NV · Workers' compensation
Nevada Workers' Compensation Insurance
Who must carry coverage in Nevada, how owners and officers are treated, what happens if you go without it, and how to compare carriers.
Nevada requires coverage from any employer with one or more employees, with no minimum headcount exemption, under NRS 616D.200. See the Division of Industrial Relations' employer brochure for the full requirements. Nevada is a competitive market state rated by NCCI, so our agency can compare coverage across the many private carriers writing business here.
Who must carry coverage in Nevada
Nevada requires coverage from any employer with one or more employees, with no minimum headcount exemption, under NRS 616D.200. See the Division of Industrial Relations' employer brochure for the full requirements.
Owners, officers, LLC members
Corporate officers and LLC managers are covered by default under NRS 616B.624, with their pay deemed for coverage purposes within a statutory range (a paid officer or manager's covered pay is deemed to fall between a $6,000 minimum and a $36,000 maximum annually, while an unpaid officer or manager is deemed to have $500 in minimum monthly pay). An unpaid officer or manager can reject coverage by giving written notice to both the corporation and the insurer, effective once the insurer receives it, and a nonprofit can reject coverage for all of its unpaid officers the same way; if a person who rejected coverage later receives pay for their services, that rejection is automatically rescinded. Sole proprietors, working partners, and members of working associations are generally excluded from mandatory coverage on themselves, but the business can elect to include them under NRS 616B.656. Separately, the general payroll cap used to calculate covered employees' premium basis rose from a fixed $36,000 to $98,433.60 (12 times Nevada's maximum average monthly wage) effective October 1, 2026, and now adjusts annually, though sole proprietors, working partners, and excluded officers/managers still use the original $36,000 figure.
Independent contractors and subcontractors
Nevada expects a hiring business to be able to support a worker's independent contractor status, and a business that misclassifies workers or hires an uninsured subcontractor can be exposed as the statutory employer if that worker is hurt. Collecting a current certificate of insurance from subcontractors before work begins is standard practice in the state.
Penalties for going without coverage
An employer that fails to obtain or maintain required coverage can face administrative fines of up to $15,000, appropriate premium penalties, and an order closing the business until insurance is obtained. A noncompliant employer is also directly financially responsible for all costs arising from a work-related injury, and criminal penalties can apply where a claim results in substantial bodily harm or death (NRS 616D.200; NAC 616D.345).
What injured workers receive
Injured workers receive necessary medical treatment with no dollar cap. Disability compensation is generally paid at 66 2/3% of the worker's average monthly wage (Nevada calculates benefits on a monthly rather than weekly basis), subject to a maximum average monthly wage the state resets each fiscal year (the maximum average monthly wage is $8,202.80 for fiscal year 2026, producing a maximum monthly compensation rate of $5,468.53). Permanent disability and death benefits are calculated separately under Nevada's benefit schedule.
How workers' comp is bought in Nevada
Nevada is a competitive market state rated by NCCI, so our agency can compare coverage across the many private carriers writing business here. Nevada's original state fund, the State Industrial Insurance System, was privatized in 1999 and is no longer a state-run entity; its private successor now competes as one carrier among several rather than serving as an official state fund. There is no current Nevada state-run workers' comp fund, and hard-to-place risks go through the standard NCCI assigned risk mechanism. Because Nevada's payroll cap rules for owners and officers changed materially in October 2026, it's worth confirming with an agent that a policy's payroll basis reflects the current figures rather than the older $36,000 cap where it no longer applies.
Regulator
Nevada Department of Business and Industry, Division of Industrial Relations, Workers' Compensation Section
702-486-9080
Visit the regulatorCommon Nevada industries we quote
Nevada's small-business economy includes contractors and trades tied to its fast-growing metro areas, restaurants and hospitality supporting its tourism and gaming economy, salons and personal-care businesses, professional service firms, and logistics and distribution operations along the state's interstate corridors.
- Auto Repair & Body Shops
- Cleaning & Janitorial Services
- Daycare & Child Care Centers
- Electrical Contractors
- General Contractors & Trades (with employees)
- Home Health Care Agencies
- Hotels & Lodging
- HVAC Contractors
- Landscaping & Lawn Care
- Light Manufacturing & Machine Shops
- Medical & Dental Offices
- Nonprofits & Churches
- Painting Contractors
- Plumbing Contractors
- Professional Offices (accounting, law, consulting, insurance, real estate)
- Restaurants & Food Service
- Retail Stores
- Salons, Barbershops & Spas
- Warehouses & Distribution
Popular class codes
Class codes describe the work your employees perform and drive how payroll is rated. Browse the groups below or search the full lookup.
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Nevada workers' comp questions
Do I need workers' comp for one employee in Nevada?
Yes. Nevada requires coverage as soon as an employer has one or more employees, with no minimum headcount exemption.
Can a Nevada corporate officer opt out of coverage?
An unpaid officer or LLC manager can reject coverage by giving written notice to both the corporation and the insurer; the rejection is automatically undone if that person later receives pay for their services.
Do Nevada sole proprietors need to cover themselves?
Not automatically. Sole proprietors and working partners are generally excluded from mandatory coverage on themselves, though the business can elect to include them.
Is there a Nevada state fund for workers' comp?
No. Nevada's original state fund, the State Industrial Insurance System, was privatized in 1999, and there is no current Nevada state-run workers' comp fund; coverage is placed through the competitive private market.
What happens if a Nevada employer doesn't carry required coverage?
The employer can face administrative fines up to $15,000, an order closing the business until it's insured, direct financial responsibility for all injury-related costs, and criminal exposure if a claim involves substantial bodily harm or death.
How much does an injured worker get paid in Nevada?
Generally 66 2/3% of average monthly wage, capped at a maximum the state resets each fiscal year ($8,202.80 maximum average monthly wage for FY2026).
Sources
- dir.nv.gov — https://dir.nv.gov/uploadedFiles/dirnvgov/content/WCS/EmployersDocs/EmployerBrochure.7.2026.pdf
- nevada.public.law — https://nevada.public.law/statutes/nrs_616b.624
- ncci.com — https://www.ncci.com/Articles/Pages/APB_Nevada_Payroll_Cap.aspx
- dir.nv.gov — https://dir.nv.gov/uploadedFiles/dirnvgov/content/WCS/ImportantDocs/MaxCompFY26Memo.6.30.25.ADA.pdf
Last reviewed · Reviewed by Provident Financial Group licensed agents
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