The Hartford tops MoneyGeek's ranking of the best workers' comp insurance in Arkansas, tying with Nationwide for the lowest monthly rate at $49. The Hartford's edge comes from its coverage rank (third) and customer service rank (third), giving it the most balanced profile in the state. ERGO NEXT ranks second overall, with competitive rates and strong customer service, but it ranks sixth on coverage, which matters if your business operates in a higher-risk industry where policy breadth is a high priority.
Best Workers' Comp Insurance in Arkansas (2026)
With monthly rates as low as $8 monthly, The Hartford, ERGO NEXT and Nationwide offer the cheapest and best workers' comp insurance in Arkansas.Â
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Updated: May 7, 2026
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Best Arkansas Workers' Comp Insurance: Fast Answers
What are the best and cheapest workers' comp insurance providers in Arkansas?
The Hartford leads Arkansas with the top MoneyGeek score and the lowest monthly rate at $49, making it both the best and cheapest option in the state. Nationwide ties The Hartford for the lowest rate among all ranked providers.
- The Hartford: $49/month
- Nationwide: $49/month
- ERGO NEXT: $50/month
- Coverdash: $61/month
- Thimble: $62/month
Is workers' comp insurance required in Arkansas?
Arkansas requires workers' comp for employers with three or more employees, a lower threshold than many other states. The Arkansas Workers' Compensation Commission oversees compliance and enforcement across the state. Employers who fail to carry required coverage face stop-work orders and personal liability for the full cost of any employee injuries.
How much does workers' comp insurance cost in Arkansas?
Averaging $65 per month, Arkansas is one of the more affordable workers' comp markets in the region. The cheapest industries are Financial Services and Beauty/Body & Wellness, both averaging $13/month, while Transportation & Logistics ($192/month) and Construction ($178/month) are the most expensive in the state.
How do you get workers' comp insurance in Arkansas?
Arkansas operates a fully competitive private market, meaning employers can get workers' comp insurance directly from licensed carriers. Employers unable to secure voluntary market coverage can access the Arkansas Workers' Compensation Assigned Risk Plan, administered through NCCI. Qualifying large employers may also apply for self-insurance status under the Arkansas Workers' Compensation Commission.
What does Arkansas workers' comp insurance cover?
Arkansas workers' comp policies cover four primary benefit categories:
- Medical expenses: Covers all reasonable and necessary medical treatment for work-related injuries; the Arkansas Workers' Compensation Commission sets the medical fee schedule.
- Wage loss benefits: Pays temporary total disability at 66â…”% of the employee's average weekly wage, subject to the current maximum weekly benefit established by the Arkansas Workers' Compensation Commission.
- Vocational rehabilitation: Covers retraining and placement support for workers unable to return to their pre-injury position.
- Death benefits: Pays burial expenses and compensation to qualifying dependents based on a percentage of the deceased's average weekly wage.
Best Workers' Comp Insurance Companies in Arkansas
| The Hartford | 4.54 | $49 | 3 | 3 |
| ERGO NEXT | 4.43 | $50 | 1 | 6 |
| Nationwide | 4.39 | $49 | 6 | 5 |
| Coverdash | 4.27 | $61 | 5 | 1 |
| biBERK | 3.95 | $65 | 8 | 8 |
| Thimble | 3.89 | $62 | 8 | 9 |
| Simply Business | 3.89 | $73 | 2 | 2 |
| Progressive Commercial | 3.78 | $70 | 8 | 7 |
| Chubb | 3.67 | $91 | 3 | 4 |
| Hiscox | 3.62 | $77 | 6 | 10 |
How Did We Determine These Rates and Rankings?
These rates are estimates based on MoneyGeek's analysis of small businesses with 1 to 4 employees across 408 major industries. Actual rates vary based on your business location, industry risk factors, claims history, coverage limits and individual insurer underwriting criteria. Contact insurers directly for personalized quotes.
