FL Comp Code: 8279

Florida workers' comp rates are filed with NCCI and approved by the Florida Office of Insurance Regulation. Rates shown are per $100 of gross payroll.

Rate History — Code 8279

Florida workers' comp rates have generally declined. In 2024, NCCI secured an overall -15.1% rate reduction (approved by FLOIR), one of the largest reductions in Florida history.

Code Description

Stable or Breeding Farm & Drivers

Workers' compensation class code 8279 — "Stable or Breeding Farm & Drivers" — covers employees engaged in Florida's agricultural sector. Florida's warm climate and extended growing seasons create year-round employment in farming, grove management, harvesting, and related agricultural operations. Employees classified under this code perform physically demanding work that varies by season and crop type.

The 2025 Florida filed rate for code 8279 is $5.98 per $100 of payroll. 2022: $7.41, 2023: $7.06, 2024: $6.37, 2025: $5.98. Rates for this code have declined 19.3% since 2022 — part of Florida's broader workers' comp market improvement driven by tort reform and loss-cost reductions approved by FLOIR. Agricultural workers face elevated risk of injury from equipment, heat exposure, pesticides, and repetitive field labor. Florida's large agricultural workforce — including citrus, sugarcane, nursery, and vegetable operations — makes proper classification under this NCCI code critical for accurate premium calculation.

Florida agricultural employers must comply with OSHA agricultural standards, provide heat illness prevention programs, and ensure proper PPE for pesticide and equipment exposure. Many Florida farms employ seasonal and migrant workers, which creates additional classification and audit complexity. Accurate headcount reporting and payroll segregation by job function are essential for avoiding premium discrepancies at year-end audit.

Working through a Professional Employer Organization (PEO) can help Florida agricultural businesses access group workers' comp rates, streamline HR compliance, and reduce the administrative burden of managing a large or seasonal workforce. A PEO with agricultural experience can also help ensure proper NCCI classification — preventing costly misclassification penalties and ensuring all employees have appropriate coverage.

Quick Premium Estimate

Based on the 2026 filed rate of $5.37 per $100 of payroll:

These are estimates based on the filed rate only and do not include SUTA, admin fees, or other charges. Get a full itemized quote →