Workers’ Comp Requirements by State, Explained for Small Businesses
WorkCompByState explains workers’ compensation insurance in plain English for U.S. small business owners: what your state requires, who is exempt, what happens if you go without coverage, and what drives the cost of a policy. Every guide links to the official state agency or national source it is based on, so you can check the rules yourself.
Find your state
Workers’ comp rules are set state by state. Start with our 50-state comparison table for a quick overview of employee thresholds and monopolistic state funds, or open a detailed state guide:
For the other 30 states, the 50-state table summarizes the general rule, and the U.S. Department of Labor’s directory of state agencies lists every state’s official agency.
Start here: the essentials
- What is workers’ compensation insurance and how does it work?
- Is workers’ comp legally required for small businesses?
- Workers’ comp exemptions: who doesn’t need coverage
- Penalties for not carrying workers’ comp, by state
- Do independent contractors need their own coverage?
- What to do when an employee gets injured at work
Understand the cost
- Workers’ comp premium calculator – estimate your annual premium
- How much workers’ comp costs: formula, class codes and cost by industry
- What is an Experience Modification Rate (EMR)?
Browse by topic
- Fundamentals and basic guidelines
- Guides by state
- Costs, quotes, and comparisons
- Claims and legal compliance
- Types of workers
- Industry guides
- All articles
About this site
WorkCompByState is an independent project run by Kevin Garcia de Paz. It is not an insurance company, broker, or law firm, and it does not receive payments from insurers for its content. Articles are researched from official state agencies and national sources such as the U.S. Department of Labor, OSHA and the NAIC, and each one lists its sources and the date they were last verified. Found an error? Tell us. Corrections are reviewed within 5 business days.
The information on this site is general and educational. It is not legal, insurance or financial advice. Always confirm requirements with your state agency or a licensed professional.