Workers' comp class code lookup for Georgia contractors — 2026 rates by trade
Every common contractor NCCI class code in Georgia, with 2026 rate ranges and which carriers actually write it.
Updated June 2026 · Reviewed by Winfield Lee, Bettr Coverage (Statesboro, GA)
Short answer
The most common Georgia contractor class codes in 2026 are
5403 (Carpentry NOC),
5437 (Carpentry interior trim),
5645 (Residential carpentry),
5651 (Residential carpentry detached dwellings),
5547 (Residential roofing),
5403 (Commercial roofing),
5183 (Plumbing),
5190 (Electrical),
5188 (HVAC),
6217 (Excavation),
5474 (Painting), and
5022 (Masonry). 2026 GA rates run from $1.80 per $100 payroll (5183 plumbing) to over $20 (5547 residential roofing). Class code accuracy is the single biggest controllable lever on workers' comp premium.
Carpentry codes
| Class | Description | 2026 GA rate / $100 | Active carriers |
|---|
| 5403 | Carpentry NOC — commercial framing, general construction carpentry not otherwise classified | $7.50 – $13.00 | Builders Mutual, AmTrust, FCCI, ICW, Auto-Owners |
| 5437 | Carpentry — interior trim, cabinets installed by carpenters | $4.20 – $7.00 | Builders Mutual, FCCI, AmTrust |
| 5645 | Carpentry — residential dwelling construction | $10.00 – $17.50 | Builders Mutual, ICW, Markel (E&S backup) |
| 5651 | Carpentry — detached one or two family dwellings, all operations | $9.50 – $16.00 | Builders Mutual, ICW, Markel |
Common mistake: putting all carpentry payroll in 5645 when commercial work belongs in 5403. On a $300K payroll mixed evenly, the split saves $4,000-$7,000 per year.
Roofing codes
| Class | Description | 2026 GA rate / $100 | Active carriers |
|---|
| 5547 | Roofing — residential, sloped, shingle/shake/tile | $18.00 – $30.00 | Builders Mutual, Markel, AmTrust (selective) |
| 5403 | Roofing — commercial flat or low-slope | $10.50 – $18.00 | Builders Mutual, ICW, AmTrust |
| 5402 | Hot tar / asphalt roofing | $15.00 – $25.00 | Builders Mutual, Markel, surplus lines |
| 5535 | Sheet metal work — roofing | $8.50 – $14.00 | Builders Mutual, FCCI, AmTrust |
Plumbing & mechanical
| Class | Description | 2026 GA rate / $100 | Active carriers |
|---|
| 5183 | Plumbing NOC — installation/service | $2.50 – $4.20 | Travelers, Hartford, Builders Mutual, Auto-Owners, FCCI |
| 5188 | HVAC / heating, AC, refrigeration installation | $3.10 – $5.20 | Auto-Owners, Travelers, Builders Mutual, AmTrust |
| 5190 | Electrical wiring within buildings | $2.80 – $4.60 | Travelers, Hartford, Auto-Owners, Cincinnati |
| 5191 | Office machine installation, service | $0.85 – $1.40 | Most standard markets |
Excavation, grading, paving
| Class | Description | 2026 GA rate / $100 | Active carriers |
|---|
| 6217 | Excavation & drivers — general | $5.80 – $9.40 | Builders Mutual, ICW, AmTrust, FCCI |
| 6306 | Sewer construction | $7.40 – $12.00 | Builders Mutual, ICW |
| 5506 | Street/road paving — asphalt | $6.80 – $11.00 | Builders Mutual, ICW, FCCI |
| 6229 | Irrigation installation | $3.40 – $5.80 | FCCI, AmTrust, Auto-Owners |
Painting
| Class | Description | 2026 GA rate / $100 | Active carriers |
|---|
| 5474 | Painting NOC | $6.20 – $10.50 | Builders Mutual, AmTrust, FCCI |
| 5491 | Painting / wallpapering — interior only | $5.40 – $9.00 | Builders Mutual, FCCI |
Tile, flooring, drywall
| Class | Description | 2026 GA rate / $100 | Active carriers |
|---|
| 5478 | Floor covering installation — carpet, vinyl, hardwood | $4.50 – $7.40 | FCCI, AmTrust, Builders Mutual |
| 5480 | Tile / mosaic / terrazzo work | $5.20 – $8.60 | FCCI, AmTrust, Builders Mutual |
| 5445 | Wallboard, drywall installation | $5.80 – $9.40 | Builders Mutual, FCCI, AmTrust |
Concrete, masonry, steel
| Class | Description | 2026 GA rate / $100 | Active carriers |
|---|
| 5022 | Masonry NOC | $8.40 – $13.50 | Builders Mutual, ICW, AmTrust |
| 5213 | Concrete construction — buildings or structures | $7.20 – $11.80 | Builders Mutual, ICW, FCCI |
| 5222 | Concrete construction NOC | $7.60 – $12.40 | Builders Mutual, ICW, FCCI |
| 5040 | Iron/steel erection — frame structures | $11.00 – $17.50 | Builders Mutual, Markel, surplus lines |
| 5057 | Iron/steel erection NOC | $9.50 – $15.00 | Builders Mutual, ICW, Markel |
How a single wrong class code costs you 15-30%
Three common misclassifications we see on Georgia contractor accounts:
- 5645 instead of 5403 on commercial carpentry. A small GC doing both residential and commercial framing is often classed entirely as 5645. The 5645 rate is 30-40% higher than 5403. Splitting the payroll based on actual project records (which the contractor can pull from QuickBooks / job costing software) saves the overpayment.
- 5547 instead of 5403 on commercial roofing. A roofer doing predominantly commercial work but classed entirely as 5547 (residential) overpays by 60-80%. Audit-back risk is real, but a clean dec page and supporting project records protect you.
- No 8810 split for office staff. A construction company with 3 office staff (admin, bookkeeper, project coordinator) often has all employees lumped into 5403 because the policy was set up that way. Splitting those 3 employees into 8810 ($0.20 per $100) instead of 5403 ($9-12) saves $5,000-$10,000 per year on a small payroll.
How to verify your class code is right
- Pull your most recent workers comp declarations page. It lists the class codes assigned to your policy and the payroll allocated to each.
- Compare against the NCCI Scopes Manual definitions. Your agent can pull the relevant code descriptions.
- Match your actual operations to the descriptions. A code that mostly fits but excludes something you do is wrong.
- Check the payroll split. Are office staff, drivers, and field crews allocated correctly?
- Run an audit history review. If past audits added or reclassified codes, those changes should be visible on subsequent dec pages.
- Ask your agent for a free class code verification — a 15-30 minute review that often surfaces $5K-$20K in annual savings on contractor accounts.
Free Georgia class code verification — 30-minute review →