Wyoming workers comp requirements decide exactly when an employer must carry coverage, who counts toward the threshold, and the penalty for going without. This guide breaks down the Wyoming workers comp requirements in plain English. (Injured instead of hiring? See our Wyoming settlement and claim guides linked below.) All figures are from Wyoming sources, verified as of June 2026.
Wyoming at a Glance
| Required at | 1 employee(s) |
| Which workers count | For extrahazardous employments the mandate applies from the first employee, with no minimum headcount — full-time, part-time, and seasonal workers all count toward the requirement; coverage is required before work begins. Industry classification (not company size) drives the mandate, determined by NAICS code under W.S. 27-14-108. Non-extrahazardous employers have no mandate but may elect coverage. |
| Who is exempt | Excluded from “employee” in Wyoming: sole proprietors and partners (unless coverage elected), corporate officers and LLC members (unless coverage elected), independent contractors, casual labor (service of less than two consecutive weeks and not in the normal course of business), employees of a private household (domestic), a spouse or dependent of the employer living in the employer’s household, private-duty nurses engaged privately, professional athletes, federal employees, volunteers, prisoners/probationers, most elected/appointed officials, foster parents, and for-hire-carrier-leased vehicle operators. |
| Penalty for going without | Failure to comply is a misdemeanor: upon conviction, a fine of not more than 1000, imprisonment of not more than 1 year, or both. The non-complying employer is also personally liable for all benefits (medical expenses and lost wages) the injured worker would have received, and operations may be halted by a stop-work order. (Confirm current enforcement amounts and any added administrative assessments with the Division — figures above 1000 cited by some insurance marketers are not established by the misdemeanor statute and are UNVERIFIED.) |
| Monopolistic state? | Yes — must buy from the state fund |
In This Wyoming Guide:
Is Workers’ Comp Required in Wyoming?
Workers’ compensation is mandatory in Wyoming for any employer engaged in an “extrahazardous” industry (construction, mining, manufacturing, trucking, agriculture, etc.) from the very first employee, and coverage must be in place before work begins; employers in non-extrahazardous industries are not mandated but may elect optional coverage.
Wyoming Workers’ Comp Requirements at a Glance
Here are the exact Wyoming workers comp requirements every employer should know:
| Employees that trigger the mandate | 1 |
| Which workers count | For extrahazardous employments the mandate applies from the first employee, with no minimum headcount — full-time, part-time, and seasonal workers all count toward the requirement; coverage is required before work begins. Industry classification (not company size) drives the mandate, determined by NAICS code under W.S. 27-14-108. Non-extrahazardous employers have no mandate but may elect coverage. |
| Who is exempt | Excluded from “employee” in Wyoming: sole proprietors and partners (unless coverage elected), corporate officers and LLC members (unless coverage elected), independent contractors, casual labor (service of less than two consecutive weeks and not in the normal course of business), employees of a private household (domestic), a spouse or dependent of the employer living in the employer’s household, private-duty nurses engaged privately, professional athletes, federal employees, volunteers, prisoners/probationers, most elected/appointed officials, foster parents, and for-hire-carrier-leased vehicle operators. |
| Owners & officers | Yes — Wyoming owners/officers are excluded by default and are NOT automatically covered. A corporation, LLC, partnership, or sole proprietorship may instead ELECT coverage for any or all corporate officers, LLC members, partners, or the sole proprietor by notifying the Division in writing at initial registration or 30 days before the start of a calendar quarter (per W.S. 27-14-108(k)). If an employer elects owner/officer coverage and has other employees, it must simultaneously cover those employees, and it cannot withdraw the election for the next 8 calendar quarters. |
| Penalty for going without | Failure to comply is a misdemeanor: upon conviction, a fine of not more than 1000, imprisonment of not more than 1 year, or both. The non-complying employer is also personally liable for all benefits (medical expenses and lost wages) the injured worker would have received, and operations may be halted by a stop-work order. (Confirm current enforcement amounts and any added administrative assessments with the Division — figures above 1000 cited by some insurance marketers are not established by the misdemeanor statute and are UNVERIFIED.) |
| Monopolistic state? | Yes — must buy from the state fund |
| State fund | Yes — the exclusive state fund administered by the Wyoming Workers’ Compensation Division of the Department of Workforce Services (DWS); there is no separate competitive fund. |
How to Get Workers’ Comp Coverage in Wyoming
Employers in extrahazardous (mandatory) industries must obtain coverage directly from the State of Wyoming through the Workers’ Compensation Division of the Department of Workforce Services by registering the business; private carriers may not write this coverage. Employers in optional (non-extrahazardous) industries may either elect coverage through the Division or buy a policy from a private carrier. There is no NCCI assigned-risk pool because the state fund is monopolistic.
