Workers comp rates for code 4360: Sound Recording
NCCI class code 4360 covers Sound Recording in the services industry. The median rate across 14 states is $0.190 per $100 payroll. Rates range from $0.100 in Arkansas to $0.710 in Michigan.
Also known as: Recording Studio · Audio Production
Cheapest 5 states for code 4360
Most expensive 5 states
- Michigan $0.710
- New Jersey $0.590
- Louisiana $0.530
- Alaska $0.290
- Oklahoma $0.210
What does NCCI class code 4360 cover?
Class code 4360 classifies employees performing Sound Recording, also known as Recording Studio, Audio Production. The NCCI classification system groups occupations by similar workplace exposure, loss-experience patterns, and operational characteristics. Code 4360 falls within the services industry group and is filed in 14 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 4360, 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 4360 vary so widely across states
The rate spread for code 4360 is 7.1× from cheapest to most expensive ($0.100 in Arkansas to $0.710 in Michigan). 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 4360 rate data
- Benchmark your carrier quote. A carrier quoting code 4360 above the $0.290 75th-percentile rate is asking for a premium-rated quote, push back or get a second quote.
- 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.
- Calculate your effective rate. Effective rate = base rate × EMR ± schedule credit/debit ± deductible loading. Two carriers quoting code 4360 at the same base can vary 30%+ on effective rate after these adjustments.
- Consider lower-rate states if locationally flexible. For code 4360, Arkansas ($0.100) is 86% cheaper than Michigan ($0.710). 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.
- 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 4360 rates in all 14 states
| State | Code | Rate per $100 | vs peers | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Arkansas | 4360 | $0.100 | 7% | view |
| Utah | 4360 | $0.110 | 20% | view |
| Virginia | 4360 | $0.110 | 20% | view |
| Tennessee | 4360 | $0.120 | 27% | view |
| Kansas | 4360 | $0.140 | 33% | view |
| Nevada | 4360 | $0.180 | 40% | view |
| Alabama | 4360 | $0.190 | 53% | view |
| New York | 4360 | $0.190 | 53% | view |
| Oregon | 4360 | $0.200 | 60% | view |
| Oklahoma | 4360 | $0.210 | 67% | view |
| Alaska | 4360 | $0.290 | 73% | view |
| Louisiana | 4360 | $0.530 | 80% | view |
| New Jersey | 4360 | $0.590 | 87% | view |
| Michigan | 4360 | $0.710 | 93% | view |
Bottom quartile (cheap) Mid Top quartile (expensive)
What types of claims drive code 4360 rates?
Workers comp rate filings for code 4360 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 Sound Recording, the top drivers are typically:
- Musculoskeletal strain, lifting, twisting, and repetitive motion, is the most-common claim type across occupations.
- Slips, trips, and falls on workplace surfaces account for 15-25% of typical workplace injuries.
- Struck-by objects, falling and moving items, produce significant medical-only and indemnity claims.
- Cumulative trauma conditions develop over years and produce long-tail claim costs in many occupations.
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 4360.
FAQs about NCCI 4360
What occupation is NCCI class code 4360?
Class code 4360 is "Sound Recording" (also known as Recording Studio, Audio Production), in the services industry. The code is filed in 14 states.
What is the average workers comp rate for code 4360?
The median rate across 14 states is $0.190 per $100 of payroll, ranging from $0.100 (Arkansas) to $0.710 (Michigan).
Why does code 4360 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.