How Much is Workers Comp for HVAC Contractrors in Florida?

How Much Will Your HVAC Business Pay for Workers' Comp in Florida?

If you run an HVAC business in Florida, your crew is working in attics when it is 140 degrees up there, handling refrigerant, climbing ladders, and pulling ductwork through tight spaces.

Workers' comp is not optional. Florida requires it the moment you have one employee in construction.

The good news is it costs less than most HVAC contractors expect. Whether you are servicing units in Mandarin, installing ductwork on a Nocatee new build, or running emergency AC calls across the Southside in August, here is what you will actually pay.

What Does Workers' Comp Cost for a Small HVAC Crew?

You have 2 HVAC technicians, each earning $40,000 a year. You are the owner and you filed for an exemption, so your pay is not included.

• Payroll: $80,000
• Annual cost: $2,560
• Monthly: about $213

In Florida, an HVAC tech working a residential attic in July faces real injury risk. Heat exhaustion, falls from ladders, cuts from sheet metal. That $213 a month protects your crew and keeps a single injury from shutting your business down.

What If You Have a Bigger Crew with Office Staff?

You have 3 HVAC technicians earning $40,000 each and one office person earning $35,000. Your field crew and your office person are rated differently.

• 3 HVAC techs: $120,000 payroll at the HVAC rate ($3.0) = $3,600
• Office admin: $35,000 payroll at the clerical rate ($0.105) = $37 Code 8810 rate]
• Expense constant: $160 (flat charge on every Florida policy)
• Total: $3,797 per year

How Much Will You Pay at Different Payroll Levels?

2026 NCCI Florida rate for Code 5537: $3.0 per $100 of payroll. All totals include the $160 expense constant. Assumes 1.0 experience mod. Your actual premium may vary by carrier.

Is the HVAC Rate Higher or Lower Than Other Trades?

Where does HVAC land? Right in the middle of the Florida trades. Your rate is close to electricians and plumbers, but well below painters, masons, and framers. For a company running service calls across Duval and St. Johns counties, the cost is very manageable.

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 $3.0 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 claims history.
  NCCI assigns an experience mod based on your loss record. A clean record pushes it below 1.0 (discount). Multiple claims push it above 1.0 (surcharge). Most small HVAC companies start at 1.0.
• Your subcontractors.
  If you hire sub HVAC techs who do not carry their own coverage, their payroll gets added to your policy at audit. Always verify sub coverage before they start work.
• Endorsements.
  General contractors often require a waiver of subrogation or additional insured. Some carriers include these free. Others charge for them.
• How you pay.
  Pay-as-you-go pulls premium each time you run payroll. No big down payment, smaller audit adjustments. Most Jacksonville HVAC companies double their crews between May and October. Pay-as-you-go adjusts automatically so you are not overpaying in the slow months.

Can You Exempt Yourself from Workers' Comp as an HVAC Business 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, you still need a policy for them. And if you bring a helper or day worker onto a job site, they need to be covered too.

For the full rules, see our Florida contractors guide to workers' compensation.

How Do HVAC Contractors Get Workers' Comp in Jacksonville?

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 HVAC contractors across Florida and Georgia. Most of our clients are in Jacksonville, Orange Park, St. Augustine, and Ponte Vedra, but we write statewide.

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. Published April 2026.

What Does NCCI Class Code 5537 Cover?

This is the official NCCI classification for HVAC contractors in Florida.

Code 5537 includes:

• Installation, service, and repair of heating, ventilation, air conditioning, and refrigeration equipment
• Ductwork installation and repair
• Refrigerant handling
• Driving to and from job sites

Code 5537 does not include:

• Plumbing work (Code 5183)
• Electrical wiring (Code 5190)
• Sheet metal shop work (separate code)

If your HVAC techs also do plumbing or electrical work, those duties may fall under separate codes. Keeping job duties clearly defined helps you pay the right rate for each role.

HVAC Contractors Workers' Comp FAQ

How much does workers' comp cost for HVAC contractors in Florida?

The 2026 rate is $3.0 per $100 of payroll (Code 5537). A 2-person crew at $80,000 payroll pays about $2,560 a year. A mid-size operation at $150,000 payroll pays about $4,660. Every policy includes a $160 expense constant.

What class code do Florida HVAC companies use?

NCCI Code 5537. It covers HVAC technicians who install, service, and repair heating, ventilation, air conditioning, and refrigeration equipment, including ductwork and refrigerant handling.

Can a HVAC business 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.

What if my HVAC business has office staff?

Your office person may qualify for the clerical rate (Code 8810 at $0.105 per $100) instead of the HVAC rate.

But they must work in a physically separate area and perform exclusively clerical duties. If they ever go to a job site or share duties with the field crew, the auditor reclassifies them at the trade rate.

Do outside salespeople at an HVAC business get a different rate?

Potentially. An outside salesperson who exclusively sells and never goes on job sites may qualify for the outside sales code (8742) at a lower rate.

But if they ever help on a job, do a ride-along that involves labor, or pick up equipment, they get reclassified at the HVAC rate. The separation must be complete.