Workers Comp Class Code 5474 — Painting — Exterior & Interior (All Painting NOC)
Florida NCCI Workers Comp Classification
FL NCCI Rate
$4.48
per $100 of payroll
Same-Day COI
Available
through PEO program
For code 5474, a worker earning $800/week costs just $35.85/week in workers comp through our PEO program.
FL NCCI Rate
$4.48/$100
per $100 payroll
Risk Level
High
NCCI classification
Same-Day COI
Available
through PEO program
Approval Time
24–48 hrs
most industries
What Is Workers Comp Class Code 5474?
NCCI class code 5474 covers Painting — Exterior & Interior (All Painting NOC) in Florida. This classification is used by workers' compensation carriers to determine premium rates based on the relative injury risk of workers in this occupation. The Florida NCCI rate for code 5474 is $4.48 per $100 of payroll, placing it in the high-risk tier.
Florida FWCJUA uses code 5474 (Painting or Paperhanging NOC) for all painting contractors — both exterior and interior. This single code covers house painters, commercial painters, fence painters, and exterior wall painters. If your crew paints buildings of any kind, this is your Florida class code.
Because code 5474 is a construction classification, Florida law requires workers' compensation coverage from the first employee. Construction employers cannot use the 4-employee threshold that applies to non-construction businesses.
What Does This Rate Mean in Real Dollars?
At $4.48 per $100 (2026 FWCJUA rate), a painter earning $700/week costs about $31.36/week in workers comp. Through Comp Ninjas PEO, that's bundled into your weekly payroll run — no deposit, no end-of-year audit where they come back and say you owe $8,000 more.
Rate History — Code 5474
5-Year Rate Trend
Code 5474 — Florida NCCI rates
Source: Florida NCCI rate filings 2020–2024
Florida NCCI rates for code 5474 have decreased from $5.80 to $4.48 over the past 5 years — a positive trend for employers.
Why PEO Makes Sense for Code 5474
No deposit. No audit. Same-day COI.
Painting contractors often have seasonal crews — busy in winter (snowbirds), slow in summer. Traditional policies charge you for projected annual payroll upfront. PEO charges only for actual weekly payroll, so when you have 8 painters in January and 3 in August, you pay accordingly. No over-payment, no audit.
No Deposit
Pay as you go each week
No Audit
Premium based on actual payroll
Same-Day COI
Instant certificate issuance
📋 Real-World Example
A 5-man painting crew in Sarasota is painting the exterior of a 3-story condo. A painter falls from a 20-foot ladder and breaks his arm and collarbone. The workers comp covers the ER, surgery, and 6 weeks of lost wages. The GC gets the COI they need to keep the project on schedule.
Common Job Titles Under Code 5474
Top Workers Comp Risks for Code 5474
The NCCI rate for this classification reflects the frequency and severity of workers' compensation claims historically filed by workers in this occupation. The primary risks include:
Florida Workers Comp Requirements for Code 5474
Florida Statute Chapter 440 governs workers' compensation requirements. For construction employers classified under code 5474, coverage is required with 1 or more employees — including the business owner unless a valid exemption is on file with the Florida Division of Workers' Compensation.
The Florida Division of Workers' Compensation conducts random job site inspections and can issue an immediate stop-work order if coverage is not current. The penalty is equal to twice the amount of premium that should have been paid, plus $1,000 per day per employee while uninsured.
OSHA Standards That Apply to Code 5474
Workers in this classification are subject to the following OSHA standards. Violations of these standards are the most common triggers for workers' compensation claims in this trade.
OSHA 1926.1053
Ladder Safety: extension ladders must extend 3 feet above the landing surface; side rails must be at least 11.5 inches wide.
OSHA 1926.451
Scaffolding: platforms must be fully planked, guardrails required above 10 feet, and scaffolds must be inspected by a competent person before each shift.
OSHA 1910.1200
Hazard Communication: Safety Data Sheets (SDS) required for all paints, solvents, and coatings; workers must be trained on chemical hazards.
OSHA 1926.102
Eye and Face Protection: safety glasses or goggles required when spray painting or working with chemical strippers.
Florida Stop-Work Order Cases — Code 5474
The Florida Division of Workers' Compensation (DFS) actively enforces coverage requirements. Below are representative enforcement cases involving businesses classified under code 5474.
