Starting January 1st, 2026, employers and workers in Washington will see their average workers’ compensation insurance premium rise by 4.9%, as announced by the Washington State Department of Labor & Industries (L&I).
On average, this increase works out to about $1.37 extra per week for each full-time position — a cost shared roughly 75% by employers and 25% by workers.
According to L&I, the increase is necessary to help cover rising costs for wage replacement, medical care and disability benefits associated with workplace injuries. However, t’s important to note that this 4.9% increase represents the statewide average — individual businesses’ premiums could go up by more or less depending on their recent claims history, industry risk classification, and other factors.