Some business owners don’t know what their class codes are—let alone whether they’re correct. But in workers comp, class codes are everything. One wrong code can increase your premium by tens of thousands of dollars a year. At The Dane Group, we’ve built our reputation on knowing these codes inside and out—and using that knowledge to cut client costs dramatically.
What Class Codes Are (and Why They Matter):
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Class codes are numerical identifiers used to categorize the type of work employees do.
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They determine the base rate for workers comp premiums.
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Each industry has different risks—and those risks come with vastly different rate multipliers.
Common Mistakes We Fix:
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Project Supervisors not doing construction work classified under labor codes instead of ‘executive supervisor.’
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Roofers given the highest-risk code—even for admin or sales roles.
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USL&H classified workers mislabeled as dock or seawall builders when they only perform boat lift servicing or installation.
Here’s What Business Owners in Florida Need to Know:
The following Florida work comp class codes are less expensive than 5645 (general carpentry – GC in charge of all operations on a jobsite) and can be used for self-performing contractors doing specific types of work:
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5022 – Masonry NOC / Stucco and Plastering: $5.85 per $100 in payroll
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5606 – Project Manager (no tool use): $0.86 per $100 in payroll
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5190 – Electric Work: $3.21 per $100 in payroll
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5213 – Concrete Flat Work (slabs, driveways, pavers): $4.25 per $100 in payroll
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5437 – Interior Carpentry (cabinets, trim work): $4.69 per $100 in payroll
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5445 – Metal Framing / Drywall / Punchout: $4.84 per $100 in payroll
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5474 – Interior & Exterior Painting: $5.01 per $100 in payroll
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5551 – All Roofing: $7.59 per $100 in payroll
If your company is self-performing any of this work, and your employees are coded incorrectly, you’re likely paying significantly more than necessary.
Why This Happens:
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Most agents just copy last year’s codes without asking about changes in operations.
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If you’re in a PEO, they often use bundled classifications that aren’t always accurate.
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Auditors will use payroll reports, but won’t question code integrity unless challenged.
Our Approach:
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Deep dive into your business operations
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Match actual job functions with correct codes
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Communicate with underwriters to approve and document changes
The Results:
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Thousands saved annually
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Fewer audit surprises
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Cleaner claims history and less risk of reclassification
