Restaurants & Food Service workers compensation in Louisiana
Restaurants & Food Service businesses in Louisiana pay a median rate of $0.740 per $100 of payroll, ranging from $0.720 to $0.760. The national median for Restaurants & Food Service is $0.810, so Louisiana sits 9% below the national average. 2 unique NCCI class codes are filed in this state for Restaurants & Food Service occupations. Verified 2026-05-09.
Top Restaurants & Food Service class codes in Louisiana
The class codes most likely to apply to a Restaurants & Food Service operation in Louisiana, 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 9082 | Restaurant, fast food | $0.720 | HIGH |
| 9044 | Restaurant Operations | $0.760 | HIGH |
Louisiana compliance for Restaurants & Food Service employers
Coverage threshold
Employers with one or more employees are required to carry workers' compensation insurance.
1099 vs W-2 in Restaurants & Food Service
Classification of 1099 contractors is based on a multi-factor test, primarily focusing on the right to control the details of the work performed.
Owner exclusion
Allowed in Louisiana. Sole proprietor self-coverage optional; LLC member self-coverage optional.
Max weekly benefit
$877 at 66.67% of average weekly wage, effective 2025-09-01.
Statute of limitations
1 year from injury date in Louisiana.
Audit window
Louisiana carriers audit payroll within 90-120 days of policy expiration. Keep Restaurants & Food Service payroll segregated by class code and have job-duty documentation ready.
Cross-cite: full Louisiana workers comp overview · Restaurants & Food Service cross-state rate comparison · Louisiana workers comp lawyer guide · Louisiana settlement chart
Estimate your Restaurants & Food Service premium in Louisiana
Pre-filled to Restaurants & Food Service and Louisiana. 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 Restaurants & Food Service in Louisiana
$3,600to$3,800
Median: $3,700 · Rate range $0.720 to $0.760 per $100 payroll
Industry median across all states
$4,050
Cheapest states for Restaurants & Food Service
- Tennessee $0.360
- Kentucky $0.410
- Maryland $0.430
Most expensive
- New Jersey $2.94
- California $2.59
- New York $2.13
Estimate based on 21 states of rate-filing data. Actual premium also reflects experience modifier, schedule credits, and carrier underwriting.
Filing checklist for Restaurants & Food Service businesses in Louisiana
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Step 1, Confirm coverage threshold
Employers with one or more employees are required to carry workers' compensation insurance. For Restaurants & Food Service operations, this typically applies once you make a first W-2 hire, even part-time.
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Step 2, Pick the right class code
Restaurants & Food Service businesses typically use codes like 9082, 9044, 9078. The wrong code can cost 4 to 10x more or get reclassified at audit. In Louisiana, the cheapest code on this list is 9082 at $0.720 and the most expensive is 9044 at $0.760.
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Step 3, Get a quote
Louisiana Workers Compensation Corporation (LWCC) is one option in Louisiana; private carriers (Travelers, Hartford, Liberty Mutual, AmTrust) also write coverage. Schedule credits up to 25% are typical for low-loss accounts.
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Step 4, Document subcontractors
A principal contractor can be held liable for the workers' compensation benefits of an uninsured subcontractor's employees if the work performed is part of the principal's trade, business, or occupation. Restaurants & Food Service operators with crews of 1099s should keep certificates of insurance for every sub, otherwise the GC absorbs the sub liability at audit.
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Step 5, Annual audit
Carriers audit payroll within 90-120 days of policy expiration. Have payroll segregated by class code, job descriptions on file, and overtime properly excluded from rated payroll. Restaurants & Food Service class allocation can shift if any worker spends more than 50% of time on a different code.
Restaurants & Food Service workers comp FAQs in Louisiana
What is the typical workers comp rate for Restaurants & Food Service in Louisiana?
Restaurants & Food Service employers in Louisiana pay a median rate of $0.740 per $100 of payroll, with rates ranging from $0.720 to $0.760 depending on the specific class code. The national median across all states for Restaurants & Food Service is $0.810, so Louisiana sits about 9% below the national average.
How many Restaurants & Food Service class codes are filed in Louisiana?
Louisiana has 2 unique NCCI class codes filed for Restaurants & Food Service occupations, drawn from 2 state-class code rate cells in our dataset. The most common codes include 9082 (Restaurant, fast food), 9044 (Restaurant Operations), 9078 (Restaurant, Fast Food).
Are Restaurants & Food Service 1099 contractors covered by workers comp in Louisiana?
Classification of 1099 contractors is based on a multi-factor test, primarily focusing on the right to control the details of the work performed.
What is the maximum weekly benefit for an injured Restaurants & Food Service worker in Louisiana?
Louisiana caps weekly workers comp benefits at $877 (effective 2025-09-01), calculated as 66.67% of the average weekly wage. Restaurants & Food Service workers are subject to the same statutory cap as workers in any other industry.
How long does a Restaurants & Food Service worker have to file a comp claim in Louisiana?
The statute of limitations in Louisiana is 1 year from the date of injury. Most claims also require notice to the employer within 30 days. Restaurants & Food Service workers should report any incident on the date it happens, even minor strains, because cumulative trauma claims can fail without contemporaneous documentation.
Can a Restaurants & Food Service business owner exclude themselves from comp coverage in Louisiana?
Yes, Louisiana allows business owners (sole proprietors, partners, LLC members, corporate officers) to file an exclusion election. Restaurants & Food Service 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.