Insurance Rates and Premiums
WCB provides workplace injury insurance to help protect both employers and workers when injuries happen on the job. For this protection, you pay premiums based on your assigned rate. Like most insurance, the rate you pay is based on risk and history of claims: industries and employers with fewer claims and safer workplaces typically pay less.
How your WCB premiums work
The amount you pay for WCB insurance is based on your WCB rate and the amount of payroll you pay to your workers.
Your rate is the amount you pay for every $100 of assessable payroll. Assessable payroll is the total gross earnings for all your covered workers, up to the maximum amount set by WCB each year.
So, in the simplest terms:
If your rate is $1.89
and you pay 1 worker $100 in assessable payroll
Your WCB premium is $1.89
AND
If you pay 3 workers $100,000 in assessable payroll
Your WCB premium is
$100,000 ÷ 100 = 1000
1000 × $1.89 = $1890
Your rate is made up of:
- Industry rate – based on the average claims costs in your industry group
- Experience rating – based on your workplace’s claims costs over the past 3 years - the experience rating adjusts your industry rate up or down
Some employers may also pay:
- A safety association levy – applies to industries that fund safety associations
- A surcharge – added when your claims costs are significantly and consistently higher than your industry’s average
Here’s another example:
If your rate is $2.19, you pay $2.19 for every $100 of assessable payroll.
If your monthly assessable payroll is $25,000:
- $25,000 ÷ 100 = 250
- 250 × $2.19 = $547.50 monthly premium
Learn more about how WCB rate's are set.
How to reduce your premiums
The most effective way to reduce what you pay is to:
- Prevent workplace injuries through effective health and safety practices.
- Help workers stay connected to work during recovery, and return safely as early as possible if time away from work is needed.
When injury costs go down, so do your premiums—and outcomes improve for everyone.
You can also save money by paying your premiums on time to avoid interest and other late payment penalties. Learn more about payment and reporting.
Incentive programs
WCB offers programs that reward employers who invest in safety or improve return-to-work outcomes:
View your current rate
Rates change every year. Each year on September 1, you'll be notified of your assessment rate for the upcoming calendar year.
To view your current rate and your full Experience Rating Statement, log in to MyAccount. You can also see how claims costs are affecting your rate—and find opportunities to improve.
If you’re not yet on MyAccount, it’s easy to sign up.
See your industry’s current and recent assessment rates
- 2026 Assessment Rates
- 2025 Assessment Rates
- 2024 Assessment Rates
- 2023 Assessment Rates
- 2022 Assessment Rates
- 2021 Assessment Rates
- 2020 Assessment Rates
Employer webinar: WCB Rate Setting
Summary:
- Explains how WCB Nova Scotia determines employer premium rates and what factors influence those rates.
- Breaks down key components like the industry rate, experience rating, and how claims performance affects costs.
- Highlights WCB’s approach to maintaining fairness and sustainability in the rate model.
- Walks through examples showing how an employer’s claims history can impact future premiums.
- Encourages employers to focus on injury prevention and return-to-work programs to improve their rate performance.
Intended Audience:
- Employers, finance staff, and safety or HR professionals who manage WCB accounts and want to understand how their workplace performance influences insurance rates.