Combining reliable customer support with competitive rates and extensive coverage selections, biBerk earns Pennsylvania's number one workers' compensation spot with 98 out of 100 points. While Thimble and Nationwide represent solid runner-up options, biBerk sets this state's insurance standard.
Cheapest Workers' Comp Insurance in Pennsylvania
Updated: June 3, 2025
Advertising & Editorial Disclosure
Key Takeaways
biBerk, Thimble, and Nationwide are our top picks for the best cheap workers' comp insurance providers in Pennsylvania.
For most small businesses in Pennsylvania, workers' compensation coverage costs around $944 per year or $84 per month.
Workers' comp insurance is required in Pennsylvania for all companies with employees to cover expenses from employees sustaining injuries or illnesses during business activities.
Best Cheap Workers’ Comp Insurance Companies in Pennsylvania
| biBerk | 98 | $198 |
| Thimble | 89 | $300 |
| Nationwide | 86 | $436 |
*Rates and scores are for software development businesses with small (five employees), medium (20 employees) and large (100 employees) operations, aggregated for an overall best recommendation.
Best Cheap Pennsylvania Workers' Comp Insurance by Business Size
biBerk is the cost leader for both small businesses under five employees and large small business segments, while Nationwide is best for medium-sized small businesses. Review the detailed rate breakdown below to see how these competitive providers stack up across small, medium, and large small business categories.
| biBerk | Businesses with five or less employees | $56 |
| Nationwide | Medium-size small businesses | $95 |
| biBerk | Larger small businesses | $451 |
biBerk: Best Overall
pros
Extemely affordable compared to competition
Highest customer ratings in the nation
Fast quotes available online or by phone
cons
Not available for all business types
COMPANY HIGHLIGHTS
biBerk has a 4.9 out of 5 rating from more than 40,000 reviews, marking it as the highest rated company for customer service nationwide. Their affordability is also impressive, saving businesses an average of $102 per month compared to the next cheapest provider. Uniquely, biBerk offers loss control resources to assist businesses in minimizing injuries, which can lower your business insurance premiums even further with them.
How Much Is Workers' Comp Insurance in Pennsylvania?
Pennsylvania software development firms pay $944-$8,917 annually for workers' compensation, but your rates will vary significantly based on workforce size, industry risks, employee roles, and safety record.
| Businesses with five or less employees | $84 | $944 |
| Medium-size small businesses | $132 | $1,485 |
| Larger small businesses | $764 | $8,917 |
Factors That Impact Workers’ Compensation Costs in Pennsylvania
The cost of workers' compensation insurance varies for each business, depending on several factors that influence coverage costs including the following: business size, industry and risk level.
Payroll costs
Your workers' compensation costs correlate directly with your total payroll expenses, as insurers base premiums on each $100 of employee earnings. Businesses with substantial wage commitments will see correspondingly higher insurance expenses than those maintaining leaner compensation structures.
Number of employees
Higher employee injury risk accompanies larger workforces, often resulting in elevated workers' compensation insurance premiums for these companies. More workers statistically create greater opportunities for workplace accidents, incidents, and safety-related claims.
Employee class code
Construction, mining, and manufacturing companies typically encounter higher workers' compensation premiums than consulting, accounting, and software development firms due to their respective class code classifications.
Previous claims
Insurance companies use your workers' compensation claims history as a primary predictor of future risk, reviewing factors like injury severity, medical costs, lost-time incidents and claim resolution patterns to determine your premium rates. This experience rating system can significantly increase rates for businesses with poor safety records.
Pennsylvania Workers' Comp Insurance: Buyer's Guide
We've broken down how to get the best workers' comp coverage, who needs it, and what this type of policy covers to guide you.
How to Get the Best Workers' Comp Insurance in Pennsylvania
Below we detail the best steps to take to ensure you get the best workers' comp policy possible for your organization.
- 1
Learn about required coverages and options
Your workers' compensation needs are unique to your industry type, business size, employee count, and claims track record. Since state requirements and available options vary nationwide, comprehensive regulatory research combined with professional insurance consultation helps prevent purchasing inadequate protection or unnecessary premium expenses.
- 2
Research costs and providers
Investigate state-run insurance programs and self-insurance eligibility before focusing on private carriers, as these options may offer superior rates for your business type. Research industry-specific costs and top providers to create a targeted quote list.
- 3
Consult similar businesses
Talk to other businesses in your community, especially those similar to yours. Ask about their experiences, needs and coverage choices to help inform your decision more personally.
