NCCI · 22 states

Workers comp rates for code 8039: Retail Hardware Store

NCCI class code 8039 covers Retail Hardware Store in the retail industry. The median rate across 22 states is $0.940 per $100 payroll. Rates range from $0.400 in Utah to $3.15 in New Jersey.

Also known as: Home Improvement Store

Cheapest 5 states for code 8039

  1. Utah $0.400
  2. Kentucky $0.480
  3. Tennessee $0.500
  4. Kansas $0.630
  5. Oregon $0.640

Most expensive 5 states

  1. New Jersey $3.15
  2. California $2.91
  3. Hawaii $2.02
  4. Illinois $1.76
  5. New York $1.49

What does NCCI class code 8039 cover?

Class code 8039 classifies employees performing Retail Hardware Store, also known as Home Improvement Store. The NCCI classification system groups occupations by similar workplace exposure, loss-experience patterns, and operational characteristics. Code 8039 falls within the retail 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 8039, 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 8039 vary so widely across states

The rate spread for code 8039 is 7.9× from cheapest to most expensive ($0.400 in Utah to $3.15 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 8039 rate data

  1. Benchmark your carrier quote. A carrier quoting code 8039 above the $1.33 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 8039 at the same base can vary 30%+ on effective rate after these adjustments.
  4. Consider lower-rate states if locationally flexible. For code 8039, Utah ($0.400) is 87% cheaper than New Jersey ($3.15). 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 8039 rates in all 22 states

State Code Rate per $100 vs peers Source
Utah 8039 $0.400 5% view
Kentucky 8039 $0.480 9% view
Tennessee 8039 $0.500 14% view
Kansas 8039 $0.630 18% view
Oregon 8039 $0.640 23% view
Virginia 8039 $0.708 27% view
Maryland 8039 $0.720 32% view
Nevada 8039 $0.770 36% view
Arkansas 8039 $0.860 41% view
Alabama 8039 $0.910 45% view
Alaska 8039 $0.930 50% view
Oklahoma 8039 $0.940 55% view
Michigan 8039 $0.970 59% view
Indiana 8039 $0.980 64% view
Louisiana 8039 $1.02 68% view
Rhode Island 8039 $1.12 73% view
Minnesota 8039 $1.33 77% view
New York 8039 $1.49 82% view
Illinois 8039 $1.76 86% view
Hawaii 8039 $2.02 91% view
California 8039 $2.91 95% view
New Jersey 8039 $3.15 100% view

Bottom quartile (cheap) Mid Top quartile (expensive)

What types of claims drive code 8039 rates?

Workers comp rate filings for code 8039 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 Retail Hardware Store, the top drivers are typically:

  • Slips, trips, and falls in customer aisles and stockrooms drive most retail claim frequency.
  • Lifting strain from stocking shelves and unloading produces ongoing musculoskeletal claims.
  • Cuts and bruises from box-cutters, broken glass, and equipment misuse contribute steady frequency.
  • Workplace violence, robberies and customer aggression, varies by location and operating hours.

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 8039.

FAQs about NCCI 8039

What occupation is NCCI class code 8039?

Class code 8039 is "Retail Hardware Store" (also known as Home Improvement Store), in the retail industry. The code is filed in 22 states.

What is the average workers comp rate for code 8039?

The median rate across 22 states is $0.940 per $100 of payroll, ranging from $0.400 (Utah) to $3.15 (New Jersey).

Why does code 8039 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.