The Best Workers' Compensation Insurance Companies of 2025
A guide to the best workers' comp coverage for your business type.
Written by
Christine Lacagnina has written thousands of insurance-based articles for TrustedChoice.com by authoring consumable, understandable content.
Reviewed by
Cara Carlone is a licensed P&C agent with 20 years of experience. She has her P&C license in RI and TX and holds CPCU, API, and AINS designations.
Find the Top Workers' Compensation Insurance Company for Your Business
You need workers' compensation insurance to protect your employees from medical expenses and lost wages due to injuries and illnesses arising from job duties or the work environment and to provide death benefits to surviving family members in case of a fatal incident. But how do you know which insurance companies offer the best coverage for your business type and where to find them? These questions can be complex and aren't necessarily simple to answer.
Fortunately, an independent insurance agent can be a great ally in your search for the right coverage. We've ranked some of the best workers' comp insurance companies to help make your search easier.
The Best Workers' Compensation Insurance Companies of 2025
We broke our picks for the best workers' comp insurance companies of 2025 down into several specific categories for your convenience. The best workers’ compensation insurance depends on a carrier's customer satisfaction, policy options, and much more. Take a look at our choices for who offers the best workers' compensation insurance around.
- Best Workers' Compensation Insurance Overall: Hiscox
- Best Workers' Compensation Insurance for Small Businesses/Start-Ups: EMC Insurance Companies
- Best Workers' Compensation Insurance for Quick Coverage: Central Insurance Companies
- Best Workers' Compensation Insurance for High-Risk Industries (Construction/Contractors): Nationwide
- Best Workers' Compensation Insurance for Retailers: Travelers
- Best Workers' Compensation Insurance for Medical Offices: The Hartford
- Best Workers' Compensation Insurance for Professional Offices: Progressive
- Best Workers' Compensation Insurance Customer Service: Liberty Mutual
Best Overall Workers’ Compensation Insurance Company: Hiscox
We chose Hiscox as our pick for the overall best workers' comp insurance. For starters, Hiscox has excellent ratings from the Better Business Bureau (BBB) and AM Best.
It's also a longstanding carrier, dating all the way back to 1901. If you're in need of the best workers' compensation insurance around, look no further than Hiscox.
Pros and Cons
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Coverage Highlights
- Offers stand-alone or bundled coverage
- Also offers general liability and professional liability for businesses
- Offers the option to combine coverage with a business owners policy (BOP)
Hiscox was founded in 1901, meaning the carrier has had more than 120 years to perfect its craft in the insurance industry. Over its many decades in the business, Hiscox has grown to become a leading specialist insurer in the U.S. Hiscox is a leader in the small business insurance category, offering outstanding workers' comp coverage.
Hiscox's coverage is offered in 49 states across the U.S. According to Hiscox's LinkedIn profile, the carrier has over 2,400 employees. In terms of financial size, Hiscox is equally impressive. AM Best places the carrier in the $2 billion or greater category.
Thanks to its extensive history, outstanding financial strength, and nearly nationwide reach, Hiscox has earned a reputation as a stable insurance company with a great outlook for the future. AM Best, the leading global credit rating agency monitoring the insurance industry, gives Hiscox an “A” rating, indicating the carrier is an excellent choice for insurance customers.
Best Workers’ Compensation Insurance for Small Businesses & Start-Ups: EMC Insurance Companies
Our pick for the best workers' comp for small businesses goes to EMC Insurance Companies. For starters, the carrier makes shopping for the perfect amount of coverage for small businesses of any size incredibly simple.
EMC also offers loss control solutions, such as safety resources for businesses of all kinds, to prevent incidents from occurring in the first place. Additionally, EMC earns our pick as having the best small businesses workers' comp insurance thanks to its additional features included with coverage, such as a return-to-work program for injured employees and a 24/7 on-call nurse.
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Coverage Highlights
- More than 110 years of workers' comp experience
- Additional perks offered with policies
- Coverage sold through independent insurance agents
EMC Insurance was founded in 1911, giving them more than a century of expertise in the industry. The carrier specializes in business products, making them an ideal match for workers' comp customers.
