For concrete workers comp insurance, every state rates concrete payroll under published classifications, but the systems differ: the WCIRB's in California, where flatwork and slab pay divides at an hourly wage line, and NCCI's in Arizona and Nevada. California also requires C-8 concrete licensees to carry coverage even with no employees, which sets concrete apart from most trades there.
California. The CSLB licenses concrete work under C-8 Concrete, and C-8 sits on the short CSLB list of classes that need a policy even without employees: C-8, C-20, C-22, C-39 and C-61/D-49. The wage split, the catch-all concrete title and the audit are explained on California concrete workers comp insurance.
Arizona. When a general contractor directs concrete work that is part of its own business, Arizona Revised Statutes 23-902 may make it the employer of the concrete sub's crew for workers comp. Owners follow their own rules: a working LLC member or shareholder owning under half the business counts as an employee, and an owner of half or more counts as an employee only on written acceptance by endorsement, at the carrier's discretion. The owner rules, subs and audit records for Arizona are covered in Arizona concrete workers compensation.
Nevada. Nevada's industrial insurance law treats a principal contractor as the employer of the subs and independent contractors under it and their workers, and it rates no more than $102,452.16 of any one employee's pay on policies from January 1, 2027. The payroll limit, owner rules and audit records for Nevada are covered in Nevada concrete workers compensation.
California's WCIRB publishes a wage-split concrete pair, 5201 and 5205, divided at $36.00 an hour for policies from September 1, 2026. Each half has one part for flatwork such as driveways, sidewalks and curbs and another for slabs on the ground and slab foundations. A separate catch-all title, 5213, takes concrete construction the other titles don't describe.
Across the line in Arizona or Nevada, concrete is classified in NCCI's system instead. We don't reproduce those codes, and a California number has no standing there. In all three states the carrier decides from what the crew really does; we don't assign or confirm codes. Workers comp classification codes shows how the systems differ.
A finisher's injury is a workers comp matter. A homeowner's complaint about a cracked slab, concrete splatter on a neighbor's car or a mixer accident usually is not; those tend to land on general liability, auto or bond coverage instead. Gleason Insurance Brokers explains liability and other policies for California concrete and paving contractors.
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C-8 Concrete is one of a handful of license classes the CSLB requires to hold a policy with or without employees. Most other license classes keep the option of a no-employee exemption, which is set to expire January 1, 2028.
In California, the wage-split concrete pair has one numbered part for flatwork and another for slabs on the ground and slab foundations, and other structural concrete may fall under the catch-all title. In Arizona and Nevada, NCCI classifications apply. Either way, the carrier determines it from the work.
No. 5201, 5205 and 5213 are California WCIRB classifications. A pour in Nevada is classified under NCCI's system for industrial insurance, based on the work and the carrier's determination.
It depends on ownership. Arizona treats a working LLC member or shareholder with less than half the company as an employee, while an owner of half or more counts as an employee only on written acceptance by endorsement, at the carrier's discretion. Confirm your situation with the carrier.
A bargain concrete quote deserves a second look. California's wage split, forming and elevated work, and a catch-all title that may not fit flatwork or structural pours can each shift the rate. If the quote assumes a different wage line or leaves out the form crew, the difference often shows up at audit, so compare the classifications and payroll used. See checking a low workers comp quote.
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Reviewed by David Gleason, Principal, on .
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Concrete workers comp across California, Arizona and Nevada.
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