Updated April 2026
How Much Will Your Painting Company Pay for Workers' Comp in Florida?
If you run a painting company in Florida — residential, commercial, interior, exterior — you need workers' comp the moment you have one employee. It is not optional for construction businesses in this state.
The good news is it costs a lot less than most painters expect. Here is what you will actually pay based on the size of your crew.
What Does Workers' Comp Cost for a Small Painting Crew?
You have 2 painters, each earning $30,000 a year. You are the owner and you filed for an exemption, so your pay is not included.
- Payroll: $60,000
- Annual cost: $2,848
- Monthly: about $237
That is the cost of protecting your crew and your business from a single injury that could cost you $50,000 or more out of pocket.
What If You Have a Bigger Crew with Office Staff?
You have 4 painters earning $35,000 each and one person in the office earning $38,000. Here is why this matters — your painters and your office person are rated differently.
- 4 painters: $140,000 payroll at the painting rate ($4.48) = $6,272
- Office admin: $38,000 payroll at the clerical rate ($0.105) = $40
- Expense constant: $160 (flat charge on every Florida policy)
- Total: $6,472 per year
How Much Will You Pay at Different Payroll Levels?
Florida Painters Workers' Comp Cost (2026)
NCCI Code 5474 · $4.48 per $100 of payroll · Includes $160 expense constant
2 PAINTERS
$237/mo
$60K payroll · $2,848/yr
MID-SIZE CREW
$573/mo
$150K payroll · $6,880/yr
LARGE OPERATION
$1,880/mo
$500K payroll · $22,560/yr
| Annual Payroll | Annual Cost | Monthly |
|---|---|---|
| $50,000 | $2,400 | $200 |
| $60,000 | $2,848 | $237 |
| $100,000 | $4,640 | $387 |
| $150,000 | $6,880 | $573 |
| $250,000 | $11,360 | $947 |
| $500,000 | $22,560 | $1,880 |
2026 NCCI Florida rate for Code 5474: $4.48 per $100 of payroll. All totals include the $160 expense constant. Assumes 1.0 experience mod. Your actual premium may vary by carrier.
Want to Know Exactly What Your Crew Will Cost?
Tell us your payroll and headcount. We will get you real numbers from multiple carriers — not estimates.
Get My Quote Call (904) 268-3106 Augustyniak Insurance Group · Jacksonville, FL · 2,250+ Google ReviewsIs the Painting Rate Higher or Lower Than Other Trades?
Painting falls in the middle. Plumbers and electricians pay less. Framers and masons pay more. Here is how Code 5474 compares to other Florida contractor trades:
| Trade | Code | Rate / $100 | $150K Payroll Annual Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Plumbing | 5183 | $2.74 | $4,270 |
| Electrical | 5190 | $2.97 | $4,615 |
| HVAC | 5537 | $3.00 | $4,660 |
| Landscaping | 0042 | $4.14 | $6,370 |
| Painting | 5474 | $4.48 | $6,880 |
| Masonry | 5022 | $5.22 | $7,990 |
| Carpentry / Framing | 5645 | $7.69 | $11,695 |
All figures include the $160 expense constant and assume 1.0 experience mod. For the full rate table with 25+ trades, see our Florida workers' comp insurance guide.
Why Would Your Premium Be Higher or Lower Than These Numbers?
The $4.48 rate is your starting point. Here is what moves it:
- Which carrier you use.
Every carrier starts from the same base rate but applies their own credits and debits. Two carriers quoting the same payroll can produce different premiums. This is the main reason to compare through an independent agent. - Your experience modification rate.
NCCI assigns a number based on your claims history. It starts at 1.0. A clean record pushes it below 1.0 — that is a discount on your premium. Multiple claims push it above 1.0 — that is a surcharge. Most small painting companies start at 1.0 because it takes a few years of premium history before NCCI calculates one. - Your subcontractors.
If you hire sub painters who do not carry their own coverage, their payroll gets added to your policy at audit. One uninsured sub can create a surprise bill of thousands. Always verify sub coverage before they start work. - Endorsements your GC requires.
General contractors often require a waiver of subrogation or additional insured endorsement. Some carriers include these free. Others charge for them. Ask before you bind. - How you pay.
Pay-as-you-go pulls premium each time you run payroll — no big down payment, smaller audit adjustments. Good for painting companies with seasonal crews.
Can You Exempt Yourself from Workers' Comp as a Painting Company Owner?
