentry shop lands around $2.1k–$8.3k 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: Maryland ($4.40) · Oregon ($4.09) · Florida ($4.48) · Idaho ($4.54)

Stay informed

We’ll notify you when we’re ready to benchmark your carpentry shop’s coverage.

No spam — one email.

Illustrative benchmark — not a quote or coverage recommendation. Figures are modeled from public filings and Census data for 1,121 North Carolina carpentry contractors; your premium depends on your payroll, claims history, and carrier.