Workers' Comp Rates — Class 9014

Workers' Comp for Janitorial in Kansas (2026)

Kansas has an unusual coverage trigger: mandatory only when gross annual payroll exceeds $20,000 — so micro-janitorial operations can technically operate uninsured. The 2026 NCCI filing brings a -1.0% rate decrease, and the July 1, 2025 TTD maximum increased to $869/week.

Competitive marketStatute: K.S.A. §44-501 et seq. (Kansas Workers Compensation Act); employer insurance at K.S.A. §44-532; benefit calculation at K.S.A. §44-510c; penalty at K.S.A. §44-532(e)Effective: Current; 2026 rates effective 1/1/2026 (NCCI Kansas filing, -1.0% overall voluntary market decrease); benefit rates reset 7/1/2025Last reviewed: Q2 2026
State
Kansas
Governing Statute
K.S.A. §44-501 et seq. (Kansas Workers Compensation Act); employer insurance at K.S.A. §44-532; benefit calculation at K.S.A. §44-510c; penalty at K.S.A. §44-532(e)
NCCI Class Code 9014 — Janitorial Services by Contractors, No Window Cleaning Above Ground Level & Drivers
Enforcement Agency
Kansas Department of Labor — Division of Workers Compensation (DWC); 401 SW Topeka Blvd, Topeka, KS 66603
Civil Penalty
Failure to insure: civil penalty of twice the annual WC premium the employer would have paid or $25,000, whichever is greater (K.S.A. §44-532(e)); employer personally liable for all compensation owed; KDOL may seek injunction; injured worker retains right to sue employer at common law with no negligence defenses

How workers' comp works for janitorial in Kansas

Kansas is an NCCI state with a competitive private insurance market administered by the Kansas Department of Labor — Division of Workers Compensation (DWC). Kansas has one of the more distinctive coverage triggers in the country: WC is mandatory only for non-agricultural employers whose gross annual payroll exceeds $20,000. In practice, virtually every commercial janitorial company with even one full-time worker exceeds this threshold — a $15/hr employee working 40 hours/week generates $31,200 in annual payroll — but micro-operations may technically fall under the threshold. The NCCI filed a -1.0% voluntary market decrease effective January 1, 2026, continuing a downward trend for Kansas rates.

Class code and rate (2026)

  • Code 9014 — Janitorial Services by Contractors, No Window Cleaning Above Ground Level & Drivers. NCCI Kansas 2026 filing: -1.0% voluntary market decrease effective 1/1/2026. Indicative market rate for Kansas 9014: approximately $2.00/$100 payroll. Confirm current class-specific rate via Kansas DOI or NCCI Class Lookup.
  • Code 9170 — Above-ground window cleaning. Separately rated; higher loss cost; payroll separation required.

Indemnity benefits (Kansas 2026)

  • Max weekly TTD/PTD/Death: $869 (effective 7/1/2025 through 6/30/2026; = 75% of Kansas SAWW of $1,158.67; per Evans-Dixon 2025–2026 KS Rate Chart and K.S.A. §44-510c).
  • Min weekly TTD: $25 (K.S.A. §44-510c(a)(1)).
  • Waiting period: 7 calendar days; first 7 days paid retroactively if disability exceeds 14 days (K.S.A. §44-510c).
  • TTD duration: paid until MMI; total PPD/TTD aggregate cap: $225,000 (whole body); functional impairment only cap: $100,000.
  • Maximum benefit weeks (PPD/body as a whole): 415 weeks at the applicable rate.

Coverage thresholds and exemptions

  • Mandatory for non-agricultural employers when gross annual payroll exceeds $20,000 (K.S.A. §44-505); employers at or below $20,000 payroll are exempt but may voluntarily elect coverage.
  • Sole proprietors and partners are excluded by default (may opt in); corporate officers are employees covered automatically unless they elect exclusion.
  • Agricultural employers are exempt regardless of payroll (§44-505(e)).
  • Independent contractor test: Kansas uses a multi-factor test; cleaning workers under a janitorial company's scheduling and supervision are almost always employees.

Failure-to-insure penalty

Under K.S.A. §44-532(e), an employer who fails to secure required WC coverage is subject to a civil penalty of twice the annual premium the employer should have paid or $25,000, whichever is greater. The KDOL may seek a court injunction prohibiting the employer from operating, and the injured worker retains the right to sue the employer at common law without the employer being able to assert the defenses of fellow-servant rule, assumption of risk, or contributory negligence. The employer is also personally liable for all compensation owed.

Cost drivers specific to janitorial in Kansas

  • Top injuries (BLS NAICS 561720): slips/falls, back/shoulder strains, chemical exposure — consistent with national janitorial profile; Kansas's large commercial building and government facility portfolios drive demand for contract cleaning services.
  • Kansas's $869/week TTD cap (7/1/2025–6/30/2026) is relatively low compared to Midwestern neighbors Iowa ($2,350) and Missouri ($1,280), limiting maximum claim severity.
  • The $20,000 payroll threshold means a startup janitorial company with one part-time worker earning $15,000/year may legally operate without WC coverage — but the risk of an uninsured catastrophic claim far outweighs the premium savings.
  • Bid-math note: at ~$2.00/$100, load WC at approximately 2.0% of gross wages in Kansas bids. Experience modification credibility threshold: ~$7,500 in expected losses per NCCI guidelines.

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This page is informational only. It does not constitute legal advice, tax advice, or a professional compliance determination. Laws vary by state and locality, change over time, and apply differently depending on your specific facts and circumstances. Before taking any action with legal or business consequences, consult a licensed attorney or CPA qualified in your jurisdiction.