Matching with an agent is extremely simple, thanks to EMC's website. Customers can get matched to an independent insurance agent within minutes.
The insurance company has excellent customer service ratings, as well as many modern customer service options like online bill pay and online claims reporting. EMC has an "A+" or excellent rating from the BBB and an "A" or "excellent" rating for financial strength from AM Best.
Best Workers’ Compensation Insurance Company for Quick Coverage: Central Insurance Companies
Our pick for the best insurance company for quick workers' comp coverage goes to Central Insurance. Coverage is available quickly and conveniently for customers, thanks to the insurance company's online tool to find an independent insurance agent. Customers can receive quotes or get matched to the right policy for them within minutes.
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Coverage Highlights
- Coverage available through an online find-an-agent tool
- Safety training provided
- 24/7 online nurse provided with coverage
- Coverage sold through independent insurance agents
Founded in 1876, Central Insurance is certainly one of the more experienced carriers around today. This is just one reason so many customers trust the carrier with their coverage needs.
Central Insurance holds an "A" or "excellent" rating for financial strength from AM Best. The carrier has also earned an "A+" or "excellent" rating from the BBB.
Central Insurance earns our top recommendation for quick coverage because of its highly efficient and convenient online "match with an independent insurance agent" tool. Customers can ask their agent about bundling workers' comp coverage with other business insurance or buy it separately.
Best Overall Workers’ Compensation Insurance for High-Risk Industries: Nationwide
Making our top selection for the best overall workers' compensation insurance for high-risk industries such as construction was easy, thanks to Nationwide. Customers can buy workers' comp as a single policy or bundle it together with other coverages such as equipment breakdown insurance or general liability. Nationwide also boasts excellent ratings from AM Best and the BBB and outstanding financial stability.
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Coverage Highlights
- Available as a stand-alone policy or bundled together with liability, etc.
- Comes with free resources such as fleet safety seminars
- Can be bundled with construction equipment insurance
Nationwide dates back to 1925, giving them almost a century of experience. The carrier has evolved from a small car insurance company to one of the largest insurance and financial services companies globally.
Nationwide offers insurance for construction and contracting companies, along with several other unique niche industries. That makes them the perfect choice for high-risk businesses in need of workers' comp. Coverage can be purchased as a single policy, bundled with a construction insurance policy, or paired with other coverages such as general liability.
Nationwide also has excellent long-term financial strength and stability. They've earned an "A+" rating from AM Best.
Best Workers’ Compensation Insurance Company for Retailers: Travelers
Travelers claims our pick for the best workers' compensation insurance company for retailers. Travelers is famous for having excellent ratings in both financial strength and customer service.
The carrier is also the nation's largest workers' comp insurer. But Travelers really earns our top pick in this category thanks to their flexible workers' comp coverage, which allows it to be customized to meet the needs of a specific industry, such as retail.
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Coverage Highlights
- Flexible coverage options to fit your industry niche
- Coverage offered for many types of small businesses, including retailers
- In-house nurses and medical professionals to help injured employees return to work fast
One of the oldest and largest insurers in the country, Travelers was founded in 1853. The carrier consistently maintains excellent ratings in every category, including customer service. Travelers primarily sells insurance through independent insurance agents, and its independent agent network extends across the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, and Ireland.
Travelers has the highest possible rating of "A++" or "superior" from AM Best and has demonstrated ongoing outstanding financial strength over the years.
Workers' comp for retailers is done right by Travelers. The insurance company offers flexible workers' comp that can be customized to match the policyholder's industry. But Travelers takes their coverage even one step further by offering in-house medical professionals to help injured employees return to work quickly.
Best Workers’ Compensation Insurance Company for Medical Providers: The Hartford
Our choice for the best workers' comp insurance for medical providers is The Hartford, which dates way back to 1810. The Hartford works with outpatient offices, which makes them an easy choice for our top pick in this category. The carrier offers covered employees access to a pharmacy network and other great resources as well.
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Coverage Highlights
- Offers an online portal for customers
- Offers pay-as-you-go billing
- Offers special needlestick protection
- Offers access to pharmacy network and nurse case managers
The Hartford was founded in 1810, so they have over 200 years of experience under their belt. The Hartford has evolved over time from a small fire insurance company to a Fortune 500 company with excellent financial strength ratings.
