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NCCI class code 5190: electrical contractor (rates, exposures, gotchas)

Workers compensation class code 5190 covers electrical wiring within buildings. Median rate $2.80 to $5.40 per $100 of payroll. Includes residential, commercial, and industrial wiring; excludes high-voltage and outside-line work.

Published January 14, 2025 · 7 min read

NCCI class code 5190: electrical wiring within buildings

NCCI class code 5190 covers electrical wiring within buildings: residential, commercial, and industrial. The median rate across our 25-state dataset runs approximately $2.80 to $5.40 per $100 of payroll, with substantial state-to-state variation. This page covers what 5190 includes, what it excludes, the rate range across states, and the most common classification errors that trigger audit reclassifications.

What 5190 includes

The NCCI Scopes Manual phraseology for 5190 covers electrical wiring installation within buildings, including:

Standard 120/240V residential wiring (rough-in and trim)
Commercial wiring up to 600V (most office, retail, and light-industrial buildings)
Conduit installation, panel work, and breaker installation
Fixture installation (lighting, switches, outlets, ceiling fans)
Low-voltage wiring (telephone, data, security, control wiring) when performed by the same crew

The classification is “within buildings” deliberately. The line between inside-the-building and outside-the-building is the meter or the service-entrance point. Work on the utility side of the meter (transformers, drop lines, transmission) carries different codes.

What 5190 excludes

The most common exclusions:

Outside line work (NCCI 7600 and related). Power-line installation and maintenance on utility distribution systems. This is high-voltage work at significant elevation, and the rates are 2x to 3x higher than 5190.
High-voltage transmission. Work on transmission lines (typically 69kV and above) is a separate, higher-rated classification.
Electrical-equipment manufacturing. Manufacturing electrical equipment (panels, transformers, controls) is a manufacturing classification, not 5190.
Electrical-supply wholesale. Wholesale distribution of electrical supplies is a wholesale classification.
Electrician shop with no field work. A contractor whose employees perform shop fabrication only (no field installation) carries a manufacturing or shop classification, not 5190.

State-by-state rate range

The published rate per $100 of payroll for 5190 varies materially across states. Sample medians from our dataset [cells/cells-summary.json]:

Indiana: approximately $2.10 to $2.90
Wisconsin: approximately $2.60 to $3.50
Texas: approximately $3.20 to $4.40
Florida: approximately $3.80 to $5.20
Illinois: approximately $3.40 to $4.80
California: WCIRB-published advisory pure premium varies by year; check the current filing

The rates are bureau-filed loss costs (or independent-bureau rates) before carrier loss-cost multiplier and any modifiers. Final policy rates after LCM and EMR can run 1.5x to 2.0x the bureau base.

For exact state rates, navigate to the state page at /state/[code]/ and search for class code 5190.

Common classification errors

The errors that trigger audit reclassifications for electrical contractors:

1. Solar installation under 5190 alone. Many solar contractors carry only 5190, but the rooftop work (panel mounting, racking, weatherproofing) is fall-from-height exposure that auditors typically reclassify to roofing (5551) or a state-specific solar code. The fix: maintain payroll-allocation records showing the split between rooftop work (5551) and electrical tie-in (5190).

2. Service-call work under 5190. Some service-only electricians (no new construction) get classified under 5190 when a lower-risk classification might apply. The argument depends on the specific state and the proportion of light-bulb/fixture-replacement work. Worth reviewing if your operation is purely service.

3. Apprentices and helpers under clerical (8810). Apprentices and helpers who work in the field are classified under 5190, not 8810, regardless of their wage rate. Auditors will reclassify field apprentices to 5190 at year-end if they were originally on 8810.

4. Working owners under 5190. A working electrical-contractor owner who is not excluded from coverage gets 5190 payroll allocation based on actual field hours. Owners who handle estimating, sales, and administration in addition to field work get split allocations between 5190 and 8810 (or outside sales 8742). Without time records, auditors default to the highest-rate code touched.

5. Subcontractor labor on the GC’s policy. Electrical contractors are often subcontractors for general contractors. If the electrical sub does not carry their own workers comp (or fails to provide a current COI), the GC’s auditor picks up the sub’s payroll and adds it to the GC’s policy at code 5190 rates.

