Workers’ Comp for Painting Contractors

Workers’ Comp Insurance for Painting Contractors

Q: How much does workers' comp cost for painters?

It depends on your state, payroll, class code, typically 5474, and experience mod. Published national averages vary too widely across sources to trust as fact, a real quote against your actual payroll matters more.

Q: What class code do painters use for workers' comp?

Most painting work falls under NCCI code 5474, Painting NOC, which covers both interior and exterior work under a single classification.

CompShield is an independent workers’ comp agency, not tied to a single carrier, and we specialize in nothing but workers’ comp. Painters face real ladder and scaffold fall risk plus chemical and respiratory exposure that a generic contractor policy tends to underprice. We get your classification right for the work you actually do.

Roughly 80% of fall injuries treated in U.S. emergency rooms among painters and construction workers involve a ladder, and scaffold accidents cause an estimated 4,500 injuries and roughly 60 fatalities a year across construction trades. Add solvent and spray-coating exposure, and painting carries a distinct risk profile from other finish trades.

The Real Risk

Ladders and Chemical Exposure Drive Real Claims

Ladder falls are the dominant fall-injury mechanism for painters specifically, and scaffold work adds its own well-documented risk across construction generally. Spray painting, sanding, and solvent use generate dusts, mists, fumes, and vapors, OSHA sets exposure limits for common solvents like toluene and xylene, and requires respirators or ventilation controls where limits are exceeded.

Muscle strain from repetitive motion and lifting is also a recognized hazard in this trade, alongside the height-related risk from scaffolding and ladder work.

Roughly 80% of fall injuries among painters involve a ladder specifically, the single most common injury mechanism in this trade.

Sources: CDC MMWR, Occupational Ladder Fall Injuries, OSHA 1915.35, Painting

Classification

Interior and Exterior Work Share One Code

Painting contractors are commonly classified under NCCI Class Code 5474, “Painting NOC,” which covers both interior and exterior painting of residential and commercial structures, along with scaffolding setup/teardown and minor drywall patchwork incidental to the job. There’s no separate code splitting interior from exterior work, both fall under 5474.

One classification risk worth knowing: getting reclassified from painting into a broader remodeling code can roughly double your premium on the same payroll, according to industry broker commentary, another reason accurate scope documentation matters.

Sources: NCCI Class Code 5474 reference

Pricing

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

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

Payroll. Your total insurable payroll, correctly reported under code 5474.
Class code rate. Interior and exterior work share one code, but getting reclassified into a broader remodeling code can meaningfully raise your rate.
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 scope of work.

Get Your Real Number

Common Questions

Workers’ Comp for Painting Contractors, Answered

It depends on your state, payroll, class code (typically 5474), and experience mod. Published national averages vary too widely across sources to trust as fact, a real quote against your actual payroll matters more.

Most painting work falls under NCCI code 5474, “Painting NOC,” which covers both interior and exterior work under a single classification.

This depends 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.

Generally, a true 1099 subcontractor is expected to carry their own coverage. Without a valid certificate of insurance, their payments typically get reclassified as your own payroll at audit.

Their payment typically gets added to your own audited payroll, and depending on your state, you may carry direct liability for their injury on your job.

Your mod compares your claims history to similar painting contractors. A clean claims record can meaningfully lower your rate over time, while a serious ladder or scaffold fall claim can move it the other way.

Your carrier reconciles actual payroll against what was estimated when your policy started. Uncertified subcontractor payments and payroll growth mid-year are common sources of an adjustment.

Generally, yes, occupational exposure claims can be covered, though EPA’s RRP Rule separately requires lead-safe certified firms and trained workers when disturbing painted surfaces above a threshold size on pre-1978 buildings, a compliance requirement distinct from workers’ comp itself.

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

Painting Coverage, State by State

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

Texas
Florida
Pennsylvania
Georgia
Indiana
See All 28 Licensed States →

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