Workers' Compensation Calculator
Estimate your workers' compensation weekly and total benefits after a workplace injury. Enter your average wage, disability rating, and benefit duration to see your payout.
About this calculator
Workers' compensation replaces a portion of lost wages when an employee is injured on the job. The core formula is: Benefit = min(avgWeeklyWage × benefitType × (disabilityRating / 100), maxWeeklyBenefit) × weeksDuration. The benefit type factor reflects whether the disability is temporary total, temporary partial, or permanent — each carrying a different wage-replacement multiplier. Most states cap weekly payments at a statutory maximum, which is why the formula uses a minimum comparison. Multiplying the capped weekly benefit by the approved number of weeks yields the total compensation amount. Because state rules vary significantly, this calculator provides an evidence-based estimate rather than a legal guarantee.
How to use
Suppose your average weekly wage is $1,000, your disability rating is 60%, the benefit type multiplier is 0.667 (temporary total), the state maximum is $800/week, and your approved duration is 26 weeks. Step 1: $1,000 × 0.667 × (60/100) = $400.20/week. Step 2: min($400.20, $800) = $400.20/week (under the cap). Step 3: $400.20 × 26 weeks = $10,405.20 total benefit. If your wage were higher and the pre-cap amount exceeded $800, the state maximum would apply instead.
Frequently asked questions
How is workers' compensation calculated based on disability rating?
Your disability rating, expressed as a percentage, scales down your wage-replacement benefit. For example, a 60% disability rating means you receive 60% of the applicable wage-replacement amount. The product of your average weekly wage, the benefit-type multiplier, and the disability fraction gives your raw weekly benefit. That figure is then capped at your state's maximum weekly benefit before being multiplied by the approved duration. A higher rating results in a proportionally larger weekly payment.
What does the benefit type multiplier mean in workers' compensation?
The benefit type multiplier reflects the category of your disability: temporary total (typically ~0.667), temporary partial, or permanent total or partial. Each category has a different legal wage-replacement rate because they represent different degrees of work incapacity. Temporary total means you cannot work at all while recovering, so the replacement rate is highest among time-limited benefits. Permanent disability ratings often involve separate schedules set by state law. Always verify the applicable rate with your state's workers' compensation board.
When does the state maximum weekly benefit limit affect my compensation?
Every state sets a maximum weekly benefit — usually tied to a percentage of the state's average weekly wage — to cap employer liability. If your calculated weekly benefit (wage × multiplier × disability rating) exceeds that cap, you receive only the maximum. Higher-income workers are most affected because their raw benefit would otherwise be very large. The cap resets periodically, so checking the current year's figure for your state is essential. This calculator lets you input the correct maximum directly to get an accurate estimate.