AR · Professional Services · 58 codes

Professional Services workers compensation in Arkansas

Professional Services businesses in Arkansas pay a median rate of $1.27 per $100 of payroll, ranging from $0.040 to $9.22. The national median for Professional Services is $1.32, so Arkansas sits 4% below the national average. 58 unique NCCI class codes are filed in this state for Professional Services occupations. Verified 2026-05-09.

Median in AR $1.27
Vs national -4%
Codes filed 58

Top Professional Services class codes in Arkansas

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

Arkansas compliance for Professional Services employers

Coverage threshold

Employers with 3 or more employees are required to carry workers' compensation insurance.

1099 vs W-2 in Professional Services

Workers are generally presumed to be employees unless they meet specific criteria for independent contractor status, which can lead to reclassification and WC liability.

Owner exclusion

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

Max weekly benefit

$953 at 66.67% of average weekly wage, effective 2026-01-01.

Statute of limitations

2 years from injury date in Arkansas.

Audit window

Arkansas carriers audit payroll within 90 days of policy expiration. Keep Professional Services payroll segregated by class code and have job-duty documentation ready.

Cross-cite: full Arkansas workers comp overview · Professional Services cross-state rate comparison · Arkansas workers comp lawyer guide · Arkansas settlement chart

Estimate your Professional Services premium in Arkansas

Pre-filled to Professional Services and Arkansas. 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 Professional Services in Arkansas

$200to$46,100

Median: $6,350 · Rate range $0.040 to $9.22 per $100 payroll

Industry median across all states

$6,600

Cheapest states for Professional Services

  • Utah $0.455
  • Tennessee $0.705
  • Kentucky $0.810

Most expensive

  • New Jersey $4.25
  • California $3.15
  • Illinois $2.34

Estimate based on 24 states of rate-filing data. Actual premium also reflects experience modifier, schedule credits, and carrier underwriting.

Filing checklist for Professional Services businesses in Arkansas

  1. Step 1, Confirm coverage threshold

    Employers with 3 or more employees are required to carry workers' compensation insurance. For Professional Services operations, this typically applies once you make a first W-2 hire, even part-time.

  2. Step 2, Pick the right class code

    Professional Services businesses typically use codes like 4771, 8734, 8737. The wrong code can cost 4 to 10x more or get reclassified at audit. In Arkansas, the cheapest code on this list is 8803 at $0.040 and the most expensive is 8738 M at $0.340.

  3. Step 3, Get a quote

    Private carriers write Professional Services coverage in Arkansas. Schedule credits up to 25% are typical for low-loss accounts.

  4. Step 4, Document subcontractors

    A general contractor can be held liable for the workers' compensation benefits of an uninsured subcontractor's employees. Professional Services 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. Professional Services class allocation can shift if any worker spends more than 50% of time on a different code.

Penalty for non-coverage in Arkansas: Failure to carry required workers' compensation insurance can result in fines, stop-work orders, and personal liability for employee injuries.

Professional Services workers comp FAQs in Arkansas

What is the typical workers comp rate for Professional Services in Arkansas?

Professional Services employers in Arkansas pay a median rate of $1.27 per $100 of payroll, with rates ranging from $0.040 to $9.22 depending on the specific class code. The national median across all states for Professional Services is $1.32, so Arkansas sits about 4% below the national average.

How many Professional Services class codes are filed in Arkansas?

Arkansas has 58 unique NCCI class codes filed for Professional Services occupations, drawn from 63 state-class code rate cells in our dataset. The most common codes include 4771 (Waterworks Company), 8734 (Insurance Adjusters), 8737 (Property Management NOC).

Are Professional Services 1099 contractors covered by workers comp in Arkansas?

Workers are generally presumed to be employees unless they meet specific criteria for independent contractor status, which can lead to reclassification and WC liability.

What is the maximum weekly benefit for an injured Professional Services worker in Arkansas?

Arkansas caps weekly workers comp benefits at $953 (effective 2026-01-01), calculated as 66.67% of the average weekly wage. Professional Services workers are subject to the same statutory cap as workers in any other industry.

How long does a Professional Services worker have to file a comp claim in Arkansas?

The statute of limitations in Arkansas is 2 years from the date of injury. Most claims also require notice to the employer within 30 days. Professional Services workers should report any incident on the date it happens, even minor strains, because cumulative trauma claims can fail without contemporaneous documentation.

Can a Professional Services business owner exclude themselves from comp coverage in Arkansas?

Yes, Arkansas allows business owners (sole proprietors, partners, LLC members, corporate officers) to file an exclusion election. Professional Services 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.