PA Workers Comp Calculator
Southeast Pennsylvania · City Guide · 2026
Workers Compensation Insurance in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Philadelphia is Pennsylvania's largest city and one of the nation's major business centers. Workers' comp is mandatory for virtually all Philadelphia employers with one or more employees — from Center City offices to South Philly warehouses and Fishtown restaurants.
Philadelphia has a population of 1.5 million and is home to major employers in healthcare (Jefferson, Penn Medicine, CHOP), education, hospitality, and a growing tech sector.
Workers' Comp Landscape in Philadelphia
Philadelphia's economy is anchored by the world-class healthcare corridor (Jefferson, Penn Medicine, CHOP, Temple Health) alongside a growing life sciences cluster in University City. The city's dense restaurant and hospitality sector, active construction pipeline, and expanding logistics hub along I-95 create a broad spectrum of workers' comp exposures — from low-rate clerical to high-rate roofing and structural work.
Regional Claim Trend
Philadelphia reports above-average soft-tissue and cumulative-trauma claims in healthcare and warehousing, driven by high patient-handling and repetitive-lifting workloads. Slip-and-fall claims are elevated in food service due to the city's high restaurant density.
PA Workers' Comp Requirements
- ✓ Required for: All Philadelphia employers with 1 or more employees
- ✓ Covers: Medical expenses, wage replacement (2/3 AWW), permanent impairment, death benefits
- ✓ Penalty for non-compliance: Criminal misdemeanor + civil penalties up to $2,500/day
- ✓ Insurer of last resort: SWIF (State Workers' Insurance Fund) — cannot deny coverage
Top Industries in Philadelphia and Workers' Comp Rates
Workers' comp rates are set statewide by the PCRB based on class code — the same loss costs apply throughout Pennsylvania. Below are the most common industries in Philadelphia and links to industry-specific rate guides.
How Workers' Comp Rates Work in Philadelphia
Pennsylvania workers' compensation premiums are calculated using the same statewide formula regardless of where your business is located:
× 1.0218 (PA Act 57 assessment)
- PCRB Loss Cost — the actuarial base rate per $100 payroll, set by the PA Compensation Rating Bureau based on statewide claims history for your class code.
- LCM (Loss Cost Multiplier) — each carrier files their own multiplier (typically 1.20–1.80). Shopping carriers is the fastest way to reduce your premium.
- EMR (Experience Modifier) — your individual loss history score. Businesses with few claims have EMRs below 1.00; businesses with high claims pay more.
Philadelphia has a highly competitive workers' comp market with dozens of licensed PA carriers and brokers active in the city. Shopping multiple carriers is especially worthwhile for hospitality, construction, and healthcare employers.
Estimate Your Philadelphia Workers' Comp Premium
Enter your class code, payroll, LCM, and EMR for an instant 2026 estimate.
Workers' Comp FAQ — Philadelphia Employers
Philadelphia employers with five or more years of claims history should formally request an experience modification review — the city's competitive market means carriers often match or beat SWIF rates for businesses with clean loss runs.
Is workers' comp required for my Philadelphia small business?
Yes. Pennsylvania law requires workers' compensation coverage for virtually all employers with one or more employees, including part-time workers. There is no small-business exemption in Philadelphia or elsewhere in PA.
How do Philadelphia workers' comp rates compare to the rest of PA?
Philadelphia employers pay the same PCRB-filed base loss costs as all PA employers, but Philadelphia's urban density, higher wage levels, and litigation environment can push experience modifiers and carrier loadings above statewide averages for high-claim industries like construction and hospitality.
Can a Philadelphia restaurant owner elect to cover themselves under workers' comp?
Yes. Sole proprietors and partners are excluded from mandatory coverage but may elect to include themselves on the policy. This is often worth doing to access medical and wage-replacement benefits if injured on the job.
What happens if a Philadelphia employer is uninsured for workers' comp?
Operating without workers' comp in Philadelphia or anywhere in PA is a criminal offense. The Bureau of Workers' Compensation can issue stop-work orders, assess daily civil penalties, and refer the matter for criminal prosecution.
Related Pennsylvania Workers Compensation Insurance Guides
Get Workers' Comp Coverage in Philadelphia
Connect with a licensed Pennsylvania agent. Free quotes, no obligation.