PA Workers Comp Calculator
Southeast Pennsylvania · County Guide · 2026
Workers Compensation Insurance in Philadelphia County, PA
Philadelphia County — coextensive with the City of Philadelphia — is Pennsylvania's most populous county and one of the nation's major business centers. Workers' comp is required for virtually all employers with one or more employees.
Philadelphia County has a population of approximately 1.5 million and is the most densely populated county in Pennsylvania.
Workers' Comp Landscape in Philadelphia County
Philadelphia County — coextensive with the City of Philadelphia — is Pennsylvania's most densely populated county and one of the nation's major economic centers, anchored by an enormous healthcare sector (Jefferson, Penn, Temple, CHOP), a large restaurant and hospitality industry, active construction, and a distribution and logistics base in the former industrial areas. The city's diverse employer mix creates one of the most active workers' comp markets in the Mid-Atlantic.
Regional Claim Trend
Philadelphia's healthcare sector — among the nation's largest concentrations of academic medical centers — generates substantial patient-handling, needlestick, and workplace violence injury claims. The restaurant and hospitality industry contributes burn and laceration claims. Construction in the rapidly developing neighborhoods adds fall-from-height claim volume.
PA Workers' Comp Requirements
- ✓ Required for: All Philadelphia County 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 County 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 County and links to industry-specific rate guides.
How Workers' Comp Rates Work in Philadelphia County
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 the most competitive workers' comp market in Pennsylvania. Shopping multiple carriers and brokers is essential.
Estimate Your Philadelphia County Workers' Comp Premium
Enter your class code, payroll, LCM, and EMR for an instant 2026 estimate.
Workers' Comp FAQ — Philadelphia County Employers
Philadelphia County employers should obtain quotes from at least 3–5 carriers, including specialty programs for their specific industry — the city's enormous insurance market generates more spread in pricing than almost anywhere else in Pennsylvania, meaning employers who accept the first quote they receive are most likely overpaying.
What workers' comp class codes apply to Philadelphia restaurant employers?
Restaurant and food service employees typically use NCCI code 9083 (restaurant) or 9082 (fast food). Kitchen staff carrying higher exposure codes and front-of-house staff in lower codes — accurate payroll separation between codes can reduce premium meaningfully for larger restaurant groups.
Are Philadelphia healthcare employers in competitive workers' comp markets?
Yes. Philadelphia's concentration of world-class academic medical centers has attracted every major healthcare workers' comp program in the country. Smaller healthcare employers benefit from this competition even when they can't self-insure like Penn Medicine or Jefferson Health.
How do Philadelphia construction employers get competitive workers' comp rates?
Philadelphia has one of Pennsylvania's most active construction markets, with multiple specialty contractors' programs competing for business. Employers with documented safety programs, formal subcontractor certificate-of-insurance tracking, and clean 3-year loss histories typically earn the most competitive rates.
Is SWIF available to Philadelphia employers?
Yes. SWIF is available statewide, including Philadelphia County. In practice, most Philadelphia employers can access highly competitive private market rates — but SWIF remains an option for employers with loss histories that make standard markets unavailable.
Related Pennsylvania Workers Compensation Insurance Guides
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