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DE
Bureau: DCRB

Delaware Workers' Compensation Insurance

Everything you need to know about workers' comp in Delaware: when it's required, who's exempt, average rates, and how to get coverage in 60 seconds.

Avg Rate
$1.39
per $100 payroll
Min Employees
1
to require coverage
Rating Bureau
DCRB
Private market

When is workers' comp required in Delaware?

Required for any employer with one or more employees.

Sole proprietor & partnership rules

Sole proprietors are exempt unless they elect coverage.

Owner / corporate officer exclusion

Officers/LLC members may be excluded with rejection form.

Delaware-specific notes

Delaware uses its own rating bureau (DCRB) with codes that differ from NCCI.

How much does workers' comp cost in Delaware?

The average workers' comp rate in Delaware is approximately $1.39 per $100 of payroll. Your actual rate depends on your industry class code, claims history, payroll size, and carrier.

Example: a Delaware business with $100,000 in payroll at the state average rate would pay approximately $1,390 per year. A clerical-only business (class code 8810) would pay much less; a roofing contractor (5551) would pay much more.

Want an exact rate for your business?

Class code rates vary widely. Get a free quote and we'll look up your exact Delaware rate for your industry.

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Delaware workers' comp by industry

Industry-specific rates, common class codes, and requirements for Delaware businesses:

Construction DE rates
9 common class codes in DE
Roofing DE rates
1 common class code in DE
Plumbing DE rates
3 common class codes in DE
Electrical DE rates
3 common class codes in DE
HVAC DE rates
2 common class codes in DE
Painting DE rates
3 common class codes in DE
Landscaping DE rates
3 common class codes in DE
Restaurants DE rates
4 common class codes in DE
Retail DE rates
5 common class codes in DE
Cleaning / Janitorial DE rates
3 common class codes in DE
Auto Repair DE rates
4 common class codes in DE
Trucking DE rates
5 common class codes in DE

Frequently asked — Delaware workers' comp

Do I need workers' comp if I have only one employee in Delaware?

Yes — Delaware requires workers' comp coverage starting with one employee.

Are 1099 contractors covered under my Delaware workers' comp policy?

Generally no — true independent contractors are not employees and not covered. However, Delaware (like most states) applies an "ABC test" or similar to determine if a 1099 worker is actually a misclassified employee. If they're misclassified, you may owe back premium and penalties. Many general contractors require their 1099 subs to carry their own workers' comp.

Can I get pay-as-you-go workers' comp in Delaware?

Yes — most major carriers offer pay-as-you-go workers' comp in Delaware, with premium based on actual payroll each pay period instead of a large upfront deposit.

What if I'm being audited by my Delaware workers' comp carrier?

Workers' comp audits often result in additional premium owed because of misclassified employees, missed payroll, or wrong class codes. We offer free audit reviews and can dispute incorrect classifications with your carrier. In many cases we save clients thousands.