Washington’s workers’ compensation benefit costs per covered worker remain the highest in the country, according to new data from the National Academy of Social Insurance (NASI). NASI’s August 2026 report covers data from 2023.

In 2023, benefit costs in Washington were $875.41 per covered worker, up from $854.31 in 2022 (as revised). The next highest was $781.44 per worker in California. As a share of covered wages, benefit costs in Washington were second highest, at 0.99%.

From 2019 to 2023, covered wages in Washington grew by 32.6% (the 11^th largest percentage increase in the country) and total benefit costs in Washington grew by 17.4% (the third largest percentage increase).

Average Washington workers’ compensation insurance premiums increased by 4.9% in 2026. As I showed when the 2026 rates were proposed, the state has been adopting rates below the break-even point since 2020. This policy understates the true cost of Washington’s workers’ compensation system.