Professional Liability Cost Ranges
After quoting over 1,000 firms, this is how we set expectations for professional liability premiums. Choose your state and discipline and enter your revenue to see a typical yearly range.
Choose your state and discipline, then enter your revenue.
How We Built These Ranges
We have quoted professional liability for over 1,000 design, engineering and technical firms. The ranges here come from that experience: what firms of a similar size, discipline and state were usually offered.
It is a starting point for a budget conversation, not a price. Your actual premium can land inside, above or below the range.
The Rule of Thumb
| Type of firm | Share of revenue |
|---|---|
| Lower-risk design and consulting | About 0.6% to 1% |
| Most architects and engineers | About 0.8% to 1.6% |
| Higher-risk engineering and site work | About 1.5% to 2.5% |
| Structural engineers | About 2% to 3% |
| Geotechnical engineers | About 3% to 4% |
Minimums of about $1,500 to $3,500 a year apply in most states, and some states run higher.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does professional liability insurance cost for an architecture or engineering firm?
For most firms it lands around 1% to 1.5% of annual revenue. Lower-risk design and consulting firms often land under 1%, higher-risk work runs about 1.5% to 2.5%, structural engineering about 2% to 3%, and geotechnical engineering about 3% to 4%. Most insurance companies also have a minimum premium, often $1,500 to $3,500 a year depending on the state and discipline.
Is this range a quote?
No. It is not a quote or an indication. It is a range based on what we have seen quoting over 1,000 firms, to help you set a reasonable expectation. It may not be accurate for your firm. Only an insurance company can set your premium, after underwriting.
What makes a premium higher or lower than the range?
The kind of projects you work on, your claims history, the limits and deductible you choose, how many years you have been insured without a gap, the contracts you sign, and the insurance company itself. Two firms with the same revenue can be priced very differently.
Why is there a minimum premium?
Insurance companies have a floor below which they do not write a policy, no matter how small the firm. That is why a firm just starting out usually pays the minimum rather than a percentage of revenue.
What should I have ready to get an actual quote?
Your revenue for the last year and your estimate for the next one, a breakdown of the services and project types you work on, your current policy if you have one, and any claims or notices from the last five years.
Does Hardcover see what I enter here?
No. The calculator runs in your browser and nothing you type is sent to us. If you ask for a quote, you choose what to share on that form.
Calculator Disclaimer
This tool is not a quote or an indication of coverage or price. It shows a general range based on a knowledge base Hardcover built from quoting professional liability specialty programs, to help people set a reasonable expectation. It does not mean the range is accurate for your firm. Premiums are set only by insurance companies after underwriting and depend on many factors not asked here. No coverage is bound, offered or guaranteed by using this tool.