Answer four quick questions and see your estimated premium instantly — built on California WCIRB rate ranges for your industry.
Total gross wages you expect to pay all employees this year. A rough number is fine.
Your estimated annual premium
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Pick your industry above and your number appears here — instantly, no contact info needed.
Estimate only — not a quote or offer of insurance. Based on WCIRB California pure premium rate ranges. Final premium is determined by the carrier through underwriting and your claims history. Trio Insurance & Financial Services · CA License #0C66738
Every workers compensation premium in California starts with the same formula: annual payroll ÷ 100 × your class code rate. The Workers' Compensation Insurance Rating Bureau (WCIRB) assigns each type of work a class code, and carriers price from those codes. A carrier then applies an experience modifier based on your claims history, plus any scheduled credits or debits. That is why two businesses with identical payroll can pay very different premiums — and why the ranges below are wide.
| Industry | Typical CA rate per $100 of payroll |
|---|---|
| Construction | $5 – $15 |
| Trucking / Delivery | $5.5 – $13 |
| Restaurant | $2 – $5 |
| Home Health / Caregiving | $3 – $8 |
| Landscaping | $4 – $12 |
| Dental Office | $0.5 – $1.5 |
It depends on payroll and class code. Rates run from roughly $0.50 per $100 of payroll for low-risk offices to $15+ for high-risk trades. A restaurant with $400,000 in payroll might pay $8,000–$20,000 a year; a dental office with the same payroll might pay $2,000–$6,000. Use the calculator above for your industry's range.
California Labor Code Section 3700 generally requires every employer with one or more employees to carry coverage — including part-time staff. Requirements and exemptions depend on individual circumstances, so consult a licensed insurance professional about your specific situation.
The usual causes: a claim raised your experience modifier, your payroll grew, your class code changed, or your carrier adjusted its rates. Renewal is also the one time each year when comparing carriers is easy — most businesses that switch or renegotiate do it in the 60–90 days before renewal.
Often yes. Corrected class codes, payroll audits, and scheduled credits can lower cost with your existing carrier. An independent agent can take over your current policy through a broker of record letter and review it — no switch required. Savings are not guaranteed and are subject to carrier underwriting.