Workers' Comp Rates — Class 9014

Workers' Comp for Janitorial in Oregon (2026)

Oregon offers a unique competitive market with SAIF Corporation as a competing state fund — the 2026 pure premium rate of $0.87/$100 overall represents the 13th consecutive year of reductions (-46.5% since 2017), making Oregon one of the most cost-favorable states in the West for janitorial WC.

Competitive market with competitive state fund (SAIF Corporation)Statute: ORS 656.001 et seq. (Oregon Workers' Compensation Law); benefit rates at ORS 656.210; employer insurance obligation at ORS 656.017; failure-to-insure penalties at ORS 656.052 and ORS 656.735; civil penalties per ORS 656.735Effective: Current; 2026 rates effective 1/1/2026 (DCBS -3.3% pure premium decrease; 13th consecutive year of rate reductions); SAWW $1,417.06 effective 7/1/2025Last reviewed: Q2 2026
State
Oregon
Governing Statute
ORS 656.001 et seq. (Oregon Workers' Compensation Law); benefit rates at ORS 656.210; employer insurance obligation at ORS 656.017; failure-to-insure penalties at ORS 656.052 and ORS 656.735; civil penalties per ORS 656.735
Oregon uses NCCI-based class codes including Code 9014 — Janitorial Services by Contractors, No Window Cleaning Above Ground Level & Drivers (Oregon DCBS administers pure premium rates; SAIF Corporation is the competitive state fund)
Enforcement Agency
Oregon Department of Consumer and Business Services (DCBS) — Workers' Compensation Division (WCD); 350 Winter St NE, Salem, OR 97301; wcd.oregon.gov
Civil Penalty
Failure to insure (ORS 656.052 and ORS 656.735): civil penalty of up to $1,000 or twice the premium that would have been due for the noncompliance period, whichever is greater; additional civil penalty up to $250/day for each day violation continues after final order; DCBS Director issues noncomplying employer order — employer barred from operating on any job site until coverage is secured; employer personally liable for all WC benefits owed; no criminal charges under ORS 656.735 itself (civil penalties only) but criminal referral possible under broader ORS 656.990

How workers' comp works for janitorial in Oregon

Oregon operates a competitive market — private insurers and the SAIF Corporation (the competitive state fund, fully independent since 1980) both write WC coverage. Oregon's Department of Consumer and Business Services (DCBS) — Workers' Compensation Division administers the program under ORS 656. The DCBS sets pure premium rates (the base loss cost) for every class code; private carriers and SAIF then apply their own loss ratios and expense loads. Oregon has achieved 13 consecutive years of pure premium decreases: the 2026 rate of $0.87/$100 overall (loaded) is down 46.5% since 2017. Class code 9014 (janitorial) is above the overall average but participates in the same favorable trend. Every subject employer with one or more employees must carry coverage — there is no employee-count threshold.

Class code and rate (2026)

  • Code 9014 — Janitorial Services by Contractors, No Window Cleaning Above Ground Level & Drivers. Oregon DCBS sets pure premium rates for 9014; the 2026 overall pure premium of $0.87/$100 reflects the average across all classes (13th year of decreases; -3.3% overall). Indicative market rate for class 9014 specifically: approximately $2.20–$2.60/$100 payroll (janitorial is a higher-hazard classification than the cross-industry average). Confirm current class 9014 pure premium via SAIF at saif.com/agent/rate-information.html (2026 pure premium rates PDF).
  • Code 9170 — Above-ground window cleaning. Separately rated; significantly higher pure premium.

Indemnity benefits (Oregon 2025–2026)

  • Max weekly TTD: $1,884.69 (maximum statutory rate for injuries occurring 7/1/2023–6/30/2026; = 133% of SAWW $1,417.06; per Oregon WCD Bulletin 111 revised; ORS 656.210).
  • Min weekly TTD: ~$467.63 (= 33% of SAWW $1,417.06; per ORS 656.210 — minimum applies for injuries on/after 1/1/2018).
  • SAWW: $1,417.06 (effective 7/1/2025 through 6/30/2026; per WCD Bulletin 111 — +6.427% increase from $1,331.48).
  • Compensation rate: 66.67% of AWW, capped at 133% of SAWW maximum (ORS 656.210).
  • Waiting period: 3 calendar days; first 3 days compensated retroactively if disability exceeds 14 days (ORS 656.210(1)).
  • PPD: awards exceeding $6,000 paid at 4.35× the weekly TTD rate per WCD Bulletin 356; rated on AMA Guides impairment basis.
  • PTD: 66.67% of AWW for life; subject to annual COLA adjustments under ORS 656.205.

Coverage thresholds and exemptions

  • Mandatory for all subject employers with 1 or more employees; ORS 656.017 — no employee-count threshold.
  • Exclusions: sole proprietors (may elect coverage); family members of sole proprietors working in the business; certain domestic workers; casual employees not in the regular course of business (ORS 656.027).
  • SAIF vs. private market: employers may choose between SAIF Corporation and any licensed private carrier; SAIF must accept all employers (as state fund it is the carrier of last resort) but is also price-competitive in most segments.
  • Independent contractor test: Oregon applies a multi-factor test under ORS 670.600; janitorial cleaning workers under a contractor's supervision are invariably employees.

Failure-to-insure penalty

Under ORS 656.052 and ORS 656.735, the DCBS Director shall assess a civil penalty of up to $1,000 or twice the premium that would have been due for the noncompliance period, whichever is greater. If the violation continues after a final enforcement order, an additional civil penalty of up to $250 per day accrues. The Director may issue a noncomplying employer order barring the employer from operating on any job site until coverage is secured (ORS 656.052(2)). The employer is personally liable for all WC benefits owed during the uninsured period. Oregon's ORS 656.735 is a civil-only penalty statute; criminal sanctions may be pursued separately under ORS 656.990 for willful violations.

Cost drivers specific to janitorial in Oregon

  • Top injuries (BLS NAICS 561720): slips/falls, back/shoulder strains, chemical exposure — Oregon's tech campuses, healthcare facilities, and educational institutions in Portland, Eugene, and Bend drive substantial commercial janitorial demand.
  • Oregon's 13th consecutive rate decrease for 2026 reflects improving loss ratios and DCBS/SAIF's aggressive return-to-work programs — benefits for janitorial operators with strong safety cultures.
  • The $1,884.69/week TTD maximum (7/1/2023–6/30/2026) is one of the highest in this batch, creating meaningful long-tail exposure for totally disabled workers at or near the cap.
  • Bid-math note: at ~$2.40/$100, load WC at approximately 2.4% of gross wages in Oregon bids. SAIF's return-to-work incentive programs can meaningfully reduce EMRs for mid-size janitorial accounts.

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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.