How the estimate works
Displayed monthly estimate = base monthly estimate × claims-history factor
Source
Rates come from the California Department of Insurance (CDI) Workers' Compensation Rate Comparison, March 2026 Edition. The comparison lists insurers' manual base rates by classification code, in dollars per $100 of payroll. CDI notes that these rates can be modified by each insurer's rating plans and by experience modification, and that they are not quotes. 10 Second Quotes is not affiliated with or endorsed by CDI.
How we summarize the rates
Where an insurer lists several territory rates for the same class code, we average them first. For each industry we then take the median rate across insurers, and we show the 25th–75th percentile range below for context.
Some industries map to two classification codes, often a lower- and higher-wage version of the same work. For those, we average the two codes equally within each insurer that reports both, then take the median across insurers. This equal-weight blend is our own illustrative simplification, not a CDI or rating-bureau instruction.
Claims history adjustment
Because this calculator does not collect the detailed payroll and loss information required to calculate an official California experience modification, 10 Second Quotes uses a simplified claims-history assumption solely to illustrate how prior claims may affect workers' compensation cost. Selecting “1–2 claims,” “3+ claims,” or “Not sure” applies an illustrative adjustment to the base estimate. It does not calculate or predict the experience modification or rating factor that an insurer or WCIRB may apply.
| Claims history (past 3 years) | Illustrative factor |
|---|---|
| No claims | ×1.00 |
| 1–2 claims | ×1.10 |
| 3+ claims | ×1.25 |
| Not sure | ×1.05 |
These factors are 10 Second Quotes product assumptions for illustrative estimation only. They are not California experience-modification factors, insurer-filed rating factors, or a calculation of your actual experience modification. CDI explains that base premium is subsequently modified by rating plans and experience modification, and that loss history is relevant to those adjustments.
Rate table
| Industry | Class code(s) | 25th pct | Median | 75th pct | Insurers |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Auto Repair | 8389 | $4.62 | $5.29 | $5.88 | 50 |
| Carpentry | 5403 + 5432 | $13.63 | $15.31 | $17.15 | 50 |
| Concrete / Cement Work | 5201 + 5205 | $9.27 | $10.46 | $12.01 | 50 |
| Electrical Contractor | 5190 + 5140 | $4.63 | $5.23 | $5.93 | 50 |
| Full-Service Restaurant | 9080 | $4.17 | $4.61 | $5.12 | 49 |
| General Retail Store | 8017 | $4.21 | $4.83 | $5.41 | 50 |
| HVAC / Heating & A/C | 5183 + 5187 | $6.65 | $7.52 | $8.55 | 50 |
| Janitorial Services | 9008 | $11.41 | $13.03 | $14.69 | 50 |
| Landscaping | 0042 | $8.60 | $9.77 | $10.89 | 50 |
| Office / Clerical | 8810 | $0.33 | $0.37 | $0.42 | 50 |
| Painting Contractor | 5474 + 5482 | $10.43 | $11.83 | $13.18 | 50 |
| Parcel Delivery / Messenger | 7198 | $15.90 | $18.37 | $20.36 | 50 |
| Plumbing | 5183 + 5187 | $6.65 | $7.52 | $8.55 | 50 |
| Pool Cleaning / Servicing | 9097 | $4.97 | $5.78 | $6.38 | 50 |
| Roofing | 5552 + 5553 | $27.55 | $31.18 | $34.78 | 50 |
Dollars per $100 of payroll. Dataset version 2026-09-cdi-only-v1. We refresh this when CDI publishes a new edition.
Disclaimer
*Illustrative estimate only — not an insurance quote. Estimated costs are based on publicly available California workers' compensation rate information and simplified assumptions, including an illustrative adjustment for claims history. The claims-history adjustment is not an official experience modification or insurer rating factor. Actual premiums may vary substantially based on insurer, classification, payroll, actual loss amounts, experience modification, rating plans, underwriting, eligibility, location and other factors.