Workers' Comp Rates — Class 9014

Workers' Comp for Janitorial in Minnesota (2026)

Minnesota's TTD maximum is SAWW-indexed and resets each October 1 — now $1,536.84/week (108% of SAWW $1,423, effective 10/1/2025). The state uses the Minnesota Workers' Compensation Insurers Association (MWCIA) — not NCCI — for rate filings, though NCCI class codes are adopted. The failure-to-insure penalty of $1,000/employee/week is among the highest in the country.

Competitive market (MWCIA files rates)Statute: Minn. Stat. §176.001 et seq. (Minnesota Workers' Compensation Act); employer insurance at §176.181; benefit calculation at §176.101; penalty at §176.181 Subd. 3Effective: Current; 2026 rates filed by Minnesota Workers' Compensation Insurers Association (MWCIA); benefit maximum reset 10/1/2025Last reviewed: Q2 2026
State
Minnesota
Governing Statute
Minn. Stat. §176.001 et seq. (Minnesota Workers' Compensation Act); employer insurance at §176.181; benefit calculation at §176.101; penalty at §176.181 Subd. 3
NCCI Class Code 9014 — Janitorial Services by Contractors, No Window Cleaning Above Ground Level & Drivers (Minnesota uses MWCIA for rate filings, adopting NCCI class codes)
Enforcement Agency
Minnesota Department of Labor and Industry (DLI) — Workers' Compensation Division; 443 Lafayette Road N, St. Paul, MN 55155
Civil Penalty
Failure to insure: fine up to $1,000 per employee per week in which employer failed to provide coverage (Minn. Stat. §176.181 Subd. 3); employer personally liable for all compensation owed; DLI may seek court injunction; workers retain right to common-law action against uninsured employer without the employer pleading negligence defenses (§176.031)

How workers' comp works for janitorial in Minnesota

Minnesota is a competitive private-market state with one significant distinction: rate filings are made through the Minnesota Workers' Compensation Insurers Association (MWCIA), not NCCI directly — though Minnesota adopts NCCI class codes, including 9014. The DLI's Workers' Compensation Division administers claims through a network of offices statewide. Minnesota's TTD maximum is indexed to the statewide average weekly wage (SAWW) and resets each October 1 — unlike most states' July 1 reset. Effective October 1, 2024, Minnesota amended its statute to set the maximum at 108% of SAWW (up from 102%), increasing the benefit ceiling materially. Every employer with one or more employees must carry coverage; the failure-to-insure penalty of $1,000 per employee per week is among the most severe in the country.

Class code and rate (2026)

  • Code 9014 — Janitorial Services by Contractors, No Window Cleaning Above Ground Level & Drivers. Minnesota rates are filed through MWCIA; NCCI class codes are adopted. Indicative market rate for Minnesota 9014: approximately $2.50/$100 payroll. Confirm current rate via MWCIA (mwcia.org) or the MN DLI Workers' Compensation Division.
  • Code 9170 — Janitorial with above-ground window cleaning. Higher rate; payroll separation required.

Indemnity benefits (Minnesota 2026)

  • Max weekly TTD: $1,536.84 (effective 10/1/2025; = 108% of Minnesota SAWW of $1,423 effective 10/1/2025; per MN DLI SAWW announcement; Minn. Stat. §176.101 Subd. 1).
  • Min weekly TTD: $307.37 (effective 10/1/2025; = 20% of the maximum benefit of $1,536.84; per Minn. Stat. §176.101 Subd. 1 as amended 10/1/2021).
  • Waiting period: 3 calendar days; no compensation for first 3 calendar days. If disability is 10 calendar days or longer, compensation is paid from the first day (Minn. Stat. §176.121).
  • TTD rate: 66.67% of AWW, capped at $1,536.84/week (10/1/2025–9/30/2026).
  • Annual COLA adjustment: injuries on or after 10/1/2013 receive annual benefit adjustments capped at 3% per year on each anniversary of the injury (Minn. Stat. §176.645).
  • PTD: payable for life at TTD rate up to the maximum; no durational cap.

Coverage thresholds and exemptions

  • Mandatory from first employee; no employee-count threshold (Minn. Stat. §176.181).
  • Exempt: farmers exchanging work with neighboring farmers in the same community (§176.011(9a)); certain real estate agents paid solely by commission.
  • Executive officers may elect exclusion in writing (§176.041).
  • Sole proprietors and general partners are excluded by default; may voluntarily elect coverage.
  • Independent contractor test: Minnesota applies a multi-factor "economic reality" test; janitors working under a cleaning company's direction are almost always employees.

Failure-to-insure penalty

Under Minn. Stat. §176.181 Subd. 3, an employer who fails to carry required WC insurance is subject to a fine of up to $1,000 per employee per week during which coverage was absent — one of the steepest per-employee-per-week penalties in the country. An uninsured employer is also personally liable for all WC benefits owed to injured workers and cannot raise negligence defenses in any common-law action (§176.031). The DLI may additionally seek court injunctions and may assess interest on unpaid benefit amounts at 12% per year (§176.225(5)).

Cost drivers specific to janitorial in Minnesota

  • Top injuries (BLS NAICS 561720): slips/falls on icy surfaces (particularly relevant in Minnesota's long winter season), back/shoulder strains, chemical exposure — Minnesota's harsh winters amplify slip-and-fall exposure in parking lots and building entrances.
  • Minnesota's 108%-of-SAWW maximum ($1,536.84/week as of 10/1/2025) is high relative to most states in this batch; combined with the annual COLA adjustment for ongoing injuries, long-tail TTD claims can be expensive.
  • The MWCIA filing process differs from NCCI — carriers apply load factors to MWCIA-filed loss costs; confirm current 9014 rate directly with MWCIA or your carrier rather than relying on NCCI lookups.
  • Bid-math note: at ~$2.50/$100, load WC at approximately 2.5% of gross wages in Minnesota bids. The winter slip-and-fall exposure warrants strong slip-prevention protocols in bid-costing and loss-control programs.

Primary sources

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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.