How much is engineer insurance?
Key engineer insurance policies and their expected costs
Here are the top business insurance policies bought by engineering professionals and their average monthly costs:
- Professional liability insurance: $168 per month
- General liability insurance: $38 per month
- Business owner's policy (BOP): $53 per month
- Workers' compensation insurance: $46 per month
- Commercial auto insurance: $106 per month
- Cyber insurance: $84 per month
Our figures are sourced from the median cost of policies for engineers who apply for quotes with TechInsurance. The median provides a better estimate of your expected insurance rates because it excludes outlier high and low premiums.
Professional liability insurance for engineers
On average, engineering businesses pay $168 per month, or $2,010 per year, for professional liability policies.
Also called errors and omissions insurance (E&O insurance) and professional indemnity insurance, professional liability coverage pays for legal costs related to a mistake, missed deadline, or other accusation of professional negligence. This includes attorney's fees and other legal expenses if a client decides to sue over unsatisfactory work.
This is the average insurance policy for engineering professionals who purchase from TechInsurance:
Premium: $168 per month
Policy limits: $1 million per occurrence; $1 million aggregate
Deductible: $2,000
The cost of a professional liability insurance policy for engineers is determined by several factors, including the coverage limits and deductible you choose, the size of your business, the type of engineering work you do, and your claims history.
General liability insurance for engineers
Engineers spend an average of $38 per month, or $450 per year, for general liability insurance. Though usually not required by law, a general liability policy may be needed in order to sign a lease, get licensed in their state, or work with some clients.
General liability insurance covers your small business from common third-party risks, such as client property damage or bodily injury. It also pays for lawsuits related to copyright infringement and defamation, including slander and libel.
For example, if a competitor claims that an employee at your engineering company made disparaging comments about them on social media and decides to sue, a general liability policy would pay for any legal costs, helping you to avoid financial loss.
Below is the average cost for general liability insurance policies for engineers who buy from TechInsurance:
Premium: $38 per month
Policy limits: $1 million per occurrence; $2 million aggregate
Deductible: $500
The cost of general liability insurance is based on several factors, including the types of services offered, policy limits, size and location of your business, or any additional insured endorsements you may have.

Business owner's policy for engineers
On average, engineering businesses pay $53 per month, or $638 per year, for a business owner's policy (BOP).
A BOP combines your general liability and commercial property insurance coverage together at a discount. It protects your small business against both property and liability risks, such as stolen business property or client bodily injury.
This is the average business owner's policy for engineers who buy from TechInsurance:
Premium: $53 per month
Policy limits: $1 million per occurrence; $2 million aggregate
Deductible: $500
Engineering companies that qualify for a BOP are usually small in size (fewer than 100 employees) and have a low risk level. Learn more about business owner's policy eligibility requirements.
The cost of a business owner's policy is based on several factors, including the value of your property, your location, and the number of employees you have.
You can also expand your policy with additional coverage by adding endorsements based on your needs, such as business interruption insurance or equipment breakdown coverage.
Workers’ compensation insurance for engineers
Engineers spend an average of $46 per month, or $548 annually, for workers' compensation insurance.
Workers' comp coverage pays for medical costs and disability benefits when you or an employee suffers a work-related injury or illness. For example, if an employee slips and breaks their wrist during a site visit, a workers' comp policy would cover their medical bills and lost income while they recover.
Workers' compensation coverage also usually includes employer's liability insurance, which pays for defense costs and other legal fees in the event of a lawsuit related to workplace injuries.
State insurance requirements and the number of employees you have will determine whether your business is required to carry this coverage. Many engineering businesses with one or more employees are required to purchase workers' comp.
For example, in California and New York, you'll need workers' comp after your first hire. However, in Florida, you'll typically need workers' comp after the fourth hire. In Texas, coverage is optional.
Even though workers' comp may not be required for sole proprietors or independent contractors, it is highly recommended, as most health insurance plans will deny claims for injuries that occur on the job.