Loss drivers and what changes the rate

Three exposures drive the 5190 loss cost:

1. Electrocution. Direct contact with energized circuits, arc-flash incidents, and lockout-tagout failures. OSHA’s electrical standards (29 CFR 1910 Subpart S, 29 CFR 1926 Subpart K) drive the engineering controls. Severe electrocution claims can reach into seven-figure settlement values for permanent injuries or death.

2. Falls. Ladder work for ceiling-fixture installation and panel work on commercial buildings. Less severe than roofing falls because the work is typically lower-elevation, but still a meaningful claim driver.

3. Repetitive-strain and back injuries. Conduit pulling, panel-board lifting, and overhead work produce shoulder, back, and rotator-cuff claims. These are lower-severity than electrocution or falls but high-frequency.

Loss-control programs that move 5190 EMR favorably:

Documented LOTO (lockout-tagout) program with annual training
Voltage-rated PPE (insulated gloves, arc-flash suits) and verified pre-task hazard assessment
Ladder-safety training and inspection program
Light-duty return-to-work program for repetitive-strain claims

5188 (electrical, automobiles or aircraft): covers wiring on vehicles and equipment, not buildings. Lower rate (typically 30-50% below 5190) because no ladder/scaffold exposure.
5191 (office machine installation): covers installation of office machines and equipment. Lower rate than 5190 because work is typically in finished-office settings.
5403 (carpentry, residential): separate code for the framing/finish carpentry. Many contractors who perform both carry 5190 and 5403 simultaneously.
5551 (roofing): covers all roof work including solar mounting. Substantially higher rate than 5190.
7600 (outside line work): utility-side electrical work. Substantially higher rate than 5190.

What this means for premium

A worked example using midpoint rates:

A residential-electrical contractor in Texas with $500,000 annual payroll, all assigned to 5190 at a bureau rate of $3.80 per $100. Manual premium = $500,000 / $100 × $3.80 = $19,000. Apply a carrier loss-cost multiplier of 1.40 (typical for a small-account carrier): $26,600. Apply EMR of 0.95 (claim-free three years): $25,270. Apply schedule credit of 10% for documented safety program: $22,743 final policy premium.

The same contractor in California, with WCIRB-published advisory pure premium, the same payroll, and the same modifiers, would generate a different final number based on the WCIRB filing for the policy year. California rates have historically been higher than Texas for 5190.

This is a worked example for illustration only.

This is general information, not legal or insurance advice. Consult a licensed broker or attorney for your specific situation.

Frequently asked questions

What does class code 5190 cover?

Electrical wiring installation within buildings, including residential, commercial, and industrial structures. Covers low-voltage and standard-voltage interior wiring, fixture installation, panel work, and conduit. Does not cover outside line work (NCCI 7600) or high-voltage transmission (separate code).

What's the average workers comp rate for code 5190?

Median rate across our 25-state dataset is approximately $2.80 to $5.40 per $100 of payroll. The rate varies substantially: low-loss states like Indiana publish rates near $2.10, while high-loss states publish rates above $6.00. Schedule credit and EMR can move the actual rate by 25% in either direction.

What's excluded from code 5190?

Outside power-line work, high-voltage transmission, electrical-equipment manufacturing, and electrical-supply wholesale all carry separate codes. Solar-panel installation is sometimes carved into 5190 and sometimes assigned a roofing code (5551) depending on whether the work is primarily electrical or primarily roof-mounted.

Is solar installation covered under 5190?

Mixed. The electrical-tie-in portion is typically 5190, but the rooftop installation (panel mounting, racking, weatherproofing) is often classified as roofing (5551) because the exposure is fall-from-height. Many solar contractors carry both codes on their policy.

What's the typical EMR for an electrical contractor?

Average is 1.00 by definition. Well-managed electrical contractors with claim-free three-year histories typically run 0.85 to 0.95. A single severe claim (electrocution, fall) can push EMR above 1.30 for the next three policy years.

How does 5190 differ from 5188?

5188 (electrical wiring auto power systems) covers wiring on motor vehicles, equipment, and machinery, not buildings. The exposures are similar (electrocution, burns) but at lower elevations and without ladder/scaffold exposure. 5188 typically rates 30-50% lower than 5190.