Workers' Comp Rates — Class 9014

Workers' Comp for Janitorial in Louisiana (2026)

Louisiana's 2026 TTD maximum is $877/week (9/1/2025–8/31/2026), indexed to 75% of the state average weekly wage. The NCCI filed a -5.3% loss cost decrease effective May 1, 2026 — one of the larger reductions in this batch. Louisiana has no employee-count threshold; any employer with one or more employees must carry coverage.

Competitive marketStatute: La. R.S. 23:1021 et seq. (Louisiana Workers' Compensation Act); employer insurance at La. R.S. 23:1168; benefit calculation at La. R.S. 23:1221; penalty at La. R.S. 23:1171.2Effective: Current; 2026 NCCI loss cost filing at -5.3% overall decrease effective May 1, 2026; benefit rates reset 9/1/2025 through 8/31/2026Last reviewed: Q2 2026
State
Louisiana
Governing Statute
La. R.S. 23:1021 et seq. (Louisiana Workers' Compensation Act); employer insurance at La. R.S. 23:1168; benefit calculation at La. R.S. 23:1221; penalty at La. R.S. 23:1171.2
NCCI Class Code 9014 — Janitorial Services by Contractors, No Window Cleaning Above Ground Level & Drivers
Enforcement Agency
Louisiana Workforce Commission — Office of Workers' Compensation Administration (OWCA); 1001 N 23rd Street, Baton Rouge, LA 70802
Civil Penalty
Failure to insure: civil penalty of $250 per employee for first violation and $500 per employee for subsequent violations, up to $10,000 aggregate maximum (La. R.S. 23:1171.2); employer also personally liable for all compensation owed; OWCA may seek court injunction; willful fraud/false statement penalties up to $10,000 fine + up to 10 years imprisonment (La. R.S. 23:1208(C)(1)) if benefits claimed/obtained exceed $10,000

How workers' comp works for janitorial in Louisiana

Louisiana is an NCCI state with a competitive private insurance market administered by the Louisiana Workforce Commission's Office of Workers' Compensation Administration (OWCA). Louisiana requires coverage from the first employee — there is no minimum employee-count exemption. The OWCA sets benefit rates based on the statewide average weekly wage (SAWW) published annually by the Louisiana Workforce Commission; the current benefit year runs from September 1, 2025 through August 31, 2026, with a TTD maximum of $877/week. The NCCI filed a -5.3% overall loss cost decrease effective May 1, 2026 — one of the more favorable rate movements in this batch.

Class code and rate (2026)

  • Code 9014 — Janitorial Services by Contractors, No Window Cleaning Above Ground Level & Drivers. Louisiana is an NCCI loss-cost state. 2025 carrier data shows approximately $2.31/$100 payroll; the NCCI's -5.3% decrease effective 5/1/2026 reduces this to approximately $2.20/$100 for policies renewing on or after that date.
  • Code 9170 — Janitorial with above-ground window cleaning. Separately rated; higher loss cost.

Indemnity benefits (Louisiana 2026)

  • Max weekly TTD: $877 (effective 9/1/2025 through 8/31/2026; = 75% of Louisiana SAWW of $1,169; per Louisiana Workforce Commission; La. R.S. 23:1221(1)(b)).
  • Min weekly TTD: $234 (effective 9/1/2025 through 8/31/2026; = 20% of SAWW $1,169).
  • Waiting period: 7 calendar days; first 7 days paid retroactively if disability exceeds 14 days (La. R.S. 23:1224). First installment due within 14 days of employer's notice of injury.
  • TTD/SEB maximum duration: 520 weeks total from date of injury (Louisiana's combination of TTD + supplemental earnings benefits runs up to 520 weeks; La. R.S. 23:1221(3)(c)).
  • Compensation rate: 66.67% of AWW, capped at $877/week maximum for 2026 benefit year.

Coverage thresholds and exemptions

  • Mandatory for all employers with 1 or more employees (La. R.S. 23:1168); no employee-count threshold.
  • Exclusion available: bona fide president, VP, secretary, and treasurer of a corporation who each own at least 10% of corporate stock may elect exclusion by written agreement with the insurer (La. R.S. 23:1035.1).
  • Sole proprietors and partners are excluded by default but may elect coverage.
  • Independent contractor test: Louisiana applies a multi-factor test; cleaning workers under a janitorial company's control — tools, schedule, supervision — are almost universally employees.

Failure-to-insure penalty

Under La. R.S. 23:1171.2, an employer found operating without required WC coverage is subject to a civil penalty of $250 per employee for a first violation and $500 per employee for subsequent violations, capped at a $10,000 aggregate maximum. The employer is also personally liable for all WC benefits owed to injured workers. Louisiana's fraud statute (La. R.S. 23:1208) provides separate criminal penalties: if the fraudulent benefits obtained or claimed are $10,000 or more, the violator faces up to 10 years imprisonment and $10,000 in fines. The OWCA may seek a court injunction prohibiting the employer from operating.

Cost drivers specific to janitorial in Louisiana

  • Top injuries (BLS NAICS 561720): slips/falls on wet surfaces, back/shoulder strains, chemical exposure — Louisiana's large petrochemical complex, healthcare, and hospitality sectors generate substantial commercial cleaning demand with varied exposure profiles.
  • Louisiana's 520-week maximum indemnity benefit duration (TTD + SEB) is longer than most states (typically 350–450 weeks), creating higher long-tail exposure for severe injuries.
  • Louisiana allows no deductions for pre-existing conditions unless the employer can show the pre-existing condition was the independent cause of the current disability.
  • Bid-math note: at ~$2.20–$2.31/$100, load WC at approximately 2.2% of gross wages in Louisiana bids. The -5.3% NCCI rate decrease effective 5/1/2026 may benefit policies renewing mid-2026.

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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.