TN · Office & Clerical · 4 codes

Office & Clerical workers compensation in Tennessee

Office & Clerical businesses in Tennessee pay a median rate of $0.490 per $100 of payroll, ranging from $0.100 to $0.550. The national median for Office & Clerical is $0.670, so Tennessee sits 27% below the national average. 4 unique NCCI class codes are filed in this state for Office & Clerical occupations. Verified 2026-05-09.

Median in TN $0.490
Vs national -27%
Codes filed 4

Top Office & Clerical class codes in Tennessee

The class codes most likely to apply to a Office & Clerical operation in Tennessee, sorted from cheapest to most expensive per $100 of payroll. Click into any code for the full state-by-state rate comparison.

Code Occupation Rate per $100 Confidence
8815 Clerical Telecommuter Employees $0.100 HIGH
8815 M Clerical Telecommuter Employees $0.120 HIGH
7422 Railroad Clerical Office $0.490 HIGH
9052 Hotel Clerical Office $0.530 HIGH
8800 Office Clerical $0.550 HIGH

Tennessee compliance for Office & Clerical employers

Coverage threshold

Employers with 5 or more employees are generally required to carry workers' compensation insurance, with exceptions for certain industries.

1099 vs W-2 in Office & Clerical

Workers are generally presumed to be employees unless they meet specific criteria for independent contractor status, often based on control and economic dependence.

Owner exclusion

Allowed in Tennessee. Sole proprietor self-coverage optional; LLC member self-coverage optional.

Max weekly benefit

$1,427 at 66.67% of average weekly wage, effective 2025-07-01.

Statute of limitations

1 year from injury date in Tennessee.

Audit window

Tennessee carriers audit payroll within 90 days of policy expiration. Keep Office & Clerical payroll segregated by class code and have job-duty documentation ready.

Cross-cite: full Tennessee workers comp overview · Office & Clerical cross-state rate comparison · Tennessee workers comp lawyer guide · Tennessee settlement chart

Estimate your Office & Clerical premium in Tennessee

Pre-filled to Office & Clerical and Tennessee. Adjust payroll to see a real premium range from filed rates.

Estimate your workers comp premium

Pick your industry, state, and annual payroll. Range comes from real rate filings.

Estimated annual premium for Office & Clerical in Tennessee

$500to$2,750

Median: $2,450 · Rate range $0.100 to $0.550 per $100 payroll

Industry median across all states

$3,350

Cheapest states for Office & Clerical

  • Utah $0.330
  • Kansas $0.360
  • Tennessee $0.490

Most expensive

  • New Jersey $3.43
  • New York $2.04
  • California $1.83

Estimate based on 23 states of rate-filing data. Actual premium also reflects experience modifier, schedule credits, and carrier underwriting.

Filing checklist for Office & Clerical businesses in Tennessee

  1. Step 1, Confirm coverage threshold

    Employers with 5 or more employees are generally required to carry workers' compensation insurance, with exceptions for certain industries. For Office & Clerical operations, this typically applies once you make a first W-2 hire, even part-time.

  2. Step 2, Pick the right class code

    Office & Clerical businesses typically use codes like 8815, 8800, 9052. The wrong code can cost 4 to 10x more or get reclassified at audit. In Tennessee, the cheapest code on this list is 8815 at $0.100 and the most expensive is 8800 at $0.550.

  3. Step 3, Get a quote

    Private carriers write Office & Clerical coverage in Tennessee. Schedule credits up to 25% are typical for low-loss accounts.

  4. Step 4, Document subcontractors

    General contractors are generally liable for the workers' compensation coverage of uninsured subcontractors and their employees. Office & Clerical operators with crews of 1099s should keep certificates of insurance for every sub, otherwise the GC absorbs the sub liability at audit.

  5. Step 5, Annual audit

    Carriers audit payroll within 90 days of policy expiration. Have payroll segregated by class code, job descriptions on file, and overtime properly excluded from rated payroll. Office & Clerical class allocation can shift if any worker spends more than 50% of time on a different code.

Penalty for non-coverage in Tennessee: Penalties for non-compliance include fines, stop-work orders, and potential criminal charges, with employers liable for all medical expenses and lost wages.

Office & Clerical workers comp FAQs in Tennessee

What is the typical workers comp rate for Office & Clerical in Tennessee?

Office & Clerical employers in Tennessee pay a median rate of $0.490 per $100 of payroll, with rates ranging from $0.100 to $0.550 depending on the specific class code. The national median across all states for Office & Clerical is $0.670, so Tennessee sits about 27% below the national average.

How many Office & Clerical class codes are filed in Tennessee?

Tennessee has 4 unique NCCI class codes filed for Office & Clerical occupations, drawn from 5 state-class code rate cells in our dataset. The most common codes include 8815 (Clerical Telecommuter Employees), 8800 (Office Clerical), 9052 (Hotel Clerical Office).

Are Office & Clerical 1099 contractors covered by workers comp in Tennessee?

Workers are generally presumed to be employees unless they meet specific criteria for independent contractor status, often based on control and economic dependence.

What is the maximum weekly benefit for an injured Office & Clerical worker in Tennessee?

Tennessee caps weekly workers comp benefits at $1,427 (effective 2025-07-01), calculated as 66.67% of the average weekly wage. Office & Clerical workers are subject to the same statutory cap as workers in any other industry.

How long does a Office & Clerical worker have to file a comp claim in Tennessee?

The statute of limitations in Tennessee is 1 year from the date of injury. Most claims also require notice to the employer within 30 days. Office & Clerical workers should report any incident on the date it happens, even minor strains, because cumulative trauma claims can fail without contemporaneous documentation.

Can a Office & Clerical business owner exclude themselves from comp coverage in Tennessee?

Yes, Tennessee allows business owners (sole proprietors, partners, LLC members, corporate officers) to file an exclusion election. Office & Clerical owner-operators often elect out to keep premium below the minimum. Sole-proprietor self-coverage is not required, and LLC member self-coverage is not required.