Key Takeaways
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NEXT, The Hartford and Simply Business lead the pack as Illinois's top-rated workers' compensation insurance providers.

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The best workers' comp provider for your Illinois business depends on your specific industry risks, number of employees, past claims and available budget.

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To find the right workers' comp coverage in Illinois, compare quotes from multiple providers and review their industry expertise, claim handling records and coverage options.

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Best Workers' Comp Insurance Companies in Illinois

NEXT and The Hartford are the best workers' comp insurance providers in Illinois, with NEXT having good customer service and coverage options. Illinois business owners can also consider Simply Business, which offers comparable quality and maintains competitive scores.

NEXT4.61$76
The Hartford4.61$75
Simply Business4.54$78
Coverdash4.46$80
biBerk4.44$82
Nationwide4.43$89
Progressive Commercial4.41$77
Thimble4.40$77
Hiscox4.39$79
Chubb4.26$93

How Did We Determine These Rates and Rankings?

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LEARN MORE ABOUT BUSINESS INSURANCE IN ILLINOIS

While workers' compensation is required in the state, your business might need additional insurance. Here are other types of coverage resources:

Best Illinois Workers’ Comp Insurance Reviews

NEXT and The Hartford emerge as the best providers in Illinois, offering protection for business owners with workers' comp requirements.

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NEXT

Best Overall Provider

MoneyGeek Rating
4.6/ 5
4.4/5Affordability
4.7/5Customer Experience
4.8/5Coverage Options
  • Average monthly premium

    $76
  • Our survey: Claims process

    3.9/5
  • Our survey: Recommend to others

    4.8/5
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The Hartford

Runner-Up Best Provider

MoneyGeek Rating
4.6/ 5
4.6/5Affordability
4.6/5Customer Experience
4.7/5Coverage Options
  • Average monthly premium

    $75
  • Our survey: Claims process

    4.5/5
  • Our survey: Recommend to others

    4.5/5

Cheapest Workers' Comp Insurance Companies in Illinois

Illinois businesses can get cheap workers comp insurance from The Hartford at $75 monthly ($903 annually). NEXT and Thimble provide competitive alternatives at $76 and $77 per month, respectively. The table below shows costs from all companies we analyzed:

The Hartford$75$903
NEXT$76$907
Thimble$77$925
Progressive Commercial$77$928
Simply Business$78$936
Hiscox$79$944
Coverdash$80$957
biBerk$82$986
Nationwide$89$1,066
Chubb$93$1,116

How Did We Determine These Rates?

Average Cost of Workers’ Comp Insurance in Illinois

Workers' compensation insurance in Illinois costs businesses an average of $81 per month or $967 annually. Illinois's rates run about $7 higher than the national monthly average of $74. Your company's actual premium depends on several factors, including your industry's risk level, number of employees, total payroll and claims track record.

Average Cost of Workers' Comp in Illinois by Industry

In Illinois, workers' comp insurance cost varies dramatically by industry risk level. Speech therapists pay the lowest premiums at $7 per month, while roofing companies face much higher rates at $915 monthly. This significant difference reflects the varying workplace injury risks across different professions.

Accountants$22$268
Ad Agency$18$211
Auto Repair$169$2,024
Automotive$128$1,536
Bakery$59$707
Barber$15$184
Beauty Salon$16$192
Bounce House$44$529
Candle$44$524
Cannabis$92$1,102
Catering$81$972
Cleaning$54$645
Coffee Shop$51$613
Computer Programming$31$373
Computer Repair$27$319
Construction$198$2,373
Consulting$33$398
Contractor$180$2,161
Courier$247$2,962
DJ$15$183
Daycare$15$175
Dental$12$148
Dog Grooming$71$850
Drone$29$349
Ecommerce$24$285
Electrical$63$754
Engineering$42$502
Excavation$118$1,417
Florist$67$804
Food$47$560
Food Truck$50$599
Funeral Home$29$354
Gardening$51$618
HVAC$69$824
Handyman$102$1,224
Home-based$11$132
Hospitality$75$904
Janitorial$54$642
Jewelry$33$398
Junk Removal$154$1,845
Lawn/Landscaping$41$497
Lawyers$58$696
Manufacturing$64$773
Marine$164$1,967
Massage$16$191
Mortgage Broker$15$181
Moving$284$3,405
Nonprofit$35$419
Painting$154$1,847
Party Rental$40$485
Personal Training$27$330
Pest Control$76$912
Pet$34$405
Pharmacy$7$85
Photography$19$224
Physical Therapy$7$89
Plumbing$70$843
Pressure Washing$91$1,093
Real Estate$33$391
Restaurant$70$835
Retail$38$459
Roofing$915$10,984
Security$57$684
Snack Bars$48$572
Software$29$347
Spa/Wellness$19$228
Speech Therapist$7$79
Startup$14$171
Tech/IT$30$358
Transportation$252$3,028
Travel$8$93
Tree Service$243$2,911
Trucking$297$3,567
Tutoring$11$134
Veterinary$21$257
Wedding Planning$31$377
Welding$128$1,535
Wholesale$44$525
Window Cleaning$228$2,740

How Much Workers' Comp Insurance Do I Need in Illinois?

