Is Workers' Compensation Insurance Profitable in 2026? Loss Ratios by State
Workers' Comp is consistently one of the most profitable commercial lines, with low loss ratios — a big reason class-code-driven WC pricing has stayed comparatively soft.
Source: NAIC 2023 Report on Profitability by Line by State (public regulator data). Loss ratio = incurred losses ÷ premiums earned; lower is more profitable for carriers.
Workers' Compensation profitability by state (2023)
| State | Loss ratio | Premiums earned | Underwriting profit |
|---|---|---|---|
| ND | 72.8% | $6.0M | -20.4% |
| SD | 65.3% | $194.1M | -4.2% |
| OR | 64.4% | $788.8M | -14.6% |
| NE | 60.5% | $405.3M | 2.5% |
| NV | 59.2% | $499.4M | 0.4% |
| ID | 57.4% | $518.5M | 7.9% |
| IL | 55.9% | $2.6B | 6.7% |
| IA | 55.5% | $711.3M | 6.0% |
| VT | 54.0% | $185.1M | 9.5% |
| MA | 53.7% | $1.4B | 8.9% |
| MO | 53.0% | $1.1B | 9.3% |
| MT | 52.8% | $308.9M | 5.4% |
| WI | 52.5% | $2.0B | 5.3% |
| KS | 50.5% | $441.5M | 12.7% |
| AR | 49.7% | $283.4M | 12.1% |
| FL | 49.4% | $3.5B | 8.5% |
| CT | 49.2% | $760.7M | 12.9% |
| RI | 48.5% | $235.0M | 7.0% |
| WV | 47.3% | $265.3M | 13.8% |
| NC | 46.8% | $1.5B | 17.2% |
| NY | 45.7% | $5.3B | 14.9% |
| HI | 45.7% | $348.0M | 14.8% |
| AK | 45.4% | $189.3M | 18.5% |
| IN | 44.7% | $871.7M | 22.1% |
| MN | 44.6% | $1.0B | 20.8% |
| SC | 44.1% | $898.3M | 19.2% |
| CO | 43.7% | $1.1B | 15.9% |
| GA | 43.5% | $1.9B | 18.5% |
| ME | 43.4% | $291.6M | 16.4% |
| NH | 42.6% | $237.8M | 17.2% |
| AL | 42.5% | $456.1M | 19.4% |
| PA | 42.3% | $2.6B | 23.2% |
| NJ | 41.9% | $2.7B | 16.3% |
| CA | 41.5% | $12.0B | 16.5% |
| DC | 41.4% | $166.6M | 17.1% |
| DE | 40.9% | $187.5M | 15.5% |
| MI | 40.8% | $1.1B | 21.8% |
| MS | 40.5% | $367.6M | 22.3% |
| TN | 40.1% | $860.2M | 23.4% |
| WY | 39.2% | $5.6M | 29.7% |
| OK | 38.2% | $661.1M | 24.5% |
| NM | 35.4% | $311.7M | 30.2% |
| TX | 35.0% | $2.7B | 16.1% |
| KY | 34.4% | $589.4M | 29.9% |
| VA | 32.8% | $1.0B | 34.1% |
| UT | 31.9% | $520.5M | 35.4% |
| WA | 31.6% | $61.9M | 39.8% |
| LA | 30.6% | $943.3M | 13.9% |
| AZ | 30.0% | $907.3M | 33.8% |
| MD | 28.6% | $952.1M | 31.2% |
| OH | -3.9% | $100.8M | 69.2% |
All 51 states/territories with 2023 NAIC data for this line, sorted by loss ratio (highest first). A high loss ratio means carriers pay out more in claims relative to premium — often a signal that rates are rising.
What this means for your business
Loss ratios and underwriting profit shape what carriers charge. Learn how Workers' Compensation coverage works in our Workers' Compensation guide, then compare real quotes for your business.
Compare Workers' Compensation Quotes →