NCCI · 22 states

Workers comp rates for code 7610: Telecom Line Construction

NCCI class code 7610 covers Telecom Line Construction in the construction industry. The median rate across 22 states is $0.310 per $100 payroll. Rates range from $0.110 in Utah to $0.728 in Illinois.

Also known as: Utility Line Construction

Cheapest 5 states for code 7610

  1. Utah $0.110
  2. Kansas $0.140
  3. Virginia $0.152
  4. Maryland $0.160
  5. Tennessee $0.160

Most expensive 5 states

  1. Illinois $0.728
  2. Louisiana $0.700
  3. New Jersey $0.650
  4. California $0.520
  5. Nevada $0.480

What does NCCI class code 7610 cover?

Class code 7610 classifies employees performing Telecom Line Construction, also known as Utility Line Construction. The NCCI classification system groups occupations by similar workplace exposure, loss-experience patterns, and operational characteristics. Code 7610 falls within the construction industry group and is filed in 22 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 7610, 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 7610 vary so widely across states

The rate spread for code 7610 is 6.6× from cheapest to most expensive ($0.110 in Utah to $0.728 in Illinois). 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 7610 rate data

  1. Benchmark your carrier quote. A carrier quoting code 7610 above the $0.420 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 7610 at the same base can vary 30%+ on effective rate after these adjustments.
  4. Consider lower-rate states if locationally flexible. For code 7610, Utah ($0.110) is 85% cheaper than Illinois ($0.728). 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 7610 rates in all 22 states

State Code Rate per $100 vs peers Source
Utah 7610 $0.110 5% view
Kansas 7610 $0.140 9% view
Virginia 7610 $0.152 14% view
Maryland 7610 $0.160 23% view
Tennessee 7610 $0.160 23% view
New York 7610 $0.181 27% view
Kentucky 7610 $0.200 32% view
Michigan 7610 $0.250 41% view
Minnesota 7610 $0.250 41% view
Oregon 7610 $0.280 45% view
Arkansas 7610 $0.300 50% view
Alabama 7610 $0.310 55% view
Oklahoma 7610 $0.340 59% view
Indiana 7610 $0.390 64% view
Hawaii 7610 $0.400 73% view
Rhode Island 7610 $0.400 73% view
Alaska 7610 $0.420 77% view
Nevada 7610 $0.480 82% view
California 7610 $0.520 86% view
New Jersey 7610 $0.650 91% view
Louisiana 7610 $0.700 95% view
Illinois 7610 $0.728 100% view

Bottom quartile (cheap) Mid Top quartile (expensive)

What types of claims drive code 7610 rates?

Workers comp rate filings for code 7610 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 Telecom Line Construction, the top drivers are typically:

  • Falls from elevation, OSHA's #1 cited construction hazard, drives 25-35% of indemnity claim cost in construction-class codes.
  • Struck-by and caught-between, including vehicle, equipment, and falling-object incidents, account for 15-20% of severity.
  • Cumulative trauma from repetitive lifting, overhead work, and awkward postures drives long-tail medical cost.
  • Electrical injuries, when present, are low-frequency but extreme-severity claims that disproportionately affect rate filings.

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 7610.

FAQs about NCCI 7610

What occupation is NCCI class code 7610?

Class code 7610 is "Telecom Line Construction" (also known as Utility Line Construction), in the construction industry. The code is filed in 22 states.

What is the average workers comp rate for code 7610?

The median rate across 22 states is $0.310 per $100 of payroll, ranging from $0.110 (Utah) to $0.728 (Illinois).

Why does code 7610 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.