Workers' Comp Settlement Calculator
Estimate the permanent partial disability (PPD) award a work injury might be worth, by state. Each state sets a schedule of weeks per body part, paid at a percentage of your wage — and the rules vary widely. Pick your state for its specific schedule and rate.
⚠ A rough estimate of the PPD award, not a prediction.
Workers' comp has no pain and suffering. This estimates the permanent partial disability payment only — not medical care or wage-replacement during recovery. The impairment rating is set by a doctor and often disputed; talk to a workers' comp attorney.
How workers' comp PPD is calculated
Permanent partial disability is the benefit you get when a work injury leaves you with a permanent impairment but you can still work in some capacity. Most states use a scheduled-member system: the law assigns a number of weeks of benefits to each body part (an arm, a hand, a leg, an eye), and your award is those weeks times your impairment percentage times a weekly rate (usually about two-thirds of your average weekly wage, capped at a state maximum). Back and neck injuries are often handled as a percentage of the "whole body."
The details vary enormously: some states pay PPD at a far lower weekly cap than the temporary-disability rate, a few pay a flat dollar amount per impairment point, and others base it on lost earning capacity. Pick your state above for its specific schedule, or use the personal injury settlement calculator for a non-work injury.
Why the weekly rate is not your full wage
PPD is paid at a compensation rate, not your full paycheck. Most states set that rate at about two-thirds of your average weekly wage, but the cap that applies to PPD is frequently lower than the cap on temporary-disability benefits, so a high earner can be limited more than they expect. A few states pay a flat dollar amount per impairment point instead of using a wage-based rate. Because of these differences, the same injury and the same rating can produce very different awards across state lines, which is why the estimate is state-specific.
What PPD does and does not include
This estimate covers the permanent partial disability award only. It does not include your medical treatment (which workers comp generally pays in full for an accepted claim), your temporary disability checks while you recover, or vocational retraining. It also does not include pain and suffering, which workers comp never pays. If your injury keeps you from any work at all, you may instead qualify for permanent total disability, which is calculated differently. For the law behind these benefits in your state, see the workers' compensation laws by state.
Frequently Asked Questions
How is a workers comp settlement calculated?
Most states use a scheduled-member system: the law assigns a set number of weeks of benefits to each body part, and your award is those weeks times your impairment percentage times a weekly rate (often about two-thirds of your average weekly wage, up to a state maximum). Back and neck injuries are usually paid as a percentage of the whole body. The rules and rates vary widely by state.
What is the average workers comp settlement?
There is no meaningful average, because awards are driven by your wage, the body part injured, and your impairment rating. A minor scheduled injury may be a few thousand dollars, while a high impairment rating on a high-value body part at a high wage can be much larger. The per-state calculator estimates the permanent partial disability portion from your own numbers.
Does workers comp pay for pain and suffering?
No. Workers comp is a no-fault system that pays medical care, wage-replacement during recovery, and permanent disability benefits, but it does not pay pain and suffering. That trade-off is the core of the workers-comp bargain: you give up the right to sue your employer in exchange for guaranteed, no-fault benefits.
What is permanent partial disability (PPD)?
PPD is the benefit paid when a work injury leaves you with a permanent impairment but you can still work in some capacity. A doctor assigns an impairment rating, usually as a percentage, and the state schedule converts that rating into a number of weeks of benefits at your compensation rate. This calculator estimates that PPD award only, not your medical or temporary-disability benefits.
Can I sue my employer instead of taking workers comp?
Usually not. In nearly every state workers comp is the exclusive remedy against your employer, with narrow exceptions for intentional harm or an uninsured employer. You may have a separate claim against a negligent third party (such as a equipment maker or another driver), which is not subject to the exclusive-remedy rule.
Is this calculator a settlement offer or legal advice?
No. It is a free, rough estimate of the permanent partial disability award based on your wage, body part, and impairment rating. It is not a prediction, an offer, or legal advice, and RecordingLaw.com is not a law firm. The impairment rating is often disputed, so consult a workers-comp attorney about your case.
Disclaimer
This calculator is for general informational purposes only and is not legal advice, a prediction, or a settlement offer. PPD schedules, compensation rates, and impairment ratings are complex and frequently disputed, and your actual award can only be determined under your state's system with a doctor's rating and, often, a judge's approval. RecordingLaw.com is not a law firm.