Wisconsin’s statewide workers’ compensation insurance rate level decreased by an average 1.97%, effective October 1, 2026, the Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development (DWD) announced. DWD estimates the change will save $36 million across policies over the coming year. It does not mean every employer’s premium will fall by 1.97%.
What changed in Wisconsin on October 1, 2026?
The 1.97% figure is an average statewide change in the workers’ compensation insurance rate level. DWD announced the decrease with the Wisconsin Office of the Commissioner of Insurance (OCI) and described it as the state’s 11th consecutive annual decline. DWD’s estimate of $36 million in savings applies to policies over the coming year, not to any one employer’s bill. DWD’s October 1, 2026 announcement provides the figures.
Will my Wisconsin business pay less for workers’ comp in 2026?
Not necessarily by 1.97%, and the statewide decrease does not guarantee an individual business will pay less. Actual premiums vary by employer, including according to injury-risk exposure. OCI also cautions that a rate filing change may not match what an individual business pays. The announcement does not provide enough detail to calculate a particular company’s renewal premium.
Check the renewal quote for your business’s classifications and payroll, and ask your insurer or broker how the new rate level affects your policy. If comparing coverage options, weigh the quoted premium alongside coverage terms and insurer service; OCI cautions against choosing a company and policy based on price alone. OCI’s policy forms and rate filings search provides filing information, but it is not a substitute for a business-specific quote.
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How is the annual rate adjustment set?
DWD says a committee of actuaries from Wisconsin Compensation Rating Bureau (WCRB) members examines and selects the methodology and trends used to develop the proposed adjustment. OCI reviews and approves the proposal; DWD says OCI approved the 2026 decrease.
The 2026 announcement does not provide the underlying actuarial analysis or rate changes by industry classification. It therefore does not establish a specific reason for this year’s decrease or show how a particular industry’s rates changed.
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How does the 2026 decrease compare with recent years?
| Effective date | Average statewide rate-level decrease | What DWD said |
|---|---|---|
| October 1, 2026 | 1.97% | 11th consecutive annual decline; DWD estimates $36 million in savings for policies over the coming year. DWD, October 1, 2026 |
| October 1, 2025 | 3.2% | 10th consecutive annual decline. DWD, August 12, 2025 |
| October 1, 2024 | 10.5% | 9th consecutive annual decline. DWD, July 31, 2024 |
The figures describe statewide average rate-level changes, not successive discounts applied to every employer’s previous invoice. They also do not explain the actuarial reasons for each year’s result.
Is the rate decrease a cut to workers’ compensation benefits?
No. The October 1 change concerns insurance rate levels. Separately, certain statutory workers’ compensation benefit changes took effect April 1, 2026, including changes to maximum rates for permanent partial disability. The two changes concern different things and took effect on different dates. See DWD Insurance Letter 552 for the statutory changes.
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Where can employers ask about coverage obligations?
DWD says most Wisconsin employers are legally required to carry workers’ compensation insurance, but its rate announcement does not list every exception or determine whether a particular business must carry coverage. Employers with a legal coverage question can contact DWD’s Workers’ Compensation Division.
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