California construction workers’ compensation uses dual-wage class codes: the same trade, two rates, split by an hourly threshold. Pay at or above the line and you generally get the lower-rated “high-wage” code. Pay under it and you take the higher rate. The WCIRB’s last full review of those lines produced new thresholds for policies beginning September 1, 2024.
Examples on that 2024–25 scale: carpentry 5403/5432 at $41, electrical 5190/5140 at $36, plumbing 5183/5187 at $32, roofing 5552/5553 at $31, concrete 5201/5205 at $33. The numbers move when wages move. A helper you thought was “high wage” last year can slip under the new line if you do not check.
This is the part of a workers’ compensation audit that surprises shops. Keep a wage log by employee and by class. If someone splits time between trades, split the payroll. That is cheaper than explaining it after the auditor leaves.
If this is on your renewal, call the office at (619) 420-8600 or start a quote. We will tell you what the market will actually write.
Sources: WCIRB dual-wage threshold review; ICW Group 2025 dual-wage chart.