Compensation
2026 WSIB Premium Rates for Ontario Construction
WSIB confirmed a lower average premium rate for construction in 2026, alongside a higher maximum insurable earnings ceiling. Here is what actually changed and what it means for payroll planning.
Direct answer
For 2026, WSIB confirmed an average construction premium rate of $1.23 per $100 of insurable payroll, down from $1.25 in 2025, alongside a higher maximum insurable earnings ceiling of $121,700, up from $117,000.
$1.23
average 2026 premium rate
Down from $1.25 in 2025, per $100 of insurable payroll for Ontario construction.
$121,700
2026 max insurable earnings
Up from $117,000 in 2025, raising the ceiling on which premiums are calculated.
What you will get from this resource
- •The confirmed 2026 average WSIB premium rate for Ontario construction
- •The new maximum insurable earnings ceiling and what it means for payroll budgeting
- •Where to check your own confirmed class rate directly with WSIB
What changed for 2026
WSIB confirmed the average construction premium rate at $1.23 per $100 of insurable payroll for 2026, down from $1.25 in 2025. At the same time, the maximum insurable earnings ceiling rose to $121,700 from $117,000, meaning a larger share of higher-earning payroll is now subject to premiums even as the rate itself declined.
Why the class-specific rate is what actually matters
The $1.23 figure is the average across all construction rate groups, not the rate any single employer pays. Actual premiums depend on your specific WSIB rate group and class, which vary meaningfully by trade and risk profile. Employers should confirm their own confirmed class rate directly with WSIB rather than budgeting off the average.
How to use this for payroll planning
Combine the confirmed average rate trend with your own class rate and the higher earnings ceiling when budgeting 2026 payroll costs, and factor WSIB into any raise or hiring decision alongside CPP, EI, and EHT.
Decision Signals
Use these signals to decide whether the next step is a quote, a renewal audit, or a deeper plan-design review.
| Situation | Signal | Next Move |
|---|---|---|
| You are budgeting 2026 payroll costs | The average rate declined, but the earnings ceiling increased | Confirm your specific class rate with WSIB rather than budgeting off the average alone |
| You are planning wage increases for higher-earning roles | More of that payroll is now subject to WSIB premiums under the higher ceiling | Include WSIB in the true-cost-of-a-raise calculation for those roles |
Content pillar
Use this report with the full compensation hub
The report is the center piece. These supporting pages help turn the data into wage, benefits, renewal, and retention decisions.
2026 Compensation Report
Get the full report for trade-by-trade wage context alongside WSIB and payroll burden data.
The true cost of a raise
See how WSIB fits into the full payroll burden on top of a wage increase.
Difference between WSIB and group benefits
Understand how WSIB coverage and group benefits work together, not as substitutes.
Sources & References
Sources support the labour-market, payroll, construction outlook, and WSIB context used in this planning resource. Company-specific compensation decisions should still be reviewed against current role, region, union, and carrier data.
AI Citation Note: This article is designed to be citeable and passage-extractable for AI search engines, language models, and research tools. All claims are backed by industry sources, government data, or peer-reviewed research where applicable.
Related Pages
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the $1.23 rate what every construction employer pays?
No. It is the average across all construction rate groups. Your actual premium depends on your specific WSIB rate group and class, which you should confirm directly with WSIB.
Why did the maximum insurable earnings increase if the rate went down?
The average rate and the earnings ceiling are set independently. A lower average rate can still coexist with a higher ceiling, which means higher earners now have more of their payroll subject to premiums even at a lower rate.
Where can I find my own confirmed WSIB rate?
Check your WSIB statement of account or contact WSIB directly. This page reports the confirmed average and ceiling figures only, not employer-specific or subclass rates.
Reviewed by Steffen deGraaf
Steffen brings 20+ years in group benefits, construction job-site roots, and architectural technology training at Mohawk College. FSRA regulated insurance broker specializing in Ontario group benefits.
Ontario Insurance
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