Illinois requires almost all employers to get workers' comp insurance as soon as they hire their first employee. This mandatory coverage protects workers by paying medical expenses and lost wages if they get injured or sick due to their job. Coverage must begin the moment an employee starts working.

Unless exempted from having workers' comp insurance, businesses that don't provide the required coverage face daily penalties of at least $500, with fines potentially reaching $10,000. Illinois also treats willful non-compliance as a criminal offense, which could result in jail time. However, some categories are exempt from getting workers' compensation:

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    Sole Proprietors

    Self-employed business owners without employees can choose to exclude themselves from workers' comp coverage, though maintaining coverage is recommended for protection

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    Independent Contractors

    Workers who maintain control over their work methods, use their own tools, and have multiple clients are true independent contractors and typically qualify for exemption from workers' comp requirements

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    Real Estate Agents

    Licensed real estate professionals working on commission basis are typically exempt when they have signed independent contractor agreements

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    Domestic Workers

    Household employees working fewer than 40 hours per week or earning below the state threshold may be exempt from mandatory coverage

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    Corporate Officers

    Executive officers owning at least 25% of company stock can opt out by filing an exemption form with proof of alternative health coverage

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    Agricultural Workers

    Small farms with limited seasonal workers or family-only labor often qualify for exemption from mandatory workers' comp coverage

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    Religious Organizations

    Members of religious organizations who have taken vows of poverty while working for their church may be exempt from coverage requirements

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    Professional Athletes

    Professional athletes in certain sports leagues often operate under separate injury protection agreements instead of standard workers' comp coverage

How to Get the Best Workers' Comp Insurance in Illinois

Many providers offer coverage that protects your team while keeping your business insurance cost in check. Compare quotes and coverages from several providers to get business insurance that suit your needs.

  1. 1
    Check coverage requirements

    Illinois law requires most businesses with employees to carry workers' compensation insurance.

  2. 2
    Collect business details

    Prepare accurate payroll records, employee count and job classifications before gathering quotes for business insurance in Illinois.

  3. 3
    Get multiple insurance quotes

    Contact at least three insurance carriers for quotes to see where you can get affordable business insurance.

  4. 4
    Find industry-specific experience

    Choose insurers who understand your business's risks. They'll likely have a better idea of small business insurance coverage types you need beyond workers' comp.

  5. 5
    Compare provider services

    Review each insurer's benefits, claim processing speed and complaint history.

  6. 6
    Review policy details

    Review all coverage limits and exclusions. Consider pay-as-you-go payment options.

  7. 7
    Schedule annual reviews

    Review your coverage yearly as business changes affect your insurance needs.

Illinois Workers’ Comp: Bottom Line

Illinois businesses have access to several strong workers' compensation insurance providers. Our analysis shows NEXT, The Hartford and Simply Business leading the market with exceptional service and coverage options. Consider getting quotes from these providers to find the best match for your industry type, company size and financial requirements.

Illinois Workers' Comp Insurance: FAQ

Understanding workers' comp insurance requirements and costs in Illinois can be challenging for business owners to navigate. Find clear answers to your most pressing questions in our comprehensive FAQ guide below.

Is workers' comp insurance required for all Illinois businesses?

How much does workers' comp insurance cost in Illinois?

What does workers' comp insurance cover in Illinois?

Which workers' comp insurance company is best in Illinois?

What happens if I don't have workers' comp insurance in Illinois?

Do sole proprietors need workers' comp insurance in Illinois?

How do I choose the right workers' comp insurance company in Illinois?

How We Scored the Best Workers' Comp Insurance Companies in Illinois

  • Affordability (50%): Cost drives every small business insurance decision in Illinois's expensive market. We compared monthly premiums across all companies, since even comprehensive policies won't help if you can't afford them.
  • Customer experience (30%): When your employee gets hurt, you'll need an insurer that handles claims quickly and treats injured workers fairly. We used J.D. Power ratings, Illinois Department of Insurance complaint data and independent reviews.
  • Coverage options (15%): We evaluated each company's policy flexibility, add-on options and coverage limitations for specific Illinois industries and regulatory requirements.
  • Financial strength (5%): Premium savings don't matter if your insurer struggles financially. We checked AM Best ratings to ensure recommended carriers can deliver on their promises.

About Mark Fitzpatrick


Mark Fitzpatrick headshot

Mark Fitzpatrick, a Licensed Property and Casualty Insurance Producer, is MoneyGeek's resident Personal Finance Expert. With over five years of experience analyzing the insurance market, he conducts original research and creates tailored content for all types of buyers. His insights have been featured in publications like CNBC, NBC News and Mashable.

Fitzpatrick holds a master’s degree in economics and international relations from Johns Hopkins University and a bachelor’s degree from Boston College. He's also a five-time Jeopardy champion!

He writes about economics and insurance, breaking down complex topics so people know what they're buying.


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