Is workers comp required in Wisconsin?
Wisconsin generally requires coverage for employers with three or more employees, or that pay a modest amount of wages in a calendar quarter. Owners, partners and corporate officers are treated under their own rules, and some workers such as certain agricultural or domestic employees may be handled differently.
Buying coverage in Wisconsin
Wisconsin employers buy workers comp from private insurance companies, and businesses that are hard to place can obtain coverage through the state's residual market or a state-chartered carrier where one exists.
Who sets the rules
The Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development, Worker's Compensation Division oversees workers comp in Wisconsin. Classifications and loss costs in Wisconsin come from the Wisconsin Compensation Rating Bureau (WCRB), an independent rating organization, so codes and rules can differ from NCCI states.
What Wisconsin employers should know
- Wisconsin uses its own rating bureau, which manages class codes and experience modifications.
- Dairy, paper manufacturing and construction are long-standing Wisconsin classes.
How premiums are calculated
As in most states, WI premium is generally the class code rate per $100 of payroll, adjusted by any experience modification, credits and state charges. The final amount is confirmed by a payroll audit after the policy period. Learn more about how workers comp rates work and preparing for an audit.
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Wisconsin workers comp FAQ
Is workers comp required in Wisconsin?
Wisconsin generally requires coverage for employers with three or more employees, or that pay a modest amount of wages in a calendar quarter. Rules and exceptions change, so confirm your situation with the state agency or an agent.
Who oversees workers comp in Wisconsin?
The Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development, Worker's Compensation Division administers the workers compensation system in Wisconsin.
Can I buy Wisconsin workers comp from a private insurer?
Yes. Private insurers write workers comp in Wisconsin, and a market of last resort is available for businesses that are hard to place.
How is workers comp priced in Wisconsin?
Classifications and loss costs in Wisconsin come from the Wisconsin Compensation Rating Bureau (WCRB), an independent rating organization, so codes and rules can differ from NCCI states. As in most states, WI premium is generally the class code rate per $100 of payroll, adjusted by any experience modification, credits and state charges. The final amount is confirmed by a payroll audit after the policy period.