A masonry contractor needs General Liability, Workers' Compensation (priced off NCCI class 5022, Masonry NOC), Commercial Auto, and Tools & Equipment, plus often a contractor's bond. Masonry carries scaffold-fall, dropped-material, and silica-dust (OSHA) exposure, so it is a higher-hazard trade — the filed 5022 loss cost ranges from about $1.95 to $13.16 per $100 of payroll in the states we track (real filed rates, table below).
Masonry — brick, block, and stone — pairs height work on scaffolding with heavy, repetitive material handling and cutting that generates respirable crystalline silica. This guide covers the coverage stack, the claims that drive cost, and the real per-state workers-comp loss costs filed for NCCI class 5022. Figures below are real filed rates as published by each state's rating bureau; your premium depends on payroll, experience mod, and operations. Consult a licensed agent for your quote.
What insurance does a masonry contractor need?
General Liability
Third-party property damage and injury — dropped brick or block damaging property, or a bystander injured near scaffolding. Completed-operations matters for structural masonry that could be blamed later.
Workers' Compensation (NCCI Class 5022)
Pays medical bills and lost wages for crew injuries — scaffold falls, crushed hands/feet from heavy units, back strains, and health claims tied to silica exposure. Class 5022 is a higher-hazard WC class; its filed loss cost varies widely by state (table below).
Commercial Auto
Covers trucks hauling heavy material plus the tools inside. Personal auto denies commercial-use claims.
Tools & Equipment · Bond · Umbrella
Inland marine for mixers, saws, and scaffolding; a surety bond for licensing (see surety bonds); and an umbrella for higher required limits on commercial jobs.
Matched to trade-contractor carriers in a few minutes.
A few quick questions. No phone calls. No contact info.
Filed workers-comp loss costs — NCCI class 5022, by state
The real driver of masonry WC cost, and data most sites do not publish: the actual filed workers-comp loss cost or administered rate for NCCI class 5022 (Masonry NOC), as filed with each state's rating bureau, per $100 of payroll. Your premium is roughly this rate × payroll (÷100) × the carrier's multiplier × your experience mod — see how insurance rates are set.
| State | Filed rate / loss cost (per $100 payroll) | Filing bureau | Effective |
|---|---|---|---|
| New Jersey | $13.16 | NJCRIB (administered rate) | 2026 |
| Minnesota | $9.91 | MWCIA (pure premium) | 2026 |
| Massachusetts | $5.56 | WCRIBMA (administered rate) | 2024 |
| Connecticut | $5.26 | NCCI (advisory loss cost) | 2026 |
| Missouri | $4.14 | NCCI (advisory loss cost) | 2026 |
| Alabama | $3.93 | NCCI (advisory loss cost) | 2026 |
| Oregon | $2.85 | NCCI (advisory pure premium) | 2026 |
| Michigan | $2.32 | CAOM (advisory pure premium) | 2025 |
| Indiana | $1.95 | ICRB (advisory loss cost) | 2025 |
Source: workers-comp rate filings captured from each state's rating bureau. "Advisory loss cost" is the bureau-published cost before a carrier applies its multiplier; "administered rate" (NJ, MA) is the manual rate. See our Insurance Rate Changes Tracker for the underlying filings. Rates per $100 of payroll; effective dates vary by filing.
Common masonry claims and risks
Masonry sub-niches
Brick masonry, block/CMU, stone masonry, restoration and tuckpointing, and chimney work. Restoration and high-elevation commercial work carry more exposure. This is distinct from concrete flatwork and from the broader contractor and general contractor pillars.
Frequently Asked Questions
What insurance does a masonry contractor need?
General liability, workers compensation (NCCI class 5022), commercial auto, and tools & equipment (inland marine), plus often a contractor's bond for licensing. Workers comp is usually the largest line given fall and material-handling exposure.
What is NCCI class 5022?
It is the workers-comp classification for masonry (not otherwise classified) — brick, block, and stone work. Your masonry WC premium is priced off the filed loss cost for this class in your state; it is a higher-hazard class.
Why does masonry workers-comp cost vary so much by state?
Because the 5022 loss cost is filed state by state. In the states we track it ranges from about $1.95 (Indiana) to $13.16 (New Jersey) per $100 of payroll — nearly a 7x spread — before a carrier's multiplier and your experience mod.
Is silica exposure an insurance issue for masons?
Yes. Cutting and grinding masonry generates respirable crystalline silica, which is an OSHA-regulated health hazard and a workers-comp exposure. Dust controls and compliance can also affect underwriting.
Do masons need tools and equipment insurance?
Yes if your equipment has meaningful value. Tools & equipment (inland marine) covers mixers, saws, and scaffolding in the truck, on the job, or in storage.
How is my masonry workers-comp premium calculated?
Roughly: the filed 5022 loss cost (per $100 of payroll) × your payroll ÷ 100 × the carrier's loss-cost multiplier × your experience modifier. See our guide on how insurance rates are set.
Quick glossary — masonry insurance terms
- NCCI Class 5022
- The workers-comp classification for masonry (not otherwise classified) — a higher-hazard construction class.
- Respirable crystalline silica
- Dust from cutting/grinding masonry; a health exposure regulated by OSHA and relevant to WC claims.
- Advisory loss cost
- The bureau-published cost per $100 of payroll before a carrier applies its multiplier.
- Tuckpointing
- Repairing mortar joints in existing masonry — a common restoration operation.