The insurance company earns our top pick for workers' comp for medical providers thanks to their access to a pharmacy network and nurse case managers. Currently, The Hartford reportedly insures more than 105,000 outpatient small businesses across the country.
The Hartford's coverage is available almost nationwide, and the carrier boasts "A+" or "excellent" ratings from both AM Best and the Better Business Bureau (BBB). In terms of excellent customer service, The Hartford works with independent insurance agents, making them top-notch for personalized customer experiences.
Best Workers’ Compensation Insurance Company for Professional Offices: Progressive
Progressive earns our top pick for the best workers' compensation insurance company for professional offices. Thanks to their multitude of coverage options, including professional liability, the carrier's workers' comp coverage is ideal for professional office settings. The carrier's reputation and high ratings also make them a top choice.
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Coverage Highlights
- Coverage specifications vary by partner company
- Coverage can be bundled with a BOP or other policies
Progressive has been around in the industry for quite a while now, dating back to 1937. The carrier offers small business insurance for more than 60 industries and offers workers' comp through its partner companies. Customers report that workers' comp sold through Progressive is affordable compared to other carriers.
Workers' comp insurance can be bundled with general liability or professional liability, as well as a BOP or commercial auto policy through Progressive. Progressive also has outstanding financial strength and excellent ratings by the BBB.
Best Customer Service for a Workers’ Compensation Insurance Company: Liberty Mutual
Our top recommendation for the best customer service for a workers' comp insurance company is Liberty Mutual. The carrier offers a wide range of coverages needed by businesses of all sizes, including workers' comp. Customers can also expect a great shopping and claims experience thanks to Liberty Mutual offering its coverage through independent insurance agents.
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Coverage Highlights
- Offers return-to-work services for injured employees
- Offers services to help identify worksite hazards
- Fast and efficient claims handling
- Offers businesses recommendations to reduce accidents in the workplace
Liberty Mutual has had more than a century of experience with customer service, having been originally founded in 1912. The carrier is the sixth-largest global property and casualty insurer.
Liberty Mutual offers workers' comp and many other solutions for businesses, including equipment breakdown insurance, environmental liability coverage, and more. The carrier is an easy top choice for customer satisfaction thanks to its work with independent insurance agents and 24/7 phone claims reporting.
As of 2021, Liberty Mutual had a reported $156 billion in assets and $48.2 billion in revenue. The carrier was ranked 75th on the Fortune 500 list. Liberty Mutual has also grown significantly in coverage territory over the years; its reach extends globally.
Best Workers' Comp Insurance Companies of 2025 Honorable Mentions
Our list of the best workers' comp insurance companies wouldn't be complete without including these outstanding carriers.
| Insurance Company | AM Best Rating | Overall TC Star Rating |
| Encova | A- |
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| ICW Group | A |
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| biBERK | A++ |
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| Chubb | A++ |
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| AmTrust Financial | A- |
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| Amerisure | A |
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| Tivly | Not Rated |
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How We Select the Best Workers’ Compensation Insurance Companies
We evaluated and compared more than a dozen workers' compensation insurance companies across the U.S. to obtain the final choices for our list. We looked for carriers that worked with independent insurance agents and had other outstanding customer service practices.
Then we broke down our list into eight specific categories to help make shopping for workers' comp more streamlined depending on the customer's or business's needs. Financial strength and website user-friendliness were also considered when crafting our final list. We hope our data-driven picks for the top workers' comp insurance companies help your business find the coverage it needs to protect its team members.
How to Evaluate Your Workers’ Compensation Needs
Before looking into the best workers' comp insurance companies to underwrite your business's policy, you'll need to evaluate and estimate your specific company's coverage needs. As with any other type of insurance, you'll need to determine that the workers' comp insurance companies you look into can provide the coverage your business can afford while offering the features it needs most. Follow this guide to evaluate your unique business's workers' comp needs.
Research Workers’ Comp Providers in your State
Even if an insurance company offers other types of coverage nationwide, it might not necessarily sell workers' comp in every state. Even if you're self-employed, you might still be required to get workers' comp for your small business.