- 4
Compare multiple providers through different means
Use online comparison platforms, direct agent consultations, and company websites, since pricing structures can differ based on your acquisition approach. Gather quotes from multiple providers to ensure you're capturing the complete range of available options and competitive rates.
Do You Need Workers’ Compensation Insurance in Pennsylvania?
Workers' compensation insurance is mandatory for all state businesses, except sole proprietors, partners, and corporate officers with complete ownership may opt out.
WORKERS’ COMP PENALTIES IN PENNSYLVANIA
Employers in Pennsylvania must follow workers' compensation laws. If they don't, they could face serious penalties:
- Criminal charges - misdemeanor - can result in up to one year in jail and a $2,500 fine for each day without coverage.
- Criminal charges - felony - For intentional non-compliance: $15,000 fine and up to seven years in prison for each day of violation.
- Each day counts as a separate offense - Every day without coverage constitutes a separate criminal offense.
- Reimbursement to Uninsured Employers Guaranty Fund - Responsibility for all costs, interest, penalties, and fees the fund pays for claims.
- Personal injury lawsuit exposure - Loss of exclusive remedy protection; employees can sue employers for negligence and recover full damages.
- Potential punitive damages - Employers may face punitive damages in personal injury lawsuits for grossly negligent acts.
- Information request penalties - $200 per day for up to 30 days for failing to respond to coverage information requests.
- Business suspension - Suspension of business operations until compliance is achieved.
- State fund coverage with full reimbursement - The state covers worker benefits, but the employer must pay back all costs plus additional expenses.
- Catastrophic civil liability - Liability for economic and non-economic damages that may far exceed typical workers' comp costs.
What Does Workers’ Compensation Insurance Cover in Pennsylvania?
Workers' compensation insurance provides vital benefits to employees experiencing work-related injuries or illnesses. This coverage usually encompasses medical care, disability benefits, lost wages and more for impacted workers, paying out 66% of weekly wages according to Pennsylvania law. This protects employees and defends the business against potential legal claims associated with workplace injuries or illnesses.
Best Workers' Compensation Insurance Pennsylvania: Bottom Line
In total, the top three best and cheapest workers' comp insurance providers in Pennsylvania are biBerk, Thimble and Nationwide. While these companies are our recommendations, we urge you to compare rates for yourself and consult similar businesses in your industry to get the best deal.
Workers' Comp Insurance in Pennsylvania: FAQ
Below are answers to frequently asked questions about Pennsylvania workers' comp insurance from our MoneyGeek experts.
Which company has the best workers’ compensation insurance in Pennsylvania?
In Pennsylvania, biBerk surpasses its competition thanks to its competitive pricing (averaging around $95 per month) and low complaint index. However, selecting the best insurance for your needs will depend on various aspects, including your industry, the size of your workforce and particular state requirements.
Which company has the cheapest workers’ compensation insurance in Pennsylvania?
biBerk is the most cost-effective workers' comp insurance provider in Pennsylvania for businesses with 5 or fewer employees. For medium-sized small businesses, Nationwide offers the most affordable rates. Meanwhile, larger small businesses will find biBerk to be the cheapest option available.
Does Pennsylvania require businesses to have workers’ compensation insurance?
Yes, Pennsylvania mandates workers’ compensation insurance for nearly all businesses.
In Pennsylvania, all businesses must secure workers' compensation insurance, with exemptions available for sole proprietors, partners, and sole corporate officers.
How much does workers’ compensation insurance cost in Pennsylvania?
In Pennsylvania, medium-sized small businesses average $132 per month for workers' compensation insurance.
Businesses with roughly 20 employees generally see an average monthly premium around $132 for worker's compensation coverage in the state.
How We Rated Workers' Comp Insurance Companies in Pennsylvania
MoneyGeek calculated workers' compensation insurance rates using a software development business with five, 20 and 100 employees to represent various organization sizes.
Our scoring methodology included:
- Affordability (60%): Overall cost compared to other providers and different business profiles
- Customer experience (30%): Ratings from actual customers, J.D. Power studies, AM Best financial stability ratings and our team's experience with quote processes
- Coverage (10%): Additional options beyond standard offerings and breadth of industries served
About Mark Fitzpatrick
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!
Passionate about economics and insurance, he aims to promote transparency in financial topics and empower others to make confident money decisions.
sources
- biBerk. "Reviews." Accessed June 3, 2025.
- Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. "State Workers' Insurance Fund (SWIF)." Accessed June 3, 2025.