NCCI · 18 states

Workers comp rates for code 9083: Bar, Tavern, or Nightclub

NCCI class code 9083 covers Bar, Tavern, or Nightclub in the hospitality industry. The median rate across 18 states is $0.710 per $100 payroll. Rates range from $0.380 in Kentucky to $2.59 in California.

Also known as: Pub · Lounge

Cheapest 5 states for code 9083

  1. Kentucky $0.380
  2. Maryland $0.390
  3. Virginia $0.425
  4. Tennessee $0.430
  5. Utah $0.440

Most expensive 5 states

  1. California $2.59
  2. Hawaii $1.00
  3. Rhode Island $0.960
  4. Illinois $0.902
  5. Louisiana $0.800

What does NCCI class code 9083 cover?

Class code 9083 classifies employees performing Bar, Tavern, or Nightclub, also known as Pub, Lounge. The NCCI classification system groups occupations by similar workplace exposure, loss-experience patterns, and operational characteristics. Code 9083 falls within the hospitality industry group and is filed in 18 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 9083, 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 9083 vary so widely across states

The rate spread for code 9083 is 6.8× from cheapest to most expensive ($0.380 in Kentucky to $2.59 in California). 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 9083 rate data

  1. Benchmark your carrier quote. A carrier quoting code 9083 above the $0.800 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 9083 at the same base can vary 30%+ on effective rate after these adjustments.
  4. Consider lower-rate states if locationally flexible. For code 9083, Kentucky ($0.380) is 85% cheaper than California ($2.59). 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 9083 rates in all 18 states

State Code Rate per $100 vs peers Source
Kentucky 9083 $0.380 6% view
Maryland 9083 $0.390 11% view
Virginia 9083 $0.425 17% view
Tennessee 9083 $0.430 22% view
Utah 9083 $0.440 28% view
Kansas 9083 $0.450 33% view
Arkansas 9083 $0.570 39% view
Nevada 9083 $0.590 44% view
Alaska 9083 $0.600 50% view
Minnesota 9083 $0.710 56% view
Indiana 9083 $0.730 61% view
Alabama 9083 $0.750 67% view
Oklahoma 9083 $0.770 72% view
Louisiana 9083 $0.800 78% view
Illinois 9083 $0.902 83% view
Rhode Island 9083 $0.960 89% view
Hawaii 9083 $1.00 94% view
California 9083 $2.59 100% view

Bottom quartile (cheap) Mid Top quartile (expensive)

What types of claims drive code 9083 rates?

Workers comp rate filings for code 9083 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 Bar, Tavern, or Nightclub, the top drivers are typically:

  • Patient-handling injuries, lifting and transferring patients, drive 35-50% of healthcare claim cost.
  • Workplace violence, increasingly cited in ER, behavioral health, and long-term care, is the fastest-growing healthcare claim category.
  • Sharps and bloodborne pathogen exposure, including needlestick injuries, produce long-tail surveillance claims.
  • Slips, trips, falls on wet floors are persistent frequency drivers.

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 9083.

FAQs about NCCI 9083

What occupation is NCCI class code 9083?

Class code 9083 is "Bar, Tavern, or Nightclub" (also known as Pub, Lounge), in the hospitality industry. The code is filed in 18 states.

What is the average workers comp rate for code 9083?

The median rate across 18 states is $0.710 per $100 of payroll, ranging from $0.380 (Kentucky) to $2.59 (California).

Why does code 9083 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.