Yes. If you own at least 10% of a corporation or LLC, you can file for an exemption. It costs $50 and lasts two years.
But understand what it means: the exemption covers you the person, not your business.
If you have even one employee — even part-time, even for one job — you still need a policy for them. And if you bring a helper or day worker onto a site, they need to be covered too.
For the full rules on construction exemptions, subcontractor requirements, and what happens at audit, see our Florida contractors guide to workers' compensation.
How Do You Get Workers' Comp for Your Painting Company?
Augustyniak Insurance Group is an independent agency in Jacksonville. We compare workers' comp from Hartford, Travelers, Nationwide, AmTrust, Auto-Owners, and others.
We are not tied to one carrier, which means we find the best rate for your specific crew.
Tell us your payroll, your headcount, and what your people do. If you have an existing policy, send it over — we will check your class codes and tell you if you are overpaying.
We write workers' comp for painting contractors across Florida and Georgia. Most of our painting clients are in Jacksonville, Orange Park, St. Augustine, and Ponte Vedra, but we write statewide.
Ready to Find Out What Your Painting Crew Will Cost?
One call. Multiple carriers. We will tell you exactly what your policy costs — no surprises.
Get My Workers' Comp Quote Call (904) 268-3106 No obligation. Most quotes same day or next business day.
Susan Augustyniak, CIC
Vice President, Augustyniak Insurance Group
Certified Insurance Counselor with 25+ years in the industry. Susan leads the Augustyniak Insurance team in Jacksonville, helping Florida contractors find the right workers' compensation coverage at the right price. Originally published June 2017. Fully rewritten with 2026 NCCI rates April 2026.
What Does NCCI Class Code 5474 Cover?
This is the official NCCI classification for painting contractors in Florida.
Code 5474 includes:
- Interior and exterior painting of residential, commercial, and industrial buildings
- Wallpaper hanging
- Driving to and from job sites
- Painting of machinery and equipment
Code 5474 does not include:
- Ship hull painting
- Street or road painting
- Automobile painting
- Painting metal structures over 2 stories (towers, bridges, etc.)
If your employees do a mix of painting and other work, they may fall under different codes. Your office person would be Code 8810 (clerical) at a much lower rate.
Getting your codes right is one of the fastest ways to lower your premium — and it is something we check on every policy we write.
Painters Workers' Comp FAQ
How much does workers' comp cost for painters in Florida?
The 2026 rate is $4.48 per $100 of payroll. A two-person crew at $60,000 payroll pays about $2,848 a year. A mid-size crew at $150,000 payroll pays about $6,880. Every policy includes a $160 expense constant.
What class code do Florida painting contractors use?
NCCI Code 5474. It covers painters who work at customer job sites, including interior and exterior painting, wallpaper hanging, and driving to and from jobs. It does not cover ship painting, road painting, or auto painting.
Have painting rates gone down in Florida?
Yes. The rate was $12.63 per $100 in 2017 and is $4.48 in 2026 — more than a 64% decrease. Florida has had nine consecutive years of workers' comp rate reductions.
Can a painting company owner get a workers' comp exemption?
Yes. If you own at least 10% of a corporation or LLC, you can file for an exemption. It costs $50 and must be renewed every two years. The exemption covers you the person — not the business. If you have any employees, you still need a policy for them.
Why does my painting company need more than one class code?
Because your employees do different work. Painters in the field are Code 5474 at $4.48. An office person is Code 8810 at $0.105. Separating payroll by role means you pay the right rate for each person instead of the highest rate for everyone.
Rate data: 2026 NCCI Florida Workers' Compensation Manual Rates, effective January 1, 2026. Published by the National Council on Compensation Insurance (NCCI). Class Code 5474 rate: $4.48 per $100 of payroll.
Rate approval: Florida Office of Insurance Regulation (FLOIR), Final Order approving 6.9% statewide rate decrease, November 17, 2025. Commissioner Mike Yaworsky.
Expense constant: $160 per policy, filed as part of the NCCI Florida rate structure. Applied to every Florida workers' compensation policy regardless of premium size.
Historical rate (2017): NCCI Florida Manual Rate for Code 5474 as of July 2017: $12.63 per $100 of payroll.
Exemption rules: Florida Division of Workers' Compensation, §440.05 Florida Statutes. Construction exemptions require 10% ownership of a corporation or LLC, $50 filing fee, two-year renewal.
Construction coverage requirement: §440.02 Florida Statutes — one or more employees triggers the workers' compensation requirement for construction businesses.