The average cost of workers’ compensation insurance in Washington for 2026 will go up 4.9%, the Washington State Department of Labor & Industries (L&I) said Wednesday.

Starting Jan. 1, employers and workers together will pay, on average, $1.37 a week more for each full-time position, the agency said in a news release. Employers pay about 75% of the premium, and workers pay about 25%.

“While rates are increasing to keep up with the rising cost of providing wage replacement and medical care benefits, we worked — this year and every year — to keep rates steady, predictable, and as low as possible,” L&I Director Joel Sacks said.

The increase is less than what L&I expects it will need to cover 2026 claim costs. As it has done in past years, the agency will use the workers’ compensation conti

See Full Page