The Wyoming workers compensation act — formally the Wyoming Wyoming Worker’s Compensation Act (W.S. 27-14-101), found at Wyoming Statutes Title 27 (Labor and Employment), Chapter 14 (Worker’s Compensation), W.S. 27-14-101 et seq. — is the statute behind every workers’ comp claim, benefit and employer mandate in the state.
This plain-English guide to the Wyoming workers compensation act gives the section numbers next to the rules people actually need: who must be covered, the deadlines, the waiting period, the pay rate, the exclusive-remedy bargain, the ban on retaliation and the penalties. Verified against the official code as of October 2026.
Wyoming at a Glance
| Official name | Wyoming Worker’s Compensation Act (W.S. 27-14-101) |
| Where it lives | Wyoming Statutes Title 27 (Labor and Employment), Chapter 14 (Worker’s Compensation), W.S. 27-14-101 et seq. |
| First enacted | 1915 (the constitutional amendment adding Wyo. Const. Art. 10, §4(c) was approved in 1914) |
| Reporting deadline | W.S. 27-14-502. The worker must tell the employer about the injury as soon as practical and no later than 72 hours after its general nature became apparent. The worker must also file an injury report with the employer and the Division within 10 days after the injury became apparent. Missing these deadlines creates a presumption that the claim will be denied. The worker can overcome that presumption only by clear and convincing evidence that the employer or Division was not prejudiced. |
| Filing deadline | W.S. 27-14-503. For an injury from a single event, the claim must be filed within 1 year of the injury, or within 1 year of discovery if the injury was not readily apparent. For an injury that developed over a long period, the deadline is whichever comes later: 1 year after a diagnosis is first communicated to the worker, or 3 years after the last harmful workplace exposure. |
| Exclusive remedy | W.S. 27-14-104(a). Workers’ comp is the exclusive remedy only against employers who pay the required premiums. Main exception, W.S. 27-14-104(c): a worker may sue an employer who never got coverage or who is more than 30 days late paying premiums. A co-worker can be sued only for intentionally acting to cause physical harm. Negligence, gross negligence and culpable negligence do not qualify. |
In This Wyoming Guide:
What the Wyoming Workers Compensation Act Is
A workers’ compensation act is a no-fault deal written into state law: the employer pays for work injuries without the worker proving fault, and the worker gives up most lawsuits against the employer in return. The Wyoming workers compensation act dates to 1915 (the constitutional amendment adding Wyo. Const. Art. 10, §4(c) was approved in 1914).
It lives at Wyoming Statutes Title 27 (Labor and Employment), Chapter 14 (Worker’s Compensation), W.S. 27-14-101 et seq., and the official text is linked in the sources. Wyoming is a monopolistic state-fund state. Required employers must insure through the state fund, and private carriers and self-insurance are not allowed. Mandatory coverage applies only to the extrahazardous employments listed in W.S. 27-14-108, which traces back to the 1914 amendment to Wyo.
Const. Art. 10, §4(c). Medically contested cases can go to a physician-heavy Medical Commission instead of the OAH (W.S. 27-14-616). Many claimants find the 72-hour and 10-day reporting deadlines in W.S. 27-14-502 stricter than in most states. Please confirm details with the Division and a licensed attorney.
Who the Wyoming Workers Compensation Act Covers
W.S. 27-14-108. Employers in the “extrahazardous” industries and occupations listed there must carry coverage through the state fund, which is the only insurer, and they may not self-insure. Employers outside that list may choose coverage, but only for all of their employees. W.S. 27-14-108 (any employment not on the extrahazardous list is exempt unless the employer chooses coverage) and W.S. 27-14-102 (the definition of “employee” leaves out certain workers)
Deadlines in the Wyoming Workers Compensation Act
Waiting period: W.S. 27-14-404. There is a 3-day waiting period. Those first 3 days are paid only if the worker is off work at least 8 days.. Wage-loss rate: W.S. 27-14-403(c) and 27-14-404. Temporary total disability pays 66.67% (two-thirds) of actual monthly earnings, or 30% of the statewide average monthly wage if that is higher.
Payments cannot exceed the lesser of 100% of the worker’s earnings or the statewide average monthly wage. The cap changes every year, so check the current figure with the Division..
