Workers’ Comp for Masonry Contractors

Workers’ Comp Insurance for Masonry Contractors

Q: How much does workers' comp cost for a masonry contractor?

It depends on your state, payroll, class code, typically 5022, and experience mod. Masonry's real back-injury and fall risk shapes the rate, so a real quote against your actual operation is what matters.

Q: What safety measures lower workers' comp costs for masonry contractors?

Silica exposure controls, wet cutting, vacuum dust collection, respirators as required by OSHA's standard, and proper fall protection on scaffolds can help your safety record over time, alongside accurate classification and a clean experience mod.

CompShield is an independent workers’ comp agency, not tied to a single carrier, and we specialize in nothing but workers’ comp. Masonry work combines heavy, repetitive lifting with real respirable dust exposure, a combination that drives claims most generic contractor policies underprice. We classify your crew for the work they actually do.

Bricklayers have the highest rate of lost-worktime back injuries of any construction trade, and roughly 70% report ongoing back pain. Add scaffold and ladder falls, construction’s leading cause of death overall, and silica dust exposure from cutting and grinding, and masonry carries a genuinely distinct risk profile.

The Real Risk

Silica Dust Is a Federally Regulated Hazard

Cutting, grinding, sawing, and drilling brick, block, and concrete generates respirable crystalline silica, regulated under OSHA’s Construction Silica Standard with a permissible exposure limit of 50 micrograms per cubic meter. Masons perform over 1,000 forward-bending tasks per shift on average, driving the highest rate of lost-worktime back injuries of any construction trade.

Falls from scaffolds and ladders round out the picture, falls are the leading cause of construction deaths overall, and OSHA has specifically cited bricklayers for fall exposure up to 30 feet on residential jobs.

Bricklayers report the highest rate of lost-worktime back injuries of any construction trade, and about 70% report ongoing back pain.

Sources: OSHA Respirable Crystalline Silica Standard, CPWR/eLCOSH Masonry Musculoskeletal Injury Data

Classification

Masonry Has Its Own Dedicated Class Code

Masonry work, brick, brick veneer, concrete or cement block, stone, marble, and glass-block work on residential, commercial, or industrial structures, is commonly classified under NCCI Class Code 5022, “Masonry NOC.” This code excludes form-building and concrete pouring, which fall under their own classifications.

Real rates vary by state and carrier, we won’t quote a specific number until we’ve reviewed your actual operation and payroll.

Sources: NCCI Class Code 5022 reference

Pricing

How Much Does Workers’ Comp Cost for a Masonry Contractor?

Payroll ÷ 100 × Class Code Rate × Experience Mod = Premium

Payroll. Your total insurable payroll, correctly reported under code 5022.
Class code rate. Masonry’s real back-injury and fall risk shapes its rate, distinct from general contracting.
Uninsured subs. A sub without a valid certificate of insurance can have their pay added back to your payroll at audit.

We won’t publish a fake average, real numbers come from your specific payroll and state.

Get Your Real Number

Common Questions

Workers’ Comp for Masonry Contractors, Answered

It depends on your state, payroll, class code (typically 5022), and experience mod. Masonry’s real back-injury and fall risk shapes the rate, so a real quote against your actual operation is what matters.

Most masonry work, brick, block, stone, and similar work, falls under NCCI code 5022, “Masonry NOC.” Form-building and concrete pouring fall under separate classifications.

Generally, yes. Without a valid certificate of insurance, a sub’s payments are typically added to the hiring contractor’s own payroll at audit.

Your carrier reconciles payroll records, cash disbursements, and subcontractor certificates against each other. An uninsured or lapsed sub’s payments typically get reclassified as your own payroll, driving a retroactive adjustment.

Generally, yes, occupational illness from silica exposure can be covered under workers’ comp, though the specifics of how gradual-onset exposure claims are evaluated can differ from an acute, single-incident injury.

This depends heavily on your state. Some let a sole owner with no employees opt out; others still require coverage. It’s worth confirming your specific state’s rule.

Uncertified subcontractor payroll and payroll growth mid-year are two of the most common reasons for an audit increase in this trade.

Silica exposure controls (wet cutting, vacuum dust collection, respirators as required by OSHA’s standard) and proper fall protection on scaffolds can help your safety record over time, alongside accurate classification and a clean experience mod.

Yes. New businesses are typically quoted on estimated payroll for the first policy term, then trued up at audit once real payroll numbers are in.

Where We Cover This Trade

Masonry Coverage, State by State

We’re licensed in 28 states. Here’s where we’re actively writing workers’ comp for masonry contractors right now.

Texas
Florida
Pennsylvania
Georgia
Indiana
See All 28 Licensed States →

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