Class Code 5553
Roofing – High Wage
Class code 5553 (Roofing – High Wage) covers California roofing operations where employees are paid at higher wage levels. The WCIRB pure premium rate for this class is $12.112 per $100 of payroll, which matters because roofing is a high-exposure trade with specific safety and underwriting concerns.
What Class Code 5553 Covers
This classification applies to workers who perform roofing installation, replacement, maintenance and repair on both steep-slope and low-slope roofs where payroll is in the higher-wage category. Typical operations include tear-off of existing roofing, installation of underlayment, flashing, shingles, tiles, metal panels or built-up membrane systems, and use of hot-applied materials or torch systems. It covers work on residential, commercial and industrial roofs, roof edge work (gutters, skylights, parapets), and emergency storm-response roofing. The “high wage” designation reflects payroll for higher-paid roofers, foremen or specialized installers and affects premium allocation; it does not change the core operations that define roofing exposure.
Who It Applies To
- Commercial roofing contractors installing low-slope membranes and built-up roofs
- Residential steep-slope roofers installing shingles, tile, slate or metal
- Specialty roof installers (metal, tile, slate, green roofs) with higher-paid crews
- Roofing foremen, crew leaders and highly paid journeymen included on payroll
- Emergency/storm-response roofing crews engaged in rapid repair and tarping
Common Job Duties
- Removing old roofing materials (tear-off) and surface prep
- Installing underlayment, flashing, drip edges and roof vents
- Nailing or fastening shingles, tiles, metal panels, and membrane sheets
- Applying hot asphalt, kettle operations or torch-applied membranes
- Setting up and moving ladders, scaffolds, toe boards and anchor points
- Handling heavy bundles (shingle/tile bundles) and mechanical fasteners
- Installing fall-arrest anchors, guardrails and temporary safety systems
Common Injury Risks
Understanding the $12.112 Rate
The WCIRB pure premium rate of $12.112 per $100 of payroll is the base cost to cover expected losses for this class. Insurers multiply your roofing payroll by this rate (payroll/100 × 12.112) to get the pure premium, then add expense loadings, policy fees, and apply your experience modification and any deductible or retrospective rating adjustments to produce the final premium.
Cal/OSHA Compliance Requirements
Roofing work in California is subject to Cal/OSHA standards requiring fall protection, ladder and scaffold safety, hot work controls and a written injury and illness prevention program (IIPP). Employers must also implement heat illness prevention measures, provide training and PPE for hot-applied materials and hazardous fumes, and control ignition sources when using torches or kettles.
How Key HR Helps Employers Under Class Code 5553
A PEO like Key HR can reduce costs by ensuring accurate payroll classification, centralized claims management, and proactive loss-control programs tailored to roofers (fall protection audits, hot work procedures, heat-illness plans). Key HR provides safety training, return-to-work coordination and experience-mod improvement strategies that help lower premiums and keep crews compliant.
Get a QuoteFrequently Asked Questions
How is Class Code 5553 different from a standard roofing code?
5553 is the same roofing exposure but applied where employees are on a higher-wage payroll. The operations — installation, tear-off, hot-applied systems — are the same; the high-wage designation affects how payroll is allocated and therefore the premium base.
What practical steps reduce workers' comp costs for high-wage roofing crews?
Implement enforceable fall-protection systems, a written heat-illness prevention plan, hot work controls and PPE protocols, provide documented training, and run timely return-to-work programs. Accurate payroll classification and prompt claims management also materially lower costs.
Can subcontractors be covered under my policy for this class code?
Subcontractors typically carry their own workers' comp coverage. If you hire them as W-2 employees or assume payroll responsibility in contract, they may be included. Use COIs, verify coverage and consult Key HR to determine proper treatment and to avoid payroll misclassification.
Quick Facts
- Class Code
- 5553
- Classification
- Roofing – High Wage
- Pure Premium Rate
- $12.112 / $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 5553?
Key HR provides California employers with pay-as-you-go workers' comp, HR compliance support, and payroll — all through one PEO partnership.