Wyoming Workers Compensation Act: Key Sections at a Glance
The sections of the Wyoming workers compensation act that decide most cases, each with its citation:
| Coverage mandate | W.S. 27-14-108. Employers in the “extrahazardous” industries and occupations listed there must carry coverage through the state fund, which is the only insurer, and they may not self-insure. Employers outside that list may choose coverage, but only for all of their employees. |
| Exemptions | W.S. 27-14-108 (any employment not on the extrahazardous list is exempt unless the employer chooses coverage) and W.S. 27-14-102 (the definition of “employee” leaves out certain workers) |
| Report an injury | W.S. 27-14-502. The worker must tell the employer about the injury as soon as practical and no later than 72 hours after its general nature became apparent. The worker must also file an injury report with the employer and the Division within 10 days after the injury became apparent. Missing these deadlines creates a presumption that the claim will be denied. The worker can overcome that presumption only by clear and convincing evidence that the employer or Division was not prejudiced. |
| File a claim | W.S. 27-14-503. For an injury from a single event, the claim must be filed within 1 year of the injury, or within 1 year of discovery if the injury was not readily apparent. For an injury that developed over a long period, the deadline is whichever comes later: 1 year after a diagnosis is first communicated to the worker, or 3 years after the last harmful workplace exposure. |
| Waiting period | W.S. 27-14-404. There is a 3-day waiting period. Those first 3 days are paid only if the worker is off work at least 8 days. |
| Wage-loss rate | W.S. 27-14-403(c) and 27-14-404. Temporary total disability pays 66.67% (two-thirds) of actual monthly earnings, or 30% of the statewide average monthly wage if that is higher. Payments cannot exceed the lesser of 100% of the worker’s earnings or the statewide average monthly wage. The cap changes every year, so check the current figure with the Division. |
| Exclusive remedy | W.S. 27-14-104(a). Workers’ comp is the exclusive remedy only against employers who pay the required premiums. Main exception, W.S. 27-14-104(c): a worker may sue an employer who never got coverage or who is more than 30 days late paying premiums. A co-worker can be sued only for intentionally acting to cause physical harm. Negligence, gross negligence and culpable negligence do not qualify. |
| Uninsured employer penalty | W.S. 27-14-203(a). An employer who never got coverage, or is more than 30 days behind on payments, owes the state all benefits paid and reserved for the injured worker, collected by civil action. Under W.S. 27-14-203(c), late premiums also carry 1% interest per month. Separately, W.S. 27-14-104(c) lets the worker sue that employer directly. |
| Who hears disputes | W.S. 27-14-601 and 27-14-602. Disputed claims go to the Office of Administrative Hearings (OAH). Under W.S. 27-14-616, medically contested cases go to the Workers’ Compensation Medical Commission, which assigns them to medical hearing panels. The commission has 11 health care providers appointed by the governor. |
The Exclusive-Remedy Bargain in the Wyoming Workers Compensation Act
W.S. 27-14-104(a). Workers’ comp is the exclusive remedy only against employers who pay the required premiums. Main exception, W.S. 27-14-104(c): a worker may sue an employer who never got coverage or who is more than 30 days late paying premiums. A co-worker can be sued only for intentionally acting to cause physical harm. Negligence, gross negligence and culpable negligence do not qualify.
Retaliation and Penalties Under the Wyoming Workers Compensation Act
The Wyoming workers compensation act bars an employer from firing, demoting or punishing a worker for filing a claim; the remedy is a separate lawsuit or an agency complaint, with reinstatement and back pay available. W.S. 27-14-203(a). An employer who never got coverage, or is more than 30 days behind on payments, owes the state all benefits paid and reserved for the injured worker, collected by civil action. Under W.S.
27-14-203(c), late premiums also carry 1% interest per month. Separately, W.S. 27-14-104(c) lets the worker sue that employer directly. W.S. 27-14-601 and 27-14-602. Disputed claims go to the Office of Administrative Hearings (OAH). Under W.S. 27-14-616, medically contested cases go to the Workers’ Compensation Medical Commission, which assigns them to medical hearing panels. The commission has 11 health care providers appointed by the governor.
Recent Amendments to the Wyoming Workers Compensation Act
No amendment to the Wyoming workers compensation act effective in 2024, 2025 or 2026 was identified in the official code at verification time. Benefit maximums still change every year under the existing sections.
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How to Read the Wyoming Workers Compensation Act
Statute pages are written for lawyers, so read the Wyoming workers compensation act in this order: the definitions section (who is an employee), the coverage section, then the specific section for your question, using the citations above. The official code is the source; the summaries on legal-information sites are not.
If a section of the Wyoming workers compensation act seems to conflict with what an insurer told you, the section wins — and the state agency’s information line can confirm it for free.
Applying the act: the Wyoming claim guide turns these sections into steps and dates, and the Wyoming requirements guide covers the employer side.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is the Wyoming workers compensation act in the code?
Wyoming Statutes Title 27 (Labor and Employment), Chapter 14 (Worker’s Compensation), W.S. 27-14-101 et seq.. The sources below link to the official text.
How long do I have to report a work injury under the Wyoming act?
W.S. 27-14-502. The worker must tell the employer about the injury as soon as practical and no later than 72 hours after its general nature became apparent. The worker must also file an injury report with the employer and the Division within 10 days after the injury became apparent. Missing these deadlines creates a presumption that the claim will be denied.
The worker can overcome that presumption only by clear and convincing evidence that the employer or Division was not prejudiced.. Report in writing as soon as possible either way.
Can I sue my employer instead of using the Wyoming workers compensation act?
Usually not — the exclusive-remedy section bars most lawsuits against a covered employer. Claims against third parties, and against an uninsured employer, are the common exceptions.
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://wyoleg.gov/statutes/compress/title27.pdf
- U.S. Department of Labor — Workers’ Comp: dol.gov
- Insurance Information Institute: iii.org
This Wyoming workers compensation act guide was last verified against official Wyoming sources in October 2026. Rules change — confirm the current figure with the state agency or a licensed attorney.
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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.