What Workers’ Comp Covers in Wyoming
Workers’ compensation is a no-fault system: an injured employee gets benefits without having to prove the employer did anything wrong, and in exchange gives up the right to sue for most workplace injuries. A typical Wyoming policy pays for medical treatment tied to a work injury, part of the wages lost while the worker recovers, longer-term disability benefits if the injury is permanent, and death benefits to a family.
It also includes employers-liability coverage, which protects the business if an injury still leads to a lawsuit.
Employees vs. Independent Contractors in Wyoming
The most common way employers get the Wyoming workers comp requirements wrong is by assuming a worker is an “independent contractor” who does not count. State agencies look at how the work is actually controlled, not the label on a 1099. If Wyoming decides a contractor was really an employee, the business can owe back premiums and penalties as if coverage should have been in place all along.
When you are close to the employee threshold, confirm each worker’s status with your state board before you decide you are exempt.
Other Wyoming workers’-comp rules: Wyoming is one of only four monopolistic states (with North Dakota, Ohio, and Washington). Uniquely, the monopolistic mandate is constitutionally limited to “extrahazardous” employments — the Wyoming Constitution authorizes the state fund only for those industries, so mandatory coverage for non-extrahazardous employers would be unconstitutional. Covered employers must file payroll/wage reports and pay premiums to the Division.
Maximum weekly benefits are tied to the Statewide Average Monthly Wage (SAMW), which DWS updates quarterly (computed by dividing the monthly figure by 4 1/3), so the cap changes throughout the year; the current 2026 maximum temporary-total weekly benefit is approximately 949 — confirm the exact current-quarter figure with DWS.
Many figures here can change; injured workers should confirm specifics with the Wyoming Workers’ Compensation Division and a licensed Wyoming attorney.
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Understanding Wyoming Workers Comp Requirements
The Wyoming workers comp requirements exist so injured employees get care and lost wages without having to sue. For most employers, the Wyoming workers comp requirements come down to one number: the employee count that triggers the mandate, shown in the table above. Once you hit that count, Wyoming workers comp requirements apply whether you planned for them or not, and the penalty for going without is real.
If any part of the Wyoming workers comp requirements is unclear, your state board can confirm the threshold, the exemptions, and how to get covered.
Need to get covered? If you are an employer in Wyoming shopping for a policy, our sister site compares small-business insurance, including workers’ comp. Compare business insurance options →
Frequently Asked Questions
Is workers’ comp required in Wyoming?
Workers’ compensation is mandatory in Wyoming for any employer engaged in an “extrahazardous” industry (construction, mining, manufacturing, trucking, agriculture, etc.) from the very first employee, and coverage must be in place before work begins; employers in non-extrahazardous industries are not mandated but may elect optional coverage.
What is the penalty for not having workers’ comp in Wyoming?
Failure to comply is a misdemeanor: upon conviction, a fine of not more than 1000, imprisonment of not more than 1 year, or both. The non-complying employer is also personally liable for all benefits (medical expenses and lost wages) the injured worker would have received, and operations may be halted by a stop-work order.
(Confirm current enforcement amounts and any added administrative assessments with the Division — figures above 1000 cited by some insurance marketers are not established by the misdemeanor statute and are UNVERIFIED.)
Can a Wyoming employer buy workers’ comp from a private insurer?
No. Wyoming is a monopolistic state, so employers must buy workers’ compensation from the state fund rather than a private carrier. Some add separate stop-gap/employers-liability coverage privately.
Official Wyoming Sources & Resources
- Wyoming Wyoming Department of Workforce Services, Workers’ Compensation Division: https://dws.wyo.gov/dws-division/workers-compensation/
- Wyoming Workers’ Comp Statute: https://law.justia.com/codes/wyoming/title-27/chapter-14/article-1/section-27-14-108/
- U.S. Department of Labor — Workers’ Comp: dol.gov
- Insurance Information Institute: iii.org
These Wyoming workers comp requirements were last verified against official sources in June 2026. Rules and penalties change — confirm the current figure with your state workers’-comp board or a licensed agent.
More Wyoming Workers’ Comp Guides
- Wyoming Workers’ Comp Settlements
- How to File a Wyoming Workers’ Comp Claim
- Workers’ Comp Guides for All 50 States
Disclaimer: This guide is informational only and is not legal, medical, or financial advice. Workers Comp Explained is an independent educational resource, not a law firm or insurer. Workers’ comp benefits, settlement values, deadlines, and requirements vary by state and by the specific facts of your injury and change over time, and any settlement figures here are illustrative only.
Confirm your rights and any deadline with your state’s workers’ compensation board and a licensed attorney before you act.