Class code 6217 covers excavation and grading — digging, land clearing, and earthmoving, including drivers in most applications. Heavy equipment defines both the work and the rate, and the boundaries with sewer, tunneling, and blasting work matter. Get multiple quotes within minutes.

Who falls under code 6217

Excavation contractors, equipment operators, and crew — site prep, grading, trenching, and land clearing. Deeper and more specialized work (sewer construction, tunneling, blasting) rates under separate codes.

The misclassification traps

• Sewer/utility trench work beyond the code’s scope left in 6217
• Trucking-for-others revenue creating a separate trucking exposure
• Equipment operators vs laborers documented inconsistently across jobs

What drives your 6217 premium

Payroll in the class, your experience mod, state rates for 6217, and carrier appetite — which varies more for this class than owners expect. Equipment-heavy classes reward documented safety programs — carriers underwriting 6217 ask about training and maintenance, and the answers move quotes. The fix for all of it is the same: accurate payroll split by class, clean documentation, and multiple carriers quoted side by side. See our full class code directory.

Frequently asked questions

What is workers’ comp class code 6217?

Code 6217 covers excavation, grading, and land clearing including most associated driving. Specialized work like sewer construction, tunneling, and blasting rates under separate codes, and documented equipment-safety programs meaningfully influence carrier pricing.

Can one business have code 6217 and other class codes?

Yes — most businesses carry multiple class codes with payroll split among them. The rules for when payroll can be divided are strict and state-specific, which is exactly where a comp-focused agency earns its keep at audit time.

Think you’re misclassified — or overpaying? We review classifications as part of every quote. Get multiple quotes within minutes.