Workers’ comp insurance cost for electricians in West Virginia

Q: What does workers' comp cost electrical contractors in West Virginia?

Modeled from the 2024 filed manual rate of $0.98 per $100 of payroll: a <5-employee electrical shop lands around $410–$1.6k 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. Electrical wiring work is NCCI class 5190 — it covers electrical wiring within buildings, including installation of fixtures and appliances.

Published 2026-06-05 · Updated 2026-06-11 · by Brokly

Direct answer: West Virginia electrical contractors pay a filed workers’-comp manual rate of $0.98 per $100 of payroll (2024 filed rate) — the cheapest of 51 US jurisdictions. Modeled on real payrolls, most <5-employee electrical contractors land around $410–$1.6k/yr, before experience mods and schedule credits.

56% of WV electrical contractors have <5 employees — the chart below prices every size band from its own observed payroll.
West Virginia sits 51st of 51: VA pays more ($1.38).
Workers’ comp is one of several coverages — see everything your electrical shop needs in West Virginia →

What do West Virginia electrical contractors pay for workers’ comp?

Modeled annual premium across the real size distribution of WV electrical contractors

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

typical · most WV electrical contractors

▼

<5 emp

≈$820/yr

5–9 emp

≈$3.3k/yr

10–19 emp

≈$7.6k/yr

20–49 emp

≈$21k/yr

SMALLER

MID-SIZE

LARGER

A <5-employee WV electrical shop: modeled $410–$1.6k/yr in workers’-comp premium (that band’s own average wage, before experience mods and schedule credits). Bar heights show how many of the 281 WV electrical contractors fall in each size band.

Cohort: size distribution of 281 WV electrical contractors (Census CBP 2023); premiums modeled from one filed rate ($0.98/$100 payroll, 2024). Bands shown cover 271 of 281 establishments (96.4%) — 10 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 (WV)

$0.98 / $100 payroll

as of 2024

Typical <5-employee electrical shop (56% of WV)

$410–$1.6k / 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 (Electrical contractors (NAICS 238210)) (as of 2023, retrieved 2026-06-05)

How does West Virginia compare to nearby ranks?

Calculated manual rates, $ per $100 payroll, NCCI class 5190 (Electrical Wiring — Within Buildings), 2024. See all 51 jurisdictions →

Rank	State	Rate / $100 payroll
47	Indiana	$1.23
48	Utah	$1.21
49	Arkansas	$1.17
50	North Dakota	$0.99
51	West Virginia	$0.98

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 electrical contractors in West Virginia?

Modeled from the 2024 filed manual rate of $0.98 per $100 of payroll: a <5-employee electrical shop lands around $410–$1.6k 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. Electrical wiring work is NCCI class 5190 — it covers electrical wiring within buildings, including installation of fixtures and appliances.

Electricians in nearby-ranked states: Arkansas ($1.17) · Utah ($1.21) · Indiana ($1.23) · Virginia ($1.38)

Stay informed

We’ll notify you when we’re ready to benchmark your electrical 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 281 West Virginia electrical contractors; your premium depends on your payroll, claims history, and carrier.