Author, Kevin Howard, Account Executive, Rancho Mesa Insurance Services, Inc.
There are 16 construction workers’ compensation class code pairs in California, each set up as dual wage classifications. The purpose of these “split” class codes allows the Workers’ Compensation Insurance Rating Bureau (WCIRB) and California insurers to better predict future risk and underwrite with more accuracy.
To illustrate the dual wage threshold, consider a seasoned laborer with years of safety training, exposure awareness, and familiarity with jobsite protocol. This employee is going to be less of a safety risk compared to an apprentice who is still learning his or her trade, the safety techniques and all of the skill associated with a trade. As one might imagine, statistics consistently show a much higher probability of an injury occurring with an apprentice versus a seasoned veteran or journeymen. So, having a dual wage threshold allows carriers to generate pricing based on the employees’ experience and likelihood of having an injury.
Exploring how this can directly impact rates and pricing, the 2021 roofing dual wage class codes of 5552 and 5553 is a great example.
Class code 5552 is defined as roofers who make less than $27 per hour. The average California worker’s compensation insurance base rate for this class code is $40 per $100 of payroll. Class code 5553 includes roofers who make $27 or more per hour. This class code’s average California workers’ compensation insurance base rate is $20 per $100 of payroll. In this example, the workers’ compensation premium base rate is half the cost for a more experienced employee over someone with less experience.
It is crucial for any roofing contractor to be mindful of this wage threshold data knowing that the delta in the 2022 recommended increase represents a staggering 61% gap between the two base rates.
Additionally, the WCIRB has continued to increase wage thresholds. This is to keep up with inflation of the US dollar, the increase in minimum wage and the demand for labor, among other factors.
Dual Wage Classification Thresholds by Year
Shown below are the wage thresholds for all dual wage classifications. For information about these classifications, see the California Workers' Compensation Uniform Statistical Reporting Plan—1995, effective September 1, 2021.
| Classifications | ||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Year | 5027 | 5140 | 5183 | 5185 | 5201 | 5403 | 5446 | 5467 | 5474 | 5484 | 5538 | 5552 | 5632 | 6218 | 6307 | 6315 |
| 5028 | 5190 | 5187 | 5186 | 5205 | 5432 | 5547 | 5470 | 5482 | 5485 | 5542 | 5553 | 5633 | 6620 | 6308 | 6316 | |
| 9/1/2022 | $32 | $34 | $31 | $32 | $32 | $39 | $38 | $36 | $31 | $36 | $29 | $29 | $39 | $39 | $39 | $39 |
| 9/1/2021 | $28 | $32 | $28 | $29 | $28 | $35 | $36 | $33 | $28 | $32 | $27 | $27 | $35 | $34 | $34 | $34 |
| 1/1/2021 | $28 | $32 | $28 | $29 | $28 | $35 | $36 | $33 | $28 | $32 | $27 | $27 | $35 | $34 | $34 | $34 |
| 1/1/2020 | $28 | $32 | $28 | $29 | $28 | $35 | $36 | $33 | $28 | $32 | $27 | $27 | $35 | $34 | $34 | $34 |
| 1/1/2019 | $27 | $32 | $26 | $27 | $25 | $32 | $34 | $32 | $26 | $29 | $27 | $25 | $32 | $31 | $31 | $31 |
| 1/1/2018 | $27 | $32 | $26 | $27 | $25 | $32 | $34 | $31 | $26 | $29 | $27 | $25 | $32 | $31 | $31 | $31 |
| 1/1/2017 | $27 | $30 | $26 | $27 | $24 | $30 | $33 | $31 | $24 | $27 | $27 | $23 | $30 | $30 | $30 | $30 |
© 2021 Workers' Compensation Insurance Rating Bureau of California. All Rights Reserved.
WCIRB’s 2022 RECOMMENDATION:
The Bureau is considering raising the hourly wage threshold for all 16 dual wage classification pairs with some codes seeing as much as a $5.00 increase. The average delta between the lower advisory rate and higher advisory rate is 48%.
Proposed Dual Wage Threshold Increases
| Dual Wage Classifications | Existing Threshold | Proposed Increase | Proposed Threshold | Low Wage Advisory Rate | High Wage Advisory Rate | % Difference From Low Wage Rate |
| 5027/5028 Masonry | $28 | $4 | $32 | $8.18 | $4.21 | -48.50% |
| 5190/5140 Electrical Wiring | $32 | $2 | $34 | $3.76 | $1.45 | -61.40% |
| 5183/5187 Plumbing | $28 | $3 | $31 | $5.31 | $2.36 | -55.60% |
| 5185/5186 Automatic Sprinkler | $29 | $3 | $32 | $4.57 | $1.00 | -57.30% |
| 5201/5205 Concrete Work | $28 | $4 | $32 | $6.64 | $1.95 | -36.30% |
| 5403/5432 Carpentry | $35 | $4 | $39 | $10.03 | $4.23 | -55.10% |
| 5446/5447 Wallboard Installation | $36 | $2 | $38 | $5.42 | $4.50 | -55.10% |
| 5467/5470 Glaziers | $33 | $3 | $36 | $7.62 | $2.65 | -59.30% |
| 5474/5482 Painting Waterproofing | $28 | $3 | $31 | $8.09 | $3.10 | -46.40% |
| 5484/5485 Plastering or Stucco | $32 | $4 | $36 | $9.98 | $4.34 | -37.40% |
| 5538/5542 Sheet Metal Work | $27 | $2 | $29 | $5.07 | $2.52 | -50.30% |
| 5552/5553 Roofing | $27 | $2 | $29 | $21.05 | $8.14 | -61.30% |
| 5632/5633 Steel Framing | $35 | $4 | $39 | $10.03 | $4.50 | -55.10% |
| 6218/6220 Grading/Land Leveling | $34 | $5 | $39 | $5.10 | $2.93 | -42.50% |
| 6307/6308 Sewer Construction | $34 | $5 | $39 | $6.98 | $2.84 | -59.30% |
| 6315/6316 Water/Gas Mains | $34 | $5 | $39 | $4.18 | $3.70 | -11.50% |
This recommendation, if approved by the insurance commissioner, would become effective September 1, 2022.
With the continuing labor shortage in the construction arena, employers have been doing everything possible to retain employees by offering richer benefits plans, pay increases and merit bonuses, when applicable. These recommended wage classification increases could potentially push employers to extend additional pay raises to employees in an effort to minimize workers’ compensation premiums.
It is best for contractors who utilize any of the 16 dual wage classification pairs to be aware of the potential increases and to do the math to see if it makes sense to consider raises prior to your 2022-2023 September 1st workers’ compensation renewal.
Rancho Mesa predicts that this info will become a major factor in payroll decisions based on overhead cost management and recommend this as a topic for discussion early so that our clients, prospects and listeners can prepare.
To discuss how the proposed dual wage threshold increases may affect your business, contact me at (619) 438-6874 or khoward@ranchomesa.com.