The cost of workers' comp is based on numerous factors, including the number of employees you have and their occupational risks. It's often less expensive for businesses in states that have lower healthcare costs.
Find workers' comp requirements in your state

Commercial auto insurance for engineers
Engineers spend an average of $106 per month, or $1,268 per year, for commercial auto insurance. Almost every state requires this type of insurance if your engineering business owns any company vehicles.
If your business vehicles are involved in an accident, a commercial auto policy would help cover property damage costs and any medical expenses. This coverage also helps pay for costs related to vandalism, weather damage, and theft.
To protect personal, rented, and leased vehicles used for business purposes, you'd need hired and non-owned auto insurance (HNOA) instead.
The cost of commercial car insurance depends on many factors, including your employees' driving records, policy limits, the number of vehicles you own and their value, and your coverage options.
Cyber insurance for engineers
Small businesses in the engineering industry pay an average of $84 per month, or $1,011 per year, on cyber insurance, also known as cyber liability insurance or cybersecurity insurance.
Cyber insurance helps your engineering business recover from the financial impact of a cyberattack or data breach. It can help pay for data recovery, breach investigations, notification costs, legal defense costs, and even cyberextortion payments.
Engineering firms often digitally process and store private client details, such as credit card information, email addresses, names, and addresses. Having a cyber insurance policy can help protect your business in the event of a data breach or cybersecurity incident.
The cost of your cyber insurance policy depends on factors such as how much sensitive data you manage, your cybersecurity controls, and your claims history. Engineering firms that store large volumes of client information typically need higher limits to ensure full protection.
Top factors impacting engineer insurance premiums
Several key factors impact professional engineer insurance costs, including:
- Type of engineering services: The type of engineering services you provide will impact rates. Mechanical engineers, structural engineers, civil engineers, and electrical engineers will all pay different rates based on their specific risks.
- Type of projects completed: The size, type, and scope of your projects will help determine your insurance rates. Construction projects, for example, carry higher risk and are more costly to cover than other engineering projects.
- Claims history: A history of prior claims often signals future risk to insurance companies and can lead to higher rates.
- Value of business equipment and property: Your type of engineering property and equipment value can impact your insurance costs, with more expensive property requiring higher coverage limits.
- Types of insurance products purchased: Certain types of business insurance policies cost more than others, but also cover more significant risks. Evaluating your business needs and only purchasing necessary policies can help lower overall costs.
- Coverage limits, deductibles, exclusions, and additional insureds: Higher deductibles and lower limits on your policies can help you save money. Additionally, purchasing only the coverage options you need will help keep costs low.
- Business location: Engineering firms in areas with higher crime rates, more foot traffic, or greater exposure to severe weather and natural disasters will often pay higher insurance rates. Riskier locations may require more insurance or additional coverage.
- Business size and annual income: Larger engineering firms with higher business income and more employees generally pay higher premiums than smaller establishments because there are more opportunities for incidents, such as claims for negligence or advertising injuries.
There are some factors you can’t control when it comes to business insurance coverage costs. But you and your employees can still take meaningful steps to manage risk, prevent personal injuries, and reduce claims, which can help keep your monthly insurance costs low.
How do I get affordable engineer insurance with TechInsurance?
TechInsurance works with top U.S. carriers to help engineering business owners and other design professionals find the right coverage.
When you’re ready to purchase a policy, you’ll be paired with an insurance agent who specializes in liability insurance for many types of engineers and engineering firms. They can guide you in selecting the right policies to protect your business and give you peace of mind.
You can buy insurance products online with TechInsurance in three easy steps:
- Complete a free online application with your business details.
- Compare insurance coverage options from top-rated U.S. insurance carriers.
- Select a policy, pay the premium to begin coverage, and receive proof of insurance.
Our licensed agents are available to answer questions about your insurance options, business risks, state requirements, and how to find cheap engineer insurance. Most small business owners receive a certificate of insurance within 24 hours of applying for quotes.
