Workers’ comp insurance cost for carpenters in Wisconsin

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

Modeled from the 2024 filed manual rate of $8.67 per $100 of payroll: a <5-employee carpentry shop lands around $4.3k–$17k 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: Wisconsin carpentry contractors pay a filed workers’-comp manual rate of $8.67 per $100 of payroll (2024 filed rate) — the 3rd-highest of 51 US jurisdictions. Modeled on real payrolls, most <5-employee carpentry contractors land around $4.3k–$17k/yr, before experience mods and schedule credits.

70% of WI carpentry contractors have <5 employees — the chart below prices every size band from its own observed payroll.
Wisconsin sits 3rd of 51: MN pays more ($10.11), LA less ($6.72).
Workers’ comp is one of several coverages — see everything your carpentry shop needs in Wisconsin →

What do Wisconsin carpentry contractors pay for workers’ comp?

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

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

typical · most WI carpentry contractors

▼

<5 emp

≈$6.6k/yr

5–9 emp

≈$35k/yr

10–19 emp

≈$70k/yr

20–49 emp

≈$170k/yr

SMALLER

MID-SIZE

LARGER

A <5-employee WI carpentry shop: modeled $4.3k–$17k/yr in workers’-comp premium (that band’s own average wage, before experience mods and schedule credits). Bar heights show how many of the 638 WI carpentry contractors fall in each size band.

Cohort: size distribution of 638 WI carpentry contractors (Census CBP 2023); premiums modeled from one filed rate ($8.67/$100 payroll, 2024). Bands shown cover 634 of 638 establishments (99.4%) — 4 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 (WI)

$8.67 / $100 payroll

as of 2024

Typical <5-employee carpentry shop (70% of WI)

$4.3k–$17k / 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 Wisconsin 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
1	Minnesota	$10.11
2	New Jersey	$9.71
3	Wisconsin	$8.67
4	Illinois	$8.47
5	New York	$8.28
6	Georgia	$7.12
7	Montana	$6.96

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 Wisconsin?

Modeled from the 2024 filed manual rate of $8.67 per $100 of payroll: a <5-employee carpentry shop lands around $4.3k–$17k 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: Illinois ($8.47) · New Jersey ($9.71) · Minnesota ($10.11) · New York ($8.28)

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Illustrative benchmark — not a quote or coverage recommendation. Figures are modeled from public filings and Census data for 638 Wisconsin carpentry contractors; your premium depends on your payroll, claims history, and carrier.