Workers comp research guide
Workers comp pay calculator: estimate your weekly check
Use this workers comp pay calculator to turn an average weekly wage into an estimated weekly benefit, with the replacement rate and state cap applied.
Paycheck lens
General estimate · Runs locally in your browser
Turn an average weekly wage into a weekly comp check
Most states replace about two-thirds of your average weekly wage, up to a maximum. Change the wage, the state, and the rate to see how the weekly check moves.
A rising wage does not always mean a rising check, because the state maximum can flatten it. Use the maximum in effect on your injury date.
Weekly benefit
$600
Below the state maximum
Per 4-week period
$2,400
Per month (average)
$2,600
Over 52 weeks
$31,200
Share of pre-injury wage
67%
Wage replacement rate
66.7%
Illustrative cap
$1,200
This models wage replacement only. Medical bills, mileage, and any settlement of future benefits are separate.
This is an educational estimate. State rules, caps, medical evidence, attorney fees, and future care can change the result.
Weekly workers comp pay is not a flat salary replacement. Most states start from your average weekly wage, apply a percentage (two-thirds is the common benchmark), and cap the result at a statutory maximum that adjusts most years. Some states set a minimum as well. Use the calculator to see how those pieces interact, then verify the wage basis and the maximum that apply to your injury date.
Use every figure as a starting point. Benefit caps, scheduled losses, deadlines, medical evidence, and settlement terms vary by state and by claim.
Workers comp weekly pay examples
These examples use the common two-thirds rate with no state minimum and no waiting period. Real claims move with the wage definition, the state cap, and the injury date.
Workers comp pay questions
- How is workers comp weekly pay calculated?
- Most states start with your average weekly wage, usually gross earnings over a set look-back period, then pay a percentage of it (often two-thirds) up to a state maximum. Some states also apply a minimum.
- Does workers comp pay my full salary?
- Rarely. A rate near two-thirds is typical, and the weekly amount is capped. Union contracts, an employer policy, or a state supplement can add to it, but the statutory benefit alone usually replaces less than your take-home pay.
- What counts toward my average weekly wage?
- It depends on the state, but regular overtime, bonuses, and other earnings are often included across a 13- or 52-week look-back. If your pay changes with the season or the shift, the wage statement is worth reviewing line by line.
- Is workers comp pay taxed?
- Workers compensation wage benefits are generally not taxed at the federal level, and most states follow that rule. A settlement can include amounts treated differently, so ask a tax professional before you rely on a net figure.
Facts to check before you rely on the estimate
- Find the wage basis in your claim file: the look-back period and whether overtime or bonuses were included.
- Compare the weekly rate with the state maximum and minimum in effect on your injury date.
- Keep weekly wage replacement separate from medical payments and from any settlement of permanent benefits.