Workers' Comp Rates — Class 9014

Workers' Comp for Janitorial in North Carolina (2026)

North Carolina uses the NCRB — not NCCI — for rate filings, but NCRB adopted the NCCI basic manual structure effective 1/1/2026 (Circular C-25-5); the 2026 maximum weekly benefit is $1,446 — up from $1,380 in 2025 — and resets annually per N.C.G.S. §97-29.

Competitive marketStatute: N.C.G.S. §97-1 et seq. (North Carolina Workers' Compensation Act); benefit rates at §97-29; employer coverage obligation at §97-93; failure-to-insure penalty at §97-94; coverage threshold at §97-2Effective: Current; 2026 maximum weekly benefit $1,446 (reset annually per N.C.G.S. §97-29(b)); NCRB files rates independently of NCCILast reviewed: Q2 2026
State
North Carolina
Governing Statute
N.C.G.S. §97-1 et seq. (North Carolina Workers' Compensation Act); benefit rates at §97-29; employer coverage obligation at §97-93; failure-to-insure penalty at §97-94; coverage threshold at §97-2
NCRB Class Code 9014 — Janitorial Services by Contractors, No Window Cleaning Above Ground Level & Drivers (North Carolina uses NCRB — NC Rate Bureau — NOT NCCI; NCRB adopts NCCI manual structure but files independently)
Enforcement Agency
North Carolina Industrial Commission (NCIC); 430 N. Salisbury Street, Raleigh, NC 27603; ic.nc.gov
Civil Penalty
Failure to insure: penalty of $1/employee/day of non-coverage (minimum $20, maximum $100/day) per N.C.G.S. §97-94; alternative penalty formula: (annual policy cost ÷ covered employees) × average employees during noncompliance period + 10%; NCIC may also pursue stop-work orders and court injunctions; employer personally liable for all WC benefits owed during uninsured period

How workers' comp works for janitorial in North Carolina

North Carolina uses the North Carolina Rate Bureau (NCRB) — not NCCI — for loss cost development and rate filings. NCRB adopts the NCCI basic manual's class code structure and phraseology (including code 9014 for janitorial contractors), but files its own independent rates with the NC Department of Insurance. The North Carolina Industrial Commission (NCIC) administers all WC claims. Employers with three or more employees must carry coverage — a lower threshold than some states but above the one-employee mandate common in the Northeast. North Carolina's 2026 maximum weekly benefit is $1,446, up 4.8% from $1,380 in 2025, and resets annually based on the state average weekly wage per N.C.G.S. §97-29(b). NCRB published Circular C-25-5 (July 2, 2025) confirming adoption of the NCCI manual revision for class 9014 effective January 1, 2026.

Class code and rate (2026)

  • Code 9014 (NCRB) — Janitorial Services by Contractors, No Window Cleaning Above Ground Level & Drivers. NCRB adopted the NCCI manual revision to code 9014 effective January 1, 2026 (NCRB Circular C-25-5). Indicative market rate: approximately $2.10–$2.40/$100 payroll. Confirm current NC-specific rate via NCRB (ncrb.org) or NC Department of Insurance rate filings — do not use NCCI rates for North Carolina.
  • Code 9170 — Window cleaning above ground level. Higher rate; separate payroll required.

Indemnity benefits (North Carolina 2026)

  • Max weekly TTD/PTD: $1,446 (effective 1/1/2026; per NCIC maximum weekly compensation rates table; N.C.G.S. §97-29(b) — resets annually).
  • Min weekly TTD: $30 (statutory; N.C.G.S. §97-29(a); pending S703 that would raise to $50 if enacted).
  • Compensation rate: 66.67% of average weekly wage, capped at $1,446/week (2026).
  • Waiting period: 7 calendar days; first 7 days paid retroactively if disability exceeds 21 days (N.C.G.S. §97-28).
  • TTD duration: up to 500 weeks for non-catastrophic injuries; lifetime for catastrophic injuries (N.C.G.S. §97-29(c)).
  • PPD scheduled injuries: body-part schedule per N.C.G.S. §97-31; rated at 66.67% of AWW × schedule weeks.

Coverage thresholds and exemptions

  • Mandatory for employers with 3 or more employees (full-time and part-time combined); N.C.G.S. §97-2(1).
  • Exemptions: farm laborers, domestic servants, certain casual employees, federal employees.
  • Sole proprietors and general partners may elect coverage voluntarily.
  • Independent contractor test: North Carolina uses a multi-factor "right to control" test; janitorial cleaning crews under a contractor's supervision are employees for WC purposes.

Failure-to-insure penalty

Under N.C.G.S. §97-94, an employer who willfully or negligently refuses to secure required coverage shall pay a penalty of $1 per employee per day of non-coverage (minimum $20/day, maximum $100/day). The NCIC also uses an alternative penalty formula: (annual policy cost ÷ number of covered employees) × average employees during the noncompliance period, plus 10% — typically resulting in a penalty equal to the estimated retroactive premium plus 10%. The NCIC may seek stop-work orders and court injunctions, and the employer is personally liable for all WC benefits owed to injured workers during the uninsured period.

Cost drivers specific to janitorial in North Carolina

  • Top injuries (BLS NAICS 561720): slips/falls (especially in large healthcare and university campus accounts), back/shoulder strains, chemical inhalation — North Carolina's concentration of major research universities, hospitals, and large manufacturing facilities drives significant commercial janitorial demand.
  • The NCRB rate environment is generally competitive; NC ranks as a moderate-cost state for janitorial WC relative to the Northeast and California.
  • North Carolina's $1,446/week maximum (2026) is moderate-to-high for the Southeast — higher than Georgia ($800) and Alabama ($1,172) but well below the Northeast.
  • Bid-math note: at ~$2.25/$100, load WC at approximately 2.25% of gross wages in North Carolina bids. The 3-employee threshold means small crews of 3 trigger mandatory coverage.

Primary sources

Sources

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.