Class Code 5205
Concrete Or Cement Work – High Wage
Class code 5205 covers Concrete or Cement Work (High Wage) — crews that form, place, finish and cure concrete where workers earn higher wages. The California pure premium rate for 9/1/2026 is $4.748 per $100 of payroll, which is a starting point for calculating workers' comp cost for these operations. Accurate classification matters because concrete work has specific hazards that drive both loss frequency and premium adjustments.
What Class Code 5205 Covers
This classification applies to operations that involve forming, placing, consolidating, finishing and curing concrete for slabs, sidewalks, foundations, tilt-up panels, bridges and similar structures when performed by higher-wage workers. Typical activities include carpentry for formwork, layout and setting of embedded items, pumping and placing concrete, hand and power finishing (trowels, floats, power screeds), saw cutting and grinding cured concrete, and application of curing compounds and sealers. It also includes decorative concrete procedures such as stamping and exposed aggregate when done by the same crews. The 'High Wage' designation signals the class is used for employees or payroll segments with higher hourly rates or higher skilled journeymen and supervisors rather than low-wage labor-only crews. Work excluded from this class would generally include drivers, clerical staff, landscapers, or separate specialty trades that carry their own WCIRB codes.
Who It Applies To
- Commercial and residential concrete contractors (foundations, slabs, sidewalks)
- Concrete finishers, cement masons, and form carpenters paid at higher wage rates
- Tilt-up and precast panel crews performing setting and finishing operations
- Concrete pumping and placement subcontractors when high-wage crews perform finish work
- General contractors that employ in-house high-wage concrete crews
- Decorative concrete specialists performing stamping, polishing, or exposed aggregate
Common Job Duties
- Building and stripping formwork, setting anchors and embedded items
- Placing and consolidating concrete with rakes, vibrators and pumps
- Finishing surfaces using hand tools and power trowels; brooming and edging
- Saw cutting, grinding, polishing and applying curing compounds or sealers
- Handling and tying rebar near placement operations and coordinating with pump operators
- Performing layout, slope checks, and final quality inspection of finished concrete
Common Injury Risks
Understanding the $4.748 Rate
The pure premium rate of $4.748 per $100 of payroll is the WCIRB-approved cost for expected claim dollars before carrier and employer adjustments. To estimate manual premium, divide total payroll for class 5205 by 100 and multiply by 4.748. Final premium an employer pays will change based on experience modification, carrier schedule rating or credits, state assessments and fees, classification splits, audits, and any deductible or retrospective rating programs.
Cal/OSHA Compliance Requirements
Cal/OSHA Construction Safety Orders govern concrete operations; key obligations include fall protection for elevated work, trenching/excavation safeguards, and controls for powered equipment. The Cal/OSHA silica standard requires exposure assessment, engineering controls (wet methods, local exhaust, HEPA vacuums), written exposure-control plans, medical surveillance and respiratory protection when controls cannot keep exposures below limits. Employers must also follow heat illness prevention, provide emergency wash stations for cement burns, and maintain PPE and training records specific to concrete hazards.
How Key HR Helps Employers Under Class Code 5205
A PEO like Key HR helps California concrete employers by ensuring accurate payroll classification, administering workers' comp policies, and managing claims to limit unnecessary reserve growth. Key HR can implement targeted loss-control programs—silica compliance plans, concrete-specific PPE and wash stations, fall-protection and excavation training—and coordinate return-to-work and light-duty programs to improve experience modification and reduce long-term premium.
Get a QuoteFrequently Asked Questions
What makes class code 5205 'High Wage' and why does it matter?
The 'High Wage' label is used when the payroll in that classification reflects higher hourly rates (skilled journeymen, lead finishers, supervisors). Carriers separate high- and low-wage segments because wage mix affects loss cost allocation and underwriting; accurate grouping avoids mispricing and audit adjustments.
How can I lower workers' comp costs for my concrete crews?
Focus on controls that reduce frequency and severity: enforce silica controls (wet cutting, HEPA vacuums), provide waterproof clothing and wash stations to prevent cement burns, implement ergonomic aids and mechanical lifting, require fall protection and proper formwork bracing, and maintain fast, structured return-to-work programs to protect your experience modifier.
Which specific Cal/OSHA requirements should concrete contractors prioritize?
Prioritize the Cal/OSHA silica standard (written plan, monitoring, controls), fall-protection rules for elevated work, trenching and shoring rules for excavations, heat-illness prevention programs, and availability of emergency wash stations and first aid for chemical burns. Documentation and employee training on each are essential during inspections.
Quick Facts
- Class Code
- 5205
- Classification
- Concrete Or Cement Work – High Wage
- Pure Premium Rate
- $4.748 / $100 payroll
- Effective Date
- September 1, 2026
- Source
- WCIRB Approved Filing
Manage Workers' Comp Through a PEO
Key HR provides pay-as-you-go workers' comp for California employers — no large deposits, no audits, better rates.
Get a Quoteor call (800) 922-4133Ready to Simplify Workers' Comp for Class Code 5205?
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