Workers' Comp Rates — Class 9014

Workers' Comp for Janitorial in Maine (2026)

Maine's WCB dominates market placement through MEMIC (Maine Employers' Mutual Insurance Co.), the former state-fund now operating as the leading private carrier. The 2025–2026 maximum weekly TTD is $1,498.55 (125% of Maine SAWW of $1,198.84), effective 7/1/2025. NCCI filed a -4.8% decrease effective 4/1/2026.

Competitive market (MEMIC dominant carrier)Statute: 39-A M.R.S.A. §101 et seq. (Maine Workers' Compensation Act of 1992); employer insurance at 39-A M.R.S.A. §401–403; benefit calculation at §212; penalty at §324Effective: Current; 2026 NCCI Maine filing at -4.8% loss cost decrease effective 4/1/2026; benefit rates reset 7/1/2025Last reviewed: Q2 2026
State
Maine
Governing Statute
39-A M.R.S.A. §101 et seq. (Maine Workers' Compensation Act of 1992); employer insurance at 39-A M.R.S.A. §401–403; benefit calculation at §212; penalty at §324
NCCI Class Code 9014 — Janitorial Services by Contractors, No Window Cleaning Above Ground Level & Drivers
Enforcement Agency
Workers' Compensation Board of Maine (WCB); 27 State House Station, Augusta, ME 04333
Civil Penalty
Failure to insure: civil penalty of up to $10,000 OR up to 108% of the premium that should have been paid (calculated using MEMIC's standard discounted premium), whichever is greater; per 39-A M.R.S.A. §324(B); penalty payable to Employment Rehabilitation Fund; WCB may additionally seek stop-work order and court injunction

How workers' comp works for janitorial in Maine

Maine is an NCCI state with a competitive market where Maine Employers' Mutual Insurance Company (MEMIC) — originally the state fund, now Maine's leading private WC carrier — dominates placement. The Workers' Compensation Board of Maine (WCB) administers claims and enforcement. Maine requires coverage from the first employee, with no minimum threshold. The state SAWW of $1,198.84 (effective 7/1/2025) produces a maximum weekly TTD of $1,498.55 (125% of SAWW), one of the higher maximums in this batch. Maine's legislature amended the WC Act via LD 756 to set the maximum at 125% of SAWW — up from the prior 100% — significantly increasing the benefit ceiling. The NCCI filed a -4.8% loss cost decrease effective April 1, 2026.

Class code and rate (2026)

  • Code 9014 — Janitorial Services by Contractors, No Window Cleaning Above Ground Level & Drivers. Maine is an NCCI loss-cost state; MEMIC and other carriers apply their own load factors. 2025 carrier data shows approximately $2.09/$100 payroll; the NCCI's -4.8% decrease effective 4/1/2026 produces an indicative 2026 rate of approximately $2.00/$100.
  • Code 9170 — Janitorial with above-ground window cleaning. Higher rate; payroll separation required.

Indemnity benefits (Maine 2026)

  • Max weekly TTD: $1,498.55 (effective 7/1/2025 through 6/30/2026; = 125% of Maine SAWW of $1,198.84; per Maine WCB SAWW document and Maine WCB website; 39-A M.R.S.A. §212 as amended by LD 756).
  • Min weekly TTD: approximately $240 (≈20% of maximum; per 39-A M.R.S.A. §212).
  • Waiting period: 3 calendar days; first 3 days paid retroactively if disability exceeds 14 days (39-A M.R.S.A. §212(3)).
  • Benefit rate: 80% of after-tax (spendable) average weekly earnings, capped at $1,498.55/week; this is the same methodology as Iowa.
  • TTD duration: maximum 260 weeks for most injuries (five years); certain catastrophic injuries may continue beyond 260 weeks.
  • Impairment awards: calculated using Maine SAWW; multiplier (1.04732 as of 7/1/2025) applied for annual adjustments on pre-1993 injuries.

Coverage thresholds and exemptions

  • Mandatory from first employee; no employee-count minimum (39-A M.R.S.A. §401).
  • Domestic workers employed in a private home are exempt (if the employer has fewer than 3 domestic workers); sole proprietors may voluntarily elect coverage.
  • As of October 25, 2023, independent contractors may file an Independent Contractor Statement (Form WCB-267) to establish IC status; the WCB no longer pre-approves Predetermination Applications.
  • General contractors are potentially liable for injuries to uninsured subcontractor employees (statutory employer doctrine under 39-A M.R.S.A. §104).

Failure-to-insure penalty

Under 39-A M.R.S.A. §324(B), an employer who fails to secure required WC coverage is subject to a civil penalty of up to $10,000 or up to 108% of the premium that should have been paid (calculated using MEMIC's standard discounted premium for the uninsured period), whichever is greater. This "premium-recoupment" formula can produce penalties far exceeding $10,000 for larger employers with extended uninsured periods. The penalty is payable to the Employment Rehabilitation Fund. The WCB may additionally seek a stop-work order and court injunction.

Cost drivers specific to janitorial in Maine

  • Top injuries (BLS NAICS 561720): slips/falls, back/shoulder strains, chemical exposure — Maine's healthcare sector (MaineHealth, MaineGeneral) and hospitality industry generate significant commercial cleaning demand.
  • Maine's 125%-of-SAWW maximum ($1,498.55/week) is among the higher caps in this batch, producing elevated claim severity for serious TTD cases.
  • MEMIC's dominance in the market means most Maine janitorial firms obtain coverage from a single insurer; alternate carrier competition exists but MEMIC's pricing is often competitive.
  • Bid-math note: at ~$2.00–$2.09/$100, load WC at approximately 2.0% of gross wages in Maine bids. The -4.8% NCCI rate reduction effective 4/1/2026 benefits policies renewing after that date.

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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.