Also, keep in mind that a few states are considered "monopolistic states," where business owners are required by state laws to get their workers' comp insurance directly from the state fund. These states include North Dakota, Ohio, Washington, and Wyoming.
Gather Multiple Quotes and Explore Bundles
Before deciding on one policy, you'll want to compare your options from multiple workers' comp insurance companies that sell coverage in your area. If you already have some type of business insurance from one carrier, you could possibly save some money on both workers' comp coverage and your existing coverage by bundling your policies together. Your business's NAIC code and annual payroll will influence its coverage premiums.
An independent insurance agent can help find multiple quotes for the most affordable workers' comp coverage in your area that simultaneously delivers the quality you need. However, you can often also request quotes from workers' comp companies online, right through the carriers' official websites.
Consult with an Independent Insurance Agent
Working together with an independent insurance agent is a great way to get additional insights and review specific considerations for workers' comp insurance. Your agent can evaluate your unique company's workers' comp coverage needs by inquiring about various factors related to your business, including the number of employees it has and its specific operations.
After they have the information they need, they'll evaluate workers' comp insurance policy options from multiple carriers to help find you the best deal around.
Save on Workers' Comp Insurance
Our independent agents shop around to find you the best coverage.
The Benefits of Using an Independent Insurance Agent for Workers' Comp Coverage
Independent insurance agents simplify the process by shopping and comparing workers' compensation insurance quotes for you. Not only that, but they’ll also cut the jargon and clarify the fine print, so you know exactly what you’re getting.
Independent insurance agents also have access to multiple insurance companies, ultimately finding you the best workers' comp coverage, accessibility, and competitive pricing while working for you.
The Final Word on Workers' Comp Insurance Companies
The best insurance company for your industry's workers' comp coverage today may not be the best insurance company for your business's needs tomorrow. To stay updated on which carriers offer workers' comp for your industry, work with an independent insurance agent.
FAQs about Workers' Compensation Insurance
Workers' compensation insurance is the coverage an employer needs to pay for medical expenses of employees who get injured or ill while working or otherwise due to job-related activities. Most states make coverage mandatory if a business has a certain number of employees.
Workers' comp provides protection not only for employees on the job but also for the employer. If a business covers its workers with a workman's comp policy, their employees automatically forfeit the right to sue the business for a work-related incident in exchange for these benefits.
The cost of workers' comp insurance varies widely depending on several factors. These factors include the industry the business is in, the total number of employees, the business's annual payroll, the business's claims history, and the operations performed by the workers of the business. However, many business owners who need less than $300,000 in coverage pay an average of $81 monthly for their workers' comp policies.
Your business's location is a major factor that can influence the cost of its workers' comp. premiums, as some states have higher coverage requirements, and coverage is likely to be more expensive. The type of work performed by your employees also influences the cost of workers' comp, as risky job duties mean a higher risk of job-related accidents, injuries, and illnesses.
Your business's claims history also impacts your premiums because the more claims you've filed in the past, the more you're likely to pay for coverage. Finally, your business's annual payroll influences the cost of workers' comp, as companies with more employees and higher payroll tend to pay more for their coverage.
If you run a business that has employees, you're likely required to have workers' compensation coverage to protect them. However, you'll have to check with your state's specific laws regarding workers' comp. Many states require most businesses with at least one employee to have workers' comp, but there are exceptions.
Also, certain industries may be exempt from workers' comp requirements. For example, many states excuse farms and agricultural businesses from having to get workers' comp.
A workers' compensation audit occurs when the insurance carrier decides to review an insured business's payroll. This is the insurer's way of determining that a business continues to pay the proper amount towards its workers' comp premiums over time. These audits may actually be legally mandated by your state.
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https://www.thehartford.com/workers-compensation/how-much-does-workers-compensation-cost
https://www.usnews.com/insurance/small-business-insurance/best-workers-compensation
https://www.forbes.com/advisor/business-insurance/best-workers-compensation-insurance/
https://www.investopedia.com/best-workers-compensation-insurance-5069463
https://www.thehartford.com/workers-compensation/best-workers-compensation-insurance