NCCI · 21 states

Workers comp rates for code 3548: Paint Manufacturing

NCCI class code 3548 covers Paint Manufacturing in the manufacturing industry. The median rate across 21 states is $0.810 per $100 payroll. Rates range from $0.280 in Utah to $1.96 in New Jersey.

Also known as: Varnish Production · Lacquer Manufacturing

Cheapest 5 states for code 3548

  1. Utah $0.280
  2. Virginia $0.447
  3. Kentucky $0.490
  4. Minnesota $0.570
  5. Maryland $0.580

Most expensive 5 states

  1. New Jersey $1.96
  2. New York $1.83
  3. Hawaii $1.72
  4. Illinois $1.56
  5. Rhode Island $1.09

What does NCCI class code 3548 cover?

Class code 3548 classifies employees performing Paint Manufacturing, also known as Varnish Production, Lacquer Manufacturing. The NCCI classification system groups occupations by similar workplace exposure, loss-experience patterns, and operational characteristics. Code 3548 falls within the manufacturing industry group and is filed in 21 states.

NCCI's governing classification rules state that a single-classification employer with at least 51% of payroll in this occupation generally classifies all employees under code 3548, with two standard exceptions: clerical office work (segregated payroll records required, reported under code 8810) and outside sales / collectors (code 8742). If your operation has multiple distinct activities, ask your underwriter about a multi-class split before accepting a single-code rating.

Why rates for code 3548 vary so widely across states

The rate spread for code 3548 is 7.0× from cheapest to most expensive ($0.280 in Utah to $1.96 in New Jersey). This isn't randomness, it reflects each state's claim experience for the occupation over the most-recent 5-year window NCCI uses, medical inflation in that state's hospital/clinic market, indemnity (lost-wage) cost levels driven by state maximum weekly benefit caps, and rating-bureau methodology. Independent-bureau states (California's WCIRB, New York's NYCIRB, Pennsylvania's PCRB, New Jersey's NJCRIB, Massachusetts's WCRIBMA, Delaware's DCRB, Wisconsin's WCRB, North Carolina's NCRB, Texas's TDI) often diverge significantly from NCCI's national pure premium, sometimes by 30% or more on the same occupation. Monopolistic-fund states (Ohio, North Dakota, Washington, Wyoming) don't allow private carrier competition, so the state fund's pricing is the only available option.

How to use this code 3548 rate data

  1. Benchmark your carrier quote. A carrier quoting code 3548 above the $0.960 75th-percentile rate is asking for a premium-rated quote, push back or get a second quote.
  2. Identify the right state filing. Use the table below to find your state's filed rate. If your carrier is quoting at a higher rate, the difference is either schedule debit, EMR, deductible loading, or a state-fund surcharge, ask which.
  3. Calculate your effective rate. Effective rate = base rate × EMR ± schedule credit/debit ± deductible loading. Two carriers quoting code 3548 at the same base can vary 30%+ on effective rate after these adjustments.
  4. Consider lower-rate states if locationally flexible. For code 3548, Utah ($0.280) is 86% cheaper than New Jersey ($1.96). Multi-state employers split payroll by state-of-work, not state-of-headquarters, so locating the high-payroll site in a cheaper state directly lowers premium.
  5. Build a 3-year EMR strategy. A 0.85 EMR cuts base rate by 15%; the difference between 0.85 and 1.25 EMR on the same code is a 47% premium difference. Frequency control (preventing every claim, even small ones) drives EMR more than severity control.

Code 3548 rates in all 21 states

State Code Rate per $100 vs peers Source
Utah 3548 $0.280 5% view
Virginia 3548 $0.447 10% view
Kentucky 3548 $0.490 14% view
Minnesota 3548 $0.570 19% view
Maryland 3548 $0.580 24% view
Kansas 3548 $0.640 33% view
Tennessee 3548 $0.640 33% view
Michigan 3548 $0.670 38% view
Louisiana 3548 $0.710 43% view
Oklahoma 3548 $0.800 48% view
Alaska 3548 $0.810 52% view
Arkansas 3548 $0.840 57% view
Alabama 3548 $0.850 67% view
Indiana 3548 $0.850 67% view
Nevada 3548 $0.960 76% view
Oregon 3548 $0.960 76% view
Rhode Island 3548 $1.09 81% view
Illinois 3548 $1.56 86% view
Hawaii 3548 $1.72 90% view
New York 3548 $1.83 95% view
New Jersey 3548 $1.96 100% view

Bottom quartile (cheap) Mid Top quartile (expensive)

What types of claims drive code 3548 rates?

Workers comp rate filings for code 3548 reflect what's actually happening on the job, not just generic occupation hazard. NCCI publishes loss-cost analyses showing which injury categories account for the bulk of indemnity (lost-wage) and medical claim cost. For Paint Manufacturing, the top drivers are typically:

  • Caught-in machinery from lockout/tagout failures, high severity per claim, drives rate spikes when present.
  • Repetitive motion injuries, carpal tunnel and tendinitis from production-line work, dominate claim frequency.
  • Material handling strains, lifting, twisting, pushing-pulling, are pervasive across all manufacturing codes.
  • Chemical exposure, when applicable, produces both acute and long-latency claims.

Targeting these drivers in your safety program produces the largest EMR improvement. Frequency control (preventing every claim, including small medical-only incidents) drives the modifier more than severity control. A documented written safety program addressing the top two drivers above is typically the highest-ROI intervention for employers paying for code 3548.

FAQs about NCCI 3548

What occupation is NCCI class code 3548?

Class code 3548 is "Paint Manufacturing" (also known as Varnish Production, Lacquer Manufacturing), in the manufacturing industry. The code is filed in 21 states.

What is the average workers comp rate for code 3548?

The median rate across 21 states is $0.810 per $100 of payroll, ranging from $0.280 (Utah) to $1.96 (New Jersey).

Why does code 3548 cost more in some states than others?

Workers comp rates reflect each state's loss experience for that occupation, the rating bureau's methodology (NCCI vs. independent), schedule rating credits, and the state's medical-cost inflation. Some states are monopolistic (only the state fund writes coverage) while others are open competitive markets.