The Hartford
Best Workers' Comp Insurance in Arkansas
MoneyGeek Rating
4.5/ 5
4.8/5Affordability Score
4.1/5Customer Experience Score
4/5Coverage Score
Average Monthly Cost
$49Claims Processing Score
4.1/5Policy Management Score
4/5Buying Process Score
4/5
ERGO NEXT
Best Arkansas Workers' Comp Insurance: Runner-Up
MoneyGeek Rating
4.4/ 5
4.7/5Affordability Score
4.4/5Customer Experience Score
3.6/5Coverage Score
Average Monthly Cost
$50Claims Processing Score
4/5Policy Management Score
4.1/5Buying Process Score
4.4/5
LEARN MORE ABOUT ARKANSAS BUSINESS INSURANCE
Cheapest Workers' Comp Insurance in Arkansas
The Hartford and Nationwide both average $49 per employee monthly in Arkansas, the lowest rates in the state. The middle tier tells a different story. ERGO NEXT sits just $1 above the leaders at $50, making the top three essentially a cluster. Then the table jumps: Coverdash at $61 represents a 22% step up from ERGO NEXT. If rate is your only filter, the decision lives in that top cluster.
Chubb at $91 monthly is the most expensive option here, 86% above The Hartford's rate. That gap warrants scrutiny before dismissing it. Carriers at the high end of workers' comp pricing reflect either broader coverage triggers, stronger claims support, or underwriting for higher-risk classifications.
Cheapest Workers' Comp Insurance in Arkansas
| The Hartford | $49 | $588 |
| Nationwide | $49 | $588 |
| ERGO NEXT | $50 | $600 |
| Coverdash | $61 | $732 |
| Thimble | $62 | $744 |
| biBERK | $65 | $780 |
| Progressive Commercial | $70 | $840 |
| Simply Business | $73 | $876 |
| Hiscox | $77 | $924 |
| Chubb | $91 | $1,092 |
Cheapest Workers' Comp Insurance in Arkansas by Industry
When we pulled workers' comp rates across 25 industries in Arkansas, one pattern emerged immediately: The Hartford holds the cheapest rate in 14 of the 25 industries we analyzed, but its advantage is concentrated in white-collar and light-service work. ERGO NEXT wins every high-risk category, from construction ($117/month) to agriculture ($80/month) to transportation ($149/month). If your business involves employees working with their hands or operating vehicles, ERGO NEXT belongs at the top of your comparison list regardless of what the overall carrier rankings show.
| Financial Services | The Hartford | $8 | $96 |
| Beauty, Body & Wellness Services | The Hartford | $9 | $108 |
| Marketing & Communications | ERGO NEXT | $9 | $108 |
| Consulting Services | The Hartford | $10 | $120 |
| Real Estate & Property Services | The Hartford | $10 | $120 |
| Other Professional Services | The Hartford | $13 | $156 |
| Tech/IT | The Hartford | $19 | $228 |
| Childcare Services | Coverdash | $20 | $240 |
| Hospitality, Travel & Tourism | The Hartford | $20 | $240 |
| Food & Beverage | ERGO NEXT | $21 | $252 |
| Healthcare & Medical | The Hartford | $22 | $264 |
| Retail & Product Rental | The Hartford | $24 | $288 |
| Nonprofit & Associations | The Hartford | $28 | $336 |
| Pet Care Services | ERGO NEXT | $31 | $372 |
| Fitness Services | ERGO NEXT | $35 | $420 |
| Education | ERGO NEXT | $36 | $432 |
| Repair & Maintenance | ERGO NEXT | $36 | $432 |
| Arts, Media & Entertainment | ERGO NEXT | $48 | $576 |
| Recreation & Sports | ERGO NEXT | $55 | $660 |
| Cleaning Services | The Hartford | $56 | $672 |
| Manufacturing | The Hartford | $70 | $840 |
| Agriculture & Natural Resources | ERGO NEXT | $80 | $960 |
| Wholesale & Distribution | ERGO NEXT | $92 | $1,104 |
| Construction & Contracting | ERGO NEXT | $117 | $1,404 |
| Transportation & Logistics | ERGO NEXT | $149 | $1,788 |
How Much Is Workers' Comp Insurance in Arkansas?
