Restaurants & Food Service workers compensation in Rhode Island
Restaurants & Food Service businesses in Rhode Island pay a median rate of $1.23 per $100 of payroll, ranging from $0.810 to $1.66. The national median for Restaurants & Food Service is $0.810, so Rhode Island sits 52% above 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 Rhode Island
The class codes most likely to apply to a Restaurants & Food Service operation in Rhode Island, 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 | $0.810 | HIGH |
| 9047 | Restaurant, N.O.C. | $1.66 | HIGH |
Rhode Island compliance for Restaurants & Food Service employers
Coverage threshold
Mandatory for employers with one or more employees.
1099 vs W-2 in Restaurants & Food Service
Beginning on January 1, 2024, independent contractors are required to file an annual registration for the duration of their relationship with each entity.
Owner exclusion
Allowed in Rhode Island. Sole proprietor self-coverage optional; LLC member self-coverage optional.
Max weekly benefit
$1,622 at 62% of average weekly wage, effective 2025-10-01.
Statute of limitations
2 years from injury date in Rhode Island.
Audit window
Rhode Island carriers audit payroll Within 90 days of policy expiration. Keep Restaurants & Food Service payroll segregated by class code and have job-duty documentation ready.
Cross-cite: full Rhode Island workers comp overview · Restaurants & Food Service cross-state rate comparison · Rhode Island workers comp lawyer guide · Rhode Island settlement chart
Estimate your Restaurants & Food Service premium in Rhode Island
Pre-filled to Restaurants & Food Service and Rhode Island. 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 Rhode Island
$4,050to$8,300
Median: $6,175 · Rate range $0.810 to $1.66 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 Rhode Island
-
Step 1, Confirm coverage threshold
Mandatory for employers with one or more employees. For Restaurants & Food Service operations, this typically applies once you make a first W-2 hire, even part-time.
-
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 Rhode Island, the cheapest code on this list is 9082 at $0.810 and the most expensive is 9047 at $1.66.
-
Step 3, Get a quote
Beacon Mutual Insurance Company is one option in Rhode Island; private carriers (Travelers, Hartford, Liberty Mutual, AmTrust) also write coverage. Schedule credits up to 25% are typical for low-loss accounts.
-
Step 4, Document subcontractors
General contractors are typically liable for the workers' compensation coverage of their uninsured subcontractors and their employees. 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.
-
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. 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 Rhode Island
What is the typical workers comp rate for Restaurants & Food Service in Rhode Island?
Restaurants & Food Service employers in Rhode Island pay a median rate of $1.23 per $100 of payroll, with rates ranging from $0.810 to $1.66 depending on the specific class code. The national median across all states for Restaurants & Food Service is $0.810, so Rhode Island sits about 52% above the national average.
How many Restaurants & Food Service class codes are filed in Rhode Island?
Rhode Island 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 Rhode Island?
Beginning on January 1, 2024, independent contractors are required to file an annual registration for the duration of their relationship with each entity.
What is the maximum weekly benefit for an injured Restaurants & Food Service worker in Rhode Island?
Rhode Island caps weekly workers comp benefits at $1,622 (effective 2025-10-01), calculated as 62% 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 Rhode Island?
The statute of limitations in Rhode Island is 2 years 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 Rhode Island?
Yes, Rhode Island 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.