Yes. If your staff are based in Wyoming doing extra-hazardous work, you cover them through the state fund at the Department of Workforce Services (DWS) whether they are at a job site or working from home, and out-of-state work follows its own rules, covered below. Wyoming coverage generally follows a Wyoming-based worker who travels out of state for a short job, and the state keeps arrangements with several other states so a temporary crossing does not leave a worker uncovered. An out-of-state employer that brings crews into Wyoming, or hires a Wyoming resident, has to register with DWS before that work begins, because a home-state private policy does not satisfy Wyoming's requirement.
Who this is for: Wyoming owners with remote staff, traveling crews, or workers who live in one state and work in another.
The short version
- Employees based in Wyoming doing covered work are covered here, whether they are on a job site or working from home.
- Wyoming coverage generally follows a Wyoming worker on a short, temporary job in another state.
- An out-of-state employer doing work in Wyoming, or hiring a Wyoming resident, must register with DWS before work begins.
- A home-state private workers comp policy does not satisfy Wyoming, because the mandatory coverage is bought only from the state.
- The state fund pays benefits but does not defend a lawsuit, so stop-gap employers liability still matters.
Working from home does not change the rule
A remote worker is still your employee. If the work is on the extra-hazardous list, a home-based Wyoming employee is covered the same way an on-site one is, and their wages are reported to DWS. What can change is where an injury is treated as happening, since a remote worker's home is their workplace, so keep a clear record of work hours and duties. For a desk-only role in an industry that is not extra-hazardous, coverage may be optional, but many employers with any mandatory coverage simply elect to cover all their people to keep it simple.
Crossing state lines
| Situation | Where coverage sits | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| Wyoming worker, occasional short job out of state | Usually stays with Wyoming | Wyoming coverage generally follows; confirm the other state's rule for longer jobs |
| Out-of-state employer sending crews into Wyoming | Wyoming, for the Wyoming work | Register with DWS and report that payroll before work begins |
| Hiring a Wyoming resident to work here | Wyoming | Open or update your DWS account before their first day |
| Worker who lives out of state, works remotely for you | Depends on where the work happens | Confirm which state's system applies; do not assume Wyoming covers it |
Why the out-of-state piece trips people up
Because Wyoming is a state-fund state, an out-of-state company often assumes its existing policy travels with it. It does not. Any employer that performs work in Wyoming, or hires a Wyoming resident, must register with DWS and report that payroll to the state fund before the work starts, and the state can issue a certificate of good standing once you do. Skipping that step on a Wyoming job leaves the crew without valid Wyoming coverage and exposes the employer to the state's penalties. If you run crews across state lines, sort out registration before the first shift, not after an injury. And because the state fund never defends a lawsuit, keep stop-gap employers liability on your liability policy wherever your people work.
A Green River example
Illustrative, not a quote. A Green River pipeline services company employs a field crew and one remote scheduler who works from home in town. The field crew does extra-hazardous work and is covered through DWS. When the crew takes a two-day job just across the line in Utah, their Wyoming coverage generally follows them for that short trip. Later the company wins a longer job inside Wyoming that pulls in an out-of-state subcontractor, so it makes sure that sub registers with DWS before starting. The company also keeps stop-gap employers liability on its general liability policy. See our workers comp for technology firms page.
Real questions Wyoming owners ask
Do I need workers comp for a remote employee in Wyoming?
If they are based in Wyoming and do extra-hazardous work, yes, through the state fund at DWS, even when they work from home. Working remotely does not remove the duty to cover a Wyoming employee.
If my Wyoming worker travels out of state, are they still covered?
Usually yes for a short, temporary job. Wyoming coverage generally follows a Wyoming-based worker who crosses state lines briefly, and the state keeps arrangements with several other states. Confirm the rule for longer assignments.
I am an out-of-state employer with a Wyoming job. What do I do?
Register with the Department of Workforce Services and report that Wyoming payroll before work begins. Your home-state private policy does not satisfy Wyoming, because the mandatory coverage is bought only from the state.
Does my home-state policy cover my Wyoming crew?
No. Wyoming is a state-fund state, so a private policy from another state does not meet the requirement for Wyoming work. That payroll has to be reported to and paid into the Wyoming state fund.
What if I hire someone who lives in Wyoming?
Hiring a Wyoming resident to work here means you open or update your DWS account before their first day. The state can then issue a certificate of good standing that clients or job sites may ask to see.
Who covers a worker who lives out of state and works remotely?
It depends on where the work actually happens. Do not assume Wyoming covers them. Confirm which state's workers comp system applies to that worker before you rely on any one policy.
Does the state policy defend me in a lawsuit?
No. DWS pays a hurt worker's benefits but does not provide a legal defense. Employers keep stop-gap employers liability on their general liability policy to cover that, wherever their people work.
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?
- What happens if I don't carry workers comp?
- How much does workers comp cost?
- 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)
- Workers comp vs employers liability
- What workers comp does not cover
- Wyoming tech 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.