At an average of $65 monthly, we found Arkansas workers' comp rates to be among the lowest in the country. But workers' comp premiums in Arkansas also vary by a factor of nearly 20 across industries. Beauty and financial services businesses pay $14 a month, while transportation and logistics operators pay $271.
The spread matters, because it tells you what underwriters are actually pricing: physical risk and injury frequency. The cheapest rates in our analysis are for marketing, consulting, and financial services, which are industries where workers rarely leave a desk. The most expensive industries are where workers operate vehicles, heavy equipment or machinery daily.
| Beauty, Body & Wellness Services | $14 | $168 |
| Financial Services | $14 | $168 |
| Marketing & Communications | $15 | $180 |
| Consulting Services | $19 | $228 |
| Real Estate & Property Services | $20 | $240 |
| Other Professional Services | $22 | $264 |
| Childcare Services | $33 | $396 |
| Food & Beverage | $37 | $444 |
| Hospitality, Travel & Tourism | $38 | $456 |
| Tech/IT | $39 | $468 |
| Healthcare & Medical | $46 | $552 |
| Retail & Product Rental | $49 | $588 |
| Nonprofit & Associations | $52 | $624 |
| Pet Care Services | $56 | $672 |
| Fitness Services | $59 | $708 |
| Education | $60 | $720 |
| Repair & Maintenance | $66 | $792 |
| Arts, Media & Entertainment | $83 | $996 |
| Recreation & Sports | $102 | $1,224 |
| Cleaning Services | $107 | $1,284 |
| Manufacturing | $127 | $1,524 |
| Agriculture & Natural Resources | $147 | $1,764 |
| Wholesale & Distribution | $163 | $1,956 |
| Construction & Contracting | $250 | $3,000 |
| Transportation & Logistics | $271 | $3,252 |
Arkansas Workers' Comp Insurance Cost Factors
The Arkansas Workers' Compensation Commission oversees the state's workers' comp system. Arkansas uses NCCI class codes and loss costs filed by private carriers. One distinguishing cost driver is the state's substantial agricultural, poultry processing, and transportation industries, which push average rates above pure professional service benchmarks.
How Much Workers' Comp Insurance Do I Need in Arkansas?
Arkansas requires workers' comp for employers with three or more employees. The three-employee threshold is lower than many states, which means most Arkansas small businesses that have grown beyond a two-person operation are required to carry coverage. Review current workers' comp requirements to confirm your obligations. The Arkansas Workers' Compensation Commission enforces compliance and can impose stop-work orders.
Arkansas Workers' Comp Insurance Exemptions
Employers with fewer than 3 employees
Businesses with one or two employees are exempt under Arkansas law, though voluntary coverage is available and advisable.
Agricultural employers (limited)
Certain farm employers fall under a modified threshold; verify current rules with the Arkansas Workers' Compensation Commission.
Sole proprietors and partners
Not required to cover themselves; may elect coverage voluntarily.
Corporate officers
May elect to exclude themselves from coverage by written election filed with the Arkansas Workers' Compensation Commission.
Domestic workers
Household employees are exempt from mandatory coverage requirements under Arkansas law.
Independent contractors
Workers who qualify as independent contractors under Arkansas law are not covered as employees.
Certain real estate agents
Agents who meet the independent contractor definition under Arkansas law may be exempt from mandatory coverage.
FEDERAL WORKERS' COMP PROGRAMS OVERRIDE STATE REQUIREMENTS
Federal employees in Arkansas fall under the Federal Employees' Compensation Act (FECA). Railroad workers are covered by FELA rather than Arkansas state law. Workers at commercial river port facilities in Arkansas performing qualifying maritime work may fall under the Longshore and Harbor Workers' Compensation Act. Employers with workers in these federal categories must maintain compliance with federal programs separately from any state workers' comp coverage.
