Workers' compensation in New Hampshire: Mandatory. Coverage typically required at 1+ employee. Average premium runs $1.35 per $100 of payroll for a standard risk class. Market type: Competitive private market.
Requirement Status
Mandatory
Mandatory for employers
Employee Threshold
1+ employee
Mandatory coverage trigger
Avg Cost Per $100 Payroll
$1.35
Standard risk class average
| Rule | Detail | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Market type | Competitive private market | Where you buy your policy |
| Employee threshold | 1+ employee | Trigger for mandatory coverage |
| Sole proprietor exemption | Sole proprietors without employees are exempt; they may voluntarily elect coverage. | Self-employed coverage rules |
| Industry-specific rules | Construction: covered from first employee. Agriculture: farm workers are covered. Domestic workers employed 5+ hours/week are covered. | Higher-hazard industries have stricter rules |
Premium rates are state class-code-based. Construction, roofing, and trucking pay $5–$20+ per $100 of payroll; clerical and office work pays $0.10–$0.40. Experience modification factors (EMR) further adjust your final rate.
New Hampshire's workers' compensation system is administered by the NH Department of Labor. The state operates a fully competitive private insurance market with no state fund. New Hampshire's economy is driven by technology, healthcare, manufacturing, tourism, and small-scale agriculture, with significant employment concentrated in the Manchester-Nashua corridor and the Lakes Region and White Mountains tourism economy. The state's workers' comp costs are moderate — slightly below the New England average — reflecting a mix of white-collar professional services and some heavier manufacturing and construction sectors. New Hampshire has made investments in dispute resolution efficiency that have helped contain overall system costs.
One of New Hampshire's most distinctive compliance features is the five-hour-per-week domestic worker coverage threshold — among the lowest in the United States. Household employers who have a part-time housekeeper, lawn care worker, or babysitter working five or more hours weekly are technically required to carry workers' comp for that individual. This threshold is routinely overlooked by residential employers who assume casual domestic help is exempt. Agricultural workers are also broadly covered in New Hampshire, unlike in many other New England states. New Hampshire's competitive private market offers employers meaningful carrier options, and the state's below-average litigation rate translates to more predictable claim costs than in neighboring Massachusetts or Connecticut.
Workers' comp pays medical bills + lost wages for injured workers and provides 'exclusive remedy' protection — employees generally can't sue you for workplace injuries when coverage is in place. Operating without required WC can mean massive personal liability and state penalties.
New Hampshire has one of the lowest domestic worker thresholds in the nation — domestic workers employed as few as 5 hours per week must be covered.
New Hampshire has an open competitive private market — workers' comp is sold by hundreds of private carriers and class-code rates are set by a state rating bureau (typically NCCI).
💡 New Hampshire Pro Tip
Yes. New Hampshire requires all employers with one or more employees to carry workers' comp. This includes agricultural workers and domestic workers employed as few as five hours per week — one of the most expansive domestic worker requirements in the country. The NH Department of Labor enforces coverage requirements.
New Hampshire's average workers' comp cost is approximately $1.35 per $100 of payroll, moderate for New England. Construction, manufacturing, and hospitality carry above-average rates, while professional services and technology work are under $0.50. The state's competitive private market gives employers meaningful pricing options at renewal.
Sole proprietors without employees are exempt from New Hampshire's workers' comp requirement. Once you hire any employee — including part-time domestic help working just five hours per week — coverage is mandatory. Voluntary coverage is available for sole proprietors and is worth considering for those working in construction, manufacturing, or other physical trades.
Compliance rules from New Hampshire's Department of Labor and Workers' Compensation Commission; rate averages reflect 2026 NCCI loss cost filings and state fund rate orders.
Sarah Mitchell
Editorial Lead, Catastrophe & Commercial Property
This article was researched and written by the Cover Forge USA editorial team against federal sources (NAIC, CMS, FEMA, DOL, SSA, state DOIs) and standard policy forms. Bylines organize content by topic — they do not assert individual licensure. See our editorial-policy for details.
Reviewed May 2026
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This site provides general educational information only and is not a substitute for professional insurance advice. All rates, data, and coverage details are estimates and may not reflect your actual premiums. Insurance availability and pricing vary by state, insurer, and individual risk factors. Always consult a licensed insurance professional in your state before making coverage decisions.