Insurance
How much does workers’ comp cost for a roofer?
Key takeaways
- Roofing work is commonly classified as class 5551, but only a carrier or rating bureau can assign your class.
- A labeled Wisconsin example at $20 an hour and 40 hours a week uses the WCRB manual rate of $12.789 per $100 of payroll, effective October 1, 2026, and estimates $5,320.22 a year before carrier adjustments.
- That is a published manual rate, not a quote, and it must not be copied into another state.
On this page
Roofing is one of the higher-hazard construction classes in published workers’ compensation tables. That does not mean every roofer pays the same premium, and it is not a reason to skip coverage where the law or a general contractor requires it. This page shows only an official bureau figure we could retrieve, plus the usual first-hire math.
The formula
In most states, estimated premium is (annual payroll ÷ 100) × class rate, then compared with any minimum premium. For a full-time helper at $20 an hour and 40 hours a week, annual wages are $41,600, or 416 units of $100 of payroll.
Official Wisconsin manual-rate example (class 5551)
The Wisconsin WCRB Class Code Lookup for 5551 (Roofing all kinds and drivers), retrieved November 13, 2026, lists a manual rate of $12.789 per $100 of payroll and a minimum premium of $900, effective October 1, 2026. 416 × $12.789 equals $5,320.22, which is above the published minimum, so the estimated premium is $5,320.22 before experience modification and other carrier factors. The calculator uses that published rate when Wisconsin and the roofer trade are selected.
For comparison, the same Wisconsin lookup lists plumbing class 5183 at $2.212 per $100 on the same effective date. The difference is a classification and rate-table fact, not a recommendation to pick a cheaper class. The wrong class can be corrected at audit.
What this page does not do
We do not have an official Indiana ICRB 5551 figure on this site, and we do not republish NCCI roofing rates. Florida assigned-risk figures and other bureau filings were not loaded into this example in this update. If you roof in another state, enter the rate from your quote. Coverage rules, including Florida’s first-employee construction trigger, are in the 50-state requirements table.
Frequently asked questions
Why is roofing workers' comp often expensive?
Roofing is a high-hazard classification in published bureau tables. In the Wisconsin WCRB lookup, class 5551 has a much higher manual rate than plumbing class 5183. That is a published starting point, not a quote.
What official roofing rate can FirstHire show?
This page uses the Wisconsin WCRB manual rate for class 5551 (roofing — all kinds and drivers), $12.789 per $100 of payroll with a $900 minimum premium, effective October 1, 2026. Indiana and NCCI-state roofing rates are not republished here.
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To get a quote, talk to a licensed agent or a carrier authorized in the state where the work is done. In Ohio, North Dakota, Washington, or Wyoming, start with the official state fund.
These figures come from the linked official bureau pages or filings, reviewed November 13, 2026. They are planning estimates, not a binder, not a class assignment, and not a recommendation of any insurer. Confirm the current filing and a licensed quote in the state where the work is done before you hire.