How to Get the Best Workers' Comp Insurance in Arkansas
Follow these seven steps to secure the right workers' comp coverage for your Arkansas business.
- 1
Step 1: Confirm Whether Coverage Is Required
Arkansas requires workers' comp for employers with three or more employees. Count all part-time and full-time workers. If you are approaching or at the threshold, secure coverage before adding the third employee. The Arkansas Workers' Compensation Commission administers enforcement.
- 2
Step 2: Identify NCCI Class Codes for Your Workforce
Arkansas uses NCCI class codes to set the base rate per $100 of payroll. Poultry processing, trucking, construction, and agricultural operations each carry distinct codes with substantially different rates. Review classifications before soliciting quotes.
- 3
Step 3: Pull Three Years of Loss Runs
Carriers underwrite based on payroll and claims history. Arkansas businesses with clean records will receive more favorable quotes. Pull your OSHA 300 logs and prior policy loss runs before approaching insurers.
- 4
Step 4: Request Quotes from Multiple Carriers
The Hartford and ERGO NEXT both rank at or near the top on rate and service in Arkansas. Include Nationwide for a third data point. For businesses with broader coverage needs, Coverdash is worth comparing.
- 5
Step 5: Evaluate Per-Industry Rate Differences
The Hartford posts the lowest rates for financial services, healthcare, and professional services. ERGO NEXT leads on cost for food, beverage, pet care, and agricultural industries. Match your primary industry classification against the cheapest-by-industry data before choosing.
- 6
Step 6: Bind Coverage and Notify the Commission
The Arkansas Workers' Compensation Commission requires proof of coverage before employees start work. File a certificate of insurance and keep it current throughout the policy term.
- 7
Step 7: Prepare for the Annual Payroll Audit
Arkansas workers' comp policies are audited at renewal. Seasonal payroll in agriculture and food processing creates audit variability. Keep payroll records organized by class code throughout the year to minimize adjustment disputes.
Bottom Line and Next Steps
The Hartford leads Arkansas on both rate and composite score. ERGO NEXT is the runner-up, with the state's top customer experience scores and only a $1/month rate difference from The Hartford. The strongest choice for a healthcare or financial services employer is The Hartford on industry-specific rates; for a food, beverage, or agricultural business, ERGO NEXT's per-industry rates offer a competitive alternative.
Next Steps
Arkansas's three-employee threshold means most small businesses that have grown beyond a two-person operation are required to carry coverage. If you need more help finding the right provider for you, here's how to best continue your research:
Arkansas Workers' Compensation Insurance FAQs
What are the penalties for not carrying workers' comp in Arkansas?
The Arkansas Workers' Compensation Commission can issue stop-work orders against non-compliant employers, halting all business operations until coverage is secured. Employers also bear personal liability for the full cost of any employee injuries that occur without coverage in place, including medical expenses and wage replacement benefits.
Are remote employees covered under Arkansas workers' comp?
Arkansas workers' comp generally covers employees based on where the work is performed. Remote employees who work primarily in Arkansas are covered under an Arkansas policy. Employers with remote workers in other states should confirm that their policy includes those states in the covered territory, as coverage requirements vary by state.
How does an experience modification rate affect Arkansas premiums?
Arkansas uses the NCCI experience modification rate (EMR) system. An EMR below 1.0 reduces your premium; an EMR above 1.0 increases it. Employers with three or more years of payroll history and premiums above the NCCI eligibility threshold become subject to EMR calculation. Verify the current NCCI eligibility threshold applicable to Arkansas directly with NCCI or your carrier, as the figure is updated periodically. Maintaining a clean claims record is the most direct way to lower your EMR over time.
Can corporate officers and owners opt out of workers' comp in Arkansas?
