At its November 11, 2025 Classification and Rating Committee meeting, the WCIRB backed hourly threshold increases of $2 to $5 for most construction dual-wage pairs, later adopted for policies incepting September 1, 2026. Carpentry 5403/5432 and steel framing go from $41 to $46. Electrical goes from $36 to $40. Roofing from $31 to $33. Concrete, plumbing, and sprinkler each move $3.
The high-wage code is the cheaper workers’ compensation rate. If a carpenter is at $43 and the new line is $46, that payroll flips to the expensive side unless wages move with the threshold. Shops that ignore the table find it on the audit.
Pull a census now. If you are close to a line, decide whether to raise the wage or budget the higher rate. Do not wait for the September 1, 2026 renewal package to surprise you.
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: Rancho Mesa on the November 2025 dual-wage proposal; WCIRB dual-wage study excerpts.