Workers Comp Pay Calculator
Updated November 2026 · Free · No sign-up
Calculate your workers comp weekly check — the near-universal formula: two-thirds of your average weekly wage, up to a state maximum — tax-free, with the benefit types and the AWW games to watch.
Quick answer: Temporary total disability (TTD) ≈ 2/3 × your average weekly wage (AWW), capped at the state maximum (caps range ~$700-1,800/week by state). A $900 AWW pays $600/week, tax-free — enter yours with your state’s cap.
The Benefit Types
| Type | Formula (typical) |
|---|---|
| TTD — temporarily unable to work | 2/3 × AWW, capped; waiting period 3-7 days (paid retroactively on longer claims) |
| TPD — light duty at lower pay | 2/3 × (AWW − current earnings) |
| PPD — permanent partial | Scheduled body-part awards or rating-based formulas (state tables) |
| Medical | 100% of authorized treatment — no deductible, ever |
Worked Examples
Example 1 — standard TTD. $900 AWW: 2/3 = $600/week, tax-free — roughly equal to take-home for many earners, by design.
Example 2 — the cap bite. $2,400 AWW in a $1,250-cap state: formula says 1,600 → capped at 1,250 (52% replacement) — high earners’ gap is why disability insurance exists.
Example 3 — light duty TPD. AWW $900, light duty paying $500: 2/3 × 400 = $267/week on top of the $500 — refusing suitable light duty, conversely, can suspend benefits.
The AWW Is the Battlefield
Everything multiplies from the AWW: include overtime, bonuses, second jobs (many states), and the value of lodging/meals — insurers’ lowball AWWs that skip OT are the most common (and most correctable) underpayment. Pull 52 weeks of stubs and compute it yourself.
Claim Mechanics That Decide Outcomes
Report immediately (late reporting is the #1 denial), get the claim number before treatment beyond emergencies, follow restrictions to the letter (social-media surveillance is standard), and calendar the waiting-period retro rules. Comp is no-fault — your negligence doesn’t bar it — and retaliation for filing is separately illegal. Settlements: lump-sum offers price your future benefits; the 2/3 stream this page computes is the baseline they’re buying out — know it before signing. Benefits are tax-free (no FICA, no income tax), which the "it’s only 2/3" framing hides.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does workers comp pay?
Typically two-thirds of your average weekly wage up to a state cap — tax-free, making it close to full take-home for median earners.
Is workers comp taxable?
No — TTD/TPD/PPD benefits are free of federal and state income tax and FICA (small offsets apply only alongside SSDI).
What counts in the average weekly wage?
Gross earnings over the lookback (usually 52 weeks): overtime, bonuses, often second jobs and in-kind pay — insurer AWWs that skip OT underpay everything downstream.
What if I can work light duty?
TPD pays 2/3 of the wage GAP on top of light-duty earnings; refusing suitable light duty can suspend benefits.
Is there a waiting period?
3-7 days by state, usually paid retroactively once the disability runs past 14-21 days.
✓ Formula verified • Last updated: November 3, 2026