Corporate officers in Arkansas may elect to exclude themselves from workers' comp coverage by filing a written election with the Arkansas Workers' Compensation Commission. Sole proprietors and partners are not required to cover themselves but may elect voluntary coverage. Any opt-out election must be documented and kept on file with both the insurer and the Commission.
What is the difference between workers' comp and employer's liability in an Arkansas policy?
Workers' comp covers statutory benefits owed to injured employees under Arkansas law. Employer's liability, typically included as Part Two of a standard workers' comp policy, covers the employer against lawsuits from employees who allege negligence beyond the statutory workers' comp benefit. Both coverages are included in a standard Arkansas workers' comp policy.
How long does a workers' comp claim stay on an Arkansas employer's record?
Workers' comp claims generally remain in an employer's loss history for three to five years, depending on the insurer's underwriting criteria and the NCCI experience rating period. Claims used in EMR calculations typically cover a three-year window, excluding the most recent policy year. Closed claims with no ongoing payments have less impact than open or high-severity claims.
MoneyGeek analyzed workers' comp insurance rates and provider performance across Arkasnas using small business profiles with 1 to 4 employees spanning 25 industry categories and 408 subindustries. Companies earn up to five points in each category in our scoring system. We then use a weighted average of these category scores to calculate a MoneyGeek score out of five.
- Affordability (55%): Based on average payroll for the most common employee code per industry and state classification, priced per employee for a 1 to 4 employee business.
- Customer Experience (35%): Evaluates buying (20%), which covers quote access, pricing accuracy and sales support; policy management (30%), which covers payroll reporting, audits, billing and loss control; and claims (50%), which covers FNOL speed, adjuster support, medical access, wage replacement and dispute handling.
- Coverage Options (10%): Assesses coverage completeness (35%), including employers' liability and wage and medical reimbursement; policy flexibility and endorsements (25%); eligibility, state and industry breadth (20%); and policy terms, limits and exclusions (20%).
About Connor Bolton
Connor Bolton is Senior SEO and Content Manager at MoneyGeek, where he leads the business and pet insurance editorial teams. As editorial lead for both verticals, Connor sets the research framework, data standards, and content structure that his writers execute, directly authoring in-depth guides himself and reviewing all team content for accuracy and practical value before it goes live. With over four years evaluating insurance products across personal, commercial, and specialty lines, he brings cross-vertical knowledge to every guide the team produces.
Connor architected MoneyGeek's insurance research infrastructure across all major verticals including auto, home, renters, life, health, business, and pet, building systems for pricing analysis, provider-level research, customer experience evaluation, and coverage analysis with AI support. The infrastructure includes over 6 million data points for business insurance across 408 industry areas, all 50 states, and 16 vehicle types, and over 5 million pet insurance profiles across 18 major providers and hundreds of breed and age combinations. Connor's insurance cost research and his team's work has been cited by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, Allstate, Liberty Mutual, CBS News, Forbes and LegalZoom.
Beyond the data, Connor stays connected to how the market actually operates, drawing on direct conversations with underwriters and carrier liaisons at Ethos, The Hartford, NEXT Insurance, Nationwide, and State Farm, and monitoring business and pet owner communities including Reddit, to inform how he interprets findings and frames guidance for real buyers.
He is the direct editorial contact for methodology questions at connor@moneygeek.com and can be found on LinkedIn.
Sources
- Arkansas Department of Labor and Licensing. "Basic Facts." Accessed May 7, 2026.
- Arkansas Insurance Department. "Arkansas Businesses to See Reduced Workers' Compensation Insurance Rates in 2022." Accessed May 7, 2026.
- Arkansas Senate. "Legislative Action Holds Down Workers' Comp Rates." Accessed May 7, 2026.
- Claims Journal. "Study Shows North Dakota, Arkansas, West Virginia Had Lowest Workers' Comp Rates." Accessed May 7, 2026.