As of mid-2026, Oregon workers compensation averages about 87 cents per $100 of payroll, after a 3.3 percent drop for policies effective on or after January 1, 2026, the 13th straight year of decreases. Your own price depends far more on the kind of work your staff do, your payroll, and your claims history than on any statewide average.
Who this is for: Oregon owners who want a realistic sense of what workers comp will cost and what moves the number.
The short version
- Price starts from payroll and work type. Premium is based on your payroll and the rating category that fits your work.
- The state average keeps falling. About 87 cents per $100 of payroll in 2026, down from 91 cents in 2025.
- Two add-ons ride along. A state premium assessment of 9.8 percent and a per-hour Workers' Benefit Fund charge of 1.8 cents.
- Your claims history moves the price. A rating factor based on past claims can raise or lower your premium.
- Where you buy matters. SAIF and about 450 private insurers set their own final rates, so quotes vary.
What drives your Oregon premium
Two businesses with the same payroll can pay very different prices. Here is what moves the number.
| Factor | Effect on price |
|---|---|
| Type of work | Roofing and framing cost far more per dollar of payroll than office work |
| Total payroll | Premium scales with payroll, so more staff means more premium |
| Claims history | A record of past claims can raise or lower the price |
| State add-ons | A 9.8 percent premium assessment and 1.8 cents per hour for the Workers' Benefit Fund |
| Insurer chosen | SAIF and private insurers each add their own markup on top of the state base rate |
Illustrative ranges
These are rough annual ranges for small Oregon businesses, not quotes. The higher the injury risk of the work, the higher the rate per dollar of payroll.
| Business type | Estimated annual workers comp |
|---|---|
| Office or professional services | $450 to $2,000 |
| Retail store | $1,000 to $4,400 |
| Restaurant or cafe | $2,000 to $8,500 |
| Cleaning or janitorial | $2,400 to $9,500 |
| Landscaper or small contractor | $2,800 to $12,000 |
| Roofing or framing crew | $9,000 and up |
A Eugene example
Illustrative, not a quote. A Eugene landscaping company with $300,000 of field payroll gets quotes from SAIF and two private insurers. Because landscaping carries a higher rate than office work, the base premium lands in the thousands, then the state add-ons and the company's claims record adjust it. By making sure office staff are not rated as field crew, and comparing insurers, the owner trims the final bill. See our workers comp for landscapers page.
Real questions Oregon owners ask
How much does workers comp cost in Oregon?
As of mid-2026 the average is about 87 cents per $100 of payroll, but your price depends on the kind of work, your payroll, your claims history, and the insurer. Higher-risk trades pay much more.
Why did my Oregon workers comp rate change this year?
Oregon's average base rate, what the state calculates before any insurer adds its own markup, fell about 3.3 percent for 2026, the 13th straight annual decrease. Your own change also reflects your payroll, your claims record, and the insurer's own markup.
What are the extra assessments on Oregon workers comp?
Two ride along: a state premium assessment of 9.8 percent for 2026, and a Workers' Benefit Fund charge of 1.8 cents per hour worked, which is split evenly between you and the worker.
What makes workers comp more expensive in Oregon?
Higher-risk work is the biggest driver. Roofing, framing, and similar trades cost far more per dollar of payroll than office work. A larger payroll and a record of claims also raise the price.
Can I lower my workers comp cost in Oregon?
Often yes. Making sure each worker is in the correct rating category, comparing SAIF against private insurers, and reducing claims over time through safety and return-to-work steps can all bring the price down.
Does where I buy the policy change the price in Oregon?
Yes. SAIF and about 450 private insurers each add their own markup on top of the state base rate (what the state calculates before markup), so the same business can get meaningfully different quotes. Comparing is worth it.
Is workers comp based on payroll in Oregon?
Yes. Premium is calculated from your payroll and the rating category for the work. That is why a small part-time payroll adds little, while a large field crew adds a lot.
Why Oregon owners choose Morrow
- We shop the right market for you. Oregon lets you choose: you can buy workers comp from SAIF, the state-chartered fund, or from any of the roughly 450 private insurers licensed here, and we compare them to find your best rate. If your work is hard to place and no insurer will take you, a guaranteed backstop run by the rating bureau NCCI still covers you.
- We catch pricing mistakes. Your price depends heavily on the category your work falls into for pricing (the class code). Put people in the wrong category and you overpay for years. We review your payroll and classifications before you buy.
- Proof of coverage, fast. Need a certificate (proof of coverage) for a general contractor or a landlord before Monday? We turn those around the same business day for most carriers.
- We help lower the score that drives your price. Insurers give you a score based on your past claims that raises or lowers your cost (the experience modification rate). We review it each year, flag errors, and connect you with return-to-work and safety resources that bring it down.
- Real people when a claim happens. When someone gets hurt, we stay involved through the life of the claim, not just at renewal.
Related Oregon guides
Every Oregon business is set up a little differently. These companion guides answer the same question for other situations, plus the national explainers behind the terms used here.
- Business insurance in Oregon (start here)
- Workers comp: the owner's overview
- I own an LLC: do I need workers comp?
- I'm a sole proprietor: do I need workers comp?
- I own a corporation (C-corp or S-corp): do I need it?
- We're a partnership: do we need workers comp?
- We're a nonprofit: do we need workers comp?
- My workers are 1099: do I still need it?
- Only part-time or seasonal staff: do I need it?
- I only employ family: do I need workers comp?
- Remote or out-of-state staff: do I need coverage?
- What happens if I don't carry workers comp?
- How do I get workers comp (even if turned down)?
- What insurance do I need for a contractor license?
- Workers compensation insurance, explained
- What workers comp costs (national guide)
- What workers comp costs (national guide)
- Glossary: workers comp class code
- Oregon landscaper workers comp
This guide is general information, not legal advice. Oregon rules and penalty amounts can change, so verify current requirements with the Oregon Department of Consumer and Business Services or a licensed advisor before you rely on them. Last updated: July 2026.