Getting workers compensation in Wyoming does not mean shopping for a policy. You open an account with the state fund at the Department of Workforce Services (DWS), because Wyoming sells the mandatory coverage only through the state. You register the business, tell the state the kind of work you do, and start reporting payroll, and coverage has to be in place before work begins if your industry is extra-hazardous. There is no carrier to compare and no application to be turned down, which is one advantage of the state-fund system: an eligible employer cannot be refused.
Who this is for: Wyoming owners hiring their first employee, or a business that needs to get set up with the state fund and show proof of coverage.
The short version
- You open a DWS account, not a private policy, because the state is the only seller of the mandatory coverage.
- Register the business, report the kind of work you do, and start reporting payroll to the state.
- If your work is extra-hazardous, coverage must be in place before work begins.
- You cannot be turned down; the state fund covers every eligible employer, so there is no assigned-risk pool, the last-resort coverage other states use for businesses no insurer will take.
- Add stop-gap employers liability separately, since the state fund does not defend lawsuits.
The steps to get covered
The path is short but has to be done in order. First, register the business with the state, which is part of the standard business registration all Wyoming employers complete. Second, tell DWS the kind of work you do, since your industry sets both whether coverage is required and the rate you pay. Third, if you are an out-of-state employer coming to work in Wyoming, submit the state's out-of-state questionnaire and any certificates so DWS can set up your account before your crews arrive. Fourth, start reporting payroll on the state's schedule and pay the premium the state bills. Once your account is active and in good standing, you can produce proof of coverage for a general contractor, a landlord, or a permit office.
| Step | What you do | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Register the business | Complete the state business registration | Opens the door to a DWS account |
| 2. Report your kind of work | Tell DWS your industry and duties | Sets whether coverage is required and your rate |
| 3. Out-of-state? File the questionnaire | Submit the out-of-state form and certificates | Gets your account ready before crews arrive |
| 4. Report payroll and pay | File payroll on schedule and pay the premium | Keeps your account current and your protection intact |
What about owners, and being turned down?
Two questions come up a lot. First, owners: opening the account covers your employees, but you as the owner are off by default, so if you want your own injuries paid you file a separate election with the state. Second, being refused: in a private-market state a risky business can struggle to find a carrier and end up in an assigned-risk pool. Wyoming has none of that, because the state fund cannot turn away an eligible employer, so even the highest-risk trades can get covered by simply opening an account. The catch is the reverse of rejection: you must get the account open before extra-hazardous work begins, not after, and you must keep it current to keep your legal protection.
A Cheyenne example
Illustrative, not a quote. A Cheyenne cleaning company is about to hire its first two crew members for commercial jobs, which is extra-hazardous work. The owner registers the business, tells DWS the kind of work, and opens the account before the crew's first shift, then reports their wages on the state's schedule. Because the state fund cannot refuse an eligible employer, there is no worry about being turned down. The owner also files an election to cover herself and adds stop-gap employers liability to the company's general liability policy. See our workers comp for cleaning and janitorial businesses page.
Real questions Wyoming owners ask
How do I get workers comp in Wyoming?
You open an account with the state fund at the Department of Workforce Services, known as DWS, rather than buying a private policy. You register the business, report your kind of work, and start reporting payroll to the state.
Can I buy it from a private insurance company?
No, not the mandatory coverage. Wyoming sells it only through DWS. There is no carrier to compare on price and no private policy that satisfies the requirement for covered work in Wyoming.
Can I be turned down for coverage in Wyoming?
No. The state fund covers every eligible employer, so even a high-risk trade cannot be refused. That is why Wyoming has no assigned-risk pool; there is no need for one when the state cannot decline you.
When does coverage have to be in place?
Before work begins, if your industry is extra-hazardous. You should open the account and have coverage active before your first employee starts, not after, to stay compliant and keep your legal protection.
What do I need to open the account?
You complete the standard business registration and tell DWS the kind of work you do. An out-of-state employer also files the state's out-of-state questionnaire and any certificates so the account is ready before crews arrive.
How do I show proof of coverage to a contractor?
Once your DWS account is active and in good standing, the state can confirm your status, and you can provide that proof to a general contractor, landlord, or permit office that asks for it.
Do I cover myself when I open the account?
Not automatically. Opening the account covers your employees. As the owner you are off by default and file a separate state election if you want the state fund to pay your own on-the-job injuries.
Why Wyoming owners choose Morrow
- We shop the right market for you. In Wyoming, mandatory workers compensation is sold only through the state, by the Department of Workforce Services (DWS), with no private carrier selling that mandatory coverage, so we help you open and run your state account correctly and place the stop-gap employers liability and other business coverages the state fund does not include.
- 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 Wyoming guides
Every Wyoming 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 Wyoming (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 much does workers comp cost?
- What insurance do I need for a contractor license?
- Workers compensation insurance, explained
- What workers comp costs (national guide)
- Hiring your first employee: what changes
- Workers comp vs employers liability
- Wyoming cleaning workers comp
This guide is general information, not legal advice. Wyoming rules and penalty amounts can change, so verify current requirements with Wyoming Department of Workforce Services (DWS), Workers' Compensation Division or a licensed advisor before you rely on them. Last updated: July 2026.