Orange County, 2023: A painting contractor with 6 workers was found operating without coverage on a commercial repaint. Stop-work order issued; penalty of $14,200 assessed.
Broward County, 2022: A painting subcontractor paid all workers as 1099. DFS determined 4 of the 6 workers were misclassified employees. Retroactive premium plus penalties totaled $22,800.
Pinellas County, 2023: A painting company had a valid policy but failed to add a new employee within the required 30-day window. A ladder fall occurred during the gap; the claim was initially disputed before coverage was confirmed.
Source: Florida DFS enforcement records. Cases are representative examples; specific penalty amounts vary based on payroll and duration of non-compliance.
Typical Payroll & Workers Comp Cost — Code 5474
These are representative payroll ranges for businesses classified under code 5474 in Florida. Actual costs depend on your specific payroll, experience mod, and underwriting factors.
| Crew Size | Weekly Payroll | Est. Annual Comp Cost |
|---|---|---|
| 2-man crew (owner + 1 painter) | $1,400/week | $3,262/year |
| 4-man crew (standard residential) | $2,800/week | $6,524/year |
| 6-man crew (commercial) | $4,200/week | $9,787/year |
Estimates based on Florida NCCI rate $4.48/$100 of payroll. Pre-underwriting estimate only.
Why Standard Carriers Decline Code 5474
Many standard insurance carriers restrict or decline coverage for businesses classified under code 5474. Understanding these declination triggers helps you find the right coverage path.
Exterior painting accounts with prior ladder or scaffold falls are frequently declined by standard carriers.
Accounts that do both painting and pressure washing are sometimes reclassified to a higher-rated code at audit.
New painting businesses (under 1 year) often cannot obtain standard market coverage and must use the PEO or assigned risk pool.
Common Workers Comp Audit Mistakes for Code 5474
Year-end workers comp audits frequently result in unexpected additional premiums for businesses classified under code 5474. These are the most common audit mistakes to avoid.
Trying to split interior vs. exterior painting into separate codes — Florida FWCJUA uses a single code 5474 for all painting operations; attempting to split may trigger an audit reclassification.
Including paint material reimbursements in payroll when they are actually wages in disguise — auditors include these in the premium base.
Not documenting which workers are painters vs. laborers — without records, all payroll defaults to the painting rate.
Experience Mod (EMR) & PEO Advantage
Exterior painting has a moderate loss frequency. A single scaffold fall claim can cost $40,000–$120,000 and push your EMR above 1.30. With a PEO, your mod is absorbed into the master policy — one bad claim won't make you uninsurable.
Frequently Asked Questions — Code 5474
What is the workers comp rate for class code 5474 in Florida?
The Florida NCCI rate for class code 5474 (Painting — Exterior & Interior (All Painting NOC)) is $4.48 per $100 of payroll. For a business with $150,000 in annual payroll, the estimated annual workers comp cost is $6,721.
Can I get same-day workers comp coverage for class code 5474?
Yes. Through Comp Ninjas's PEO program, most businesses classified under code 5474 can be approved and receive a Certificate of Insurance (COI) within 24–48 hours. Same-day COI issuance is available in most cases once your application is complete.
Is class code 5474 considered high-risk in Florida?
Code 5474 is classified as high-risk based on its NCCI rate of $4.48 per $100 of payroll. This rate is above 5%, which means standard carriers may decline coverage or require large deposits. Our PEO program specializes in covering high-risk classifications that standard carriers decline.
What is the difference between a PEO and a traditional workers comp policy for code 5474?
A traditional policy for code 5474 requires an upfront deposit (typically 25–35% of annual premium), a year-end audit, and a minimum payroll requirement. Our PEO pay-as-you-go program calculates premium on actual payroll each cycle — no deposit, no audit, no minimum. For a business with $150,000 in annual payroll under code 5474, the annual cost would be approximately $6,721.
How do I switch to a PEO program if I already have a workers comp policy for code 5474?
You can switch at any time — you don't need to wait for your current policy to expire. We handle the transition and coordinate with your current carrier to avoid any coverage gaps. Most clients are enrolled and covered within 24–48 hours of submitting their application.
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