Class Code 9083
Restaurants - Fast Food Or Fast Casual
Class Code 9083 applies to fast food and fast casual restaurants in California and covers employees who prepare, assemble, serve, and clean in quick-service dining operations. The September 1, 2026 approved pure premium rate for this class is $2.784 per $100 of payroll — a baseline for expected claim costs in this high-frequency, moderate-severity industry.
What Class Code 9083 Covers
This classification is specific to fixed-location quick-service restaurants and fast casual establishments where food is prepared quickly, served at a counter or by limited table service, or picked up/paid at a register. Typical operations include hot-line cooking (grills, fryers, griddles), cold-line prep (sandwich and salad assembly), point-of-sale transactions, dishwashing, and front-counter or drive-through service. Back-of-house activities such as ingredient prep, portioning, packaging, and cleaning of kitchen equipment are included under 9083 when performed by restaurant employees on the employer’s payroll. Workers who perform separate functions on a different payroll—such as company delivery drivers, third-party couriers, or off-site catering crews—are usually classed separately and should be segregated for accurate premium calculation.
Who It Applies To
- Quick-service burger, chicken, taco, and sandwich chains (counter-service franchises)
- Fast casual restaurants with limited table service and counter ordering
- Café-style shops and mall food court quick-service stalls
- Kitchen staff: cooks, fry cooks, prep cooks, and line cooks employed by the restaurant
- Front-counter/drive-through cashiers and order-takers
- Dishwashers, bussers, and cleaning/stocking crew on the restaurant payroll
Common Job Duties
- Operating grills, fryers, ovens, and steamers to prepare menu items
- Assembling sandwiches, bowls, and packaged orders on the assembly line
- Taking orders and operating point-of-sale (POS) systems and cash handling
- Washing dishes, pots, pans and operating dishwashing equipment
- Cleaning floors, countertops, hood systems, and restocking supplies
- Receiving deliveries, unpacking boxes, and light to moderate lifting of inventory
Common Injury Risks
Understanding the $2.784 Rate
The pure premium rate of $2.784 per $100 of payroll represents the WCIRB's estimated cost of future claims for this class and is the base component of workers' compensation premium. Insurers multiply this rate by an employer's payroll in that class to get the expected loss cost, then apply the carrier's loss cost multiplier, policy fees, experience modification (e-mod), and any credits or debits to determine the final premium an employer pays.
Cal/OSHA Compliance Requirements
California employers in fast food/fast casual must maintain a written Injury and Illness Prevention Program (IIPP) and provide training on job hazards specific to kitchen and counter work. Relevant Cal/OSHA requirements include machine guarding for slicers and mixers, proper PPE for hot work and chemical handling, safe scope and training for ergonomics and lifting, and Cal/OSHA heat illness guidance for outdoor or drive-through workers exposed to high temperatures. Employers must also keep required injury records and provide hazard communication training for cleaning agents and grease-control chemicals.
How Key HR Helps Employers Under Class Code 9083
A PEO like Key HR helps fast food employers reduce workers' comp costs through accurate payroll classification, consolidated premiums, effective claims management, and return-to-work programs that limit time away from work. Key HR can develop a compliant IIPP, deliver targeted safety training (knife safety, hot-work procedures, slip prevention), arrange preferred medical providers, and analyze loss runs to lower experience modification and long-term premium exposure.
Get a QuoteFrequently Asked Questions
Are delivery drivers included in Class Code 9083?
No — drivers and couriers are typically classified separately because driving operations carry different hazards and premium calculations. Keep delivery payroll separate or confirm with your carrier/PEO to assign the correct motor-vehicle-related class code.
What specific steps reduce workers' comp claims for a fast food restaurant?
Key actions include enforcing slip-resistant footwear and immediate floor cleaning protocols, knife and slicer safety training, fryer and hot-work guarding, regular equipment maintenance, light-duty return-to-work plans, and documented daily safety checks as part of an IIPP.
Do managers and salaried supervisors belong in this class?
Managers who perform the same operations (cooking, counters, dishwashing) on the employer’s payroll are usually included; purely administrative or salaried supervisors who perform no cooking or kitchen work may be classified under a different managerial or clerical code—verify payroll coding with your PEO or carrier.
Quick Facts
- Class Code
- 9083
- Classification
- Restaurants - Fast Food Or Fast Casual
- Pure Premium Rate
- $2.784 / $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 9083?
Key HR provides California employers with pay-as-you-go workers' comp, HR compliance support, and payroll — all through one PEO partnership.