Estimate your average weekly wage (AWW) and your weekly workers' comp disability benefit — usually about two-thirds of your AWW.
Pick how you're paid, then fill in the matching field. Nothing is stored.
Your average weekly wage (AWW) is the single most important number in a workers' comp claim. Nearly every wage-replacement benefit — temporary disability, permanent disability, and many settlements — is calculated as a percentage of your AWW. Get the AWW wrong and every check you receive is wrong too.
Most states pay a temporary total disability benefit equal to about two-thirds (66.7%) of your AWW while you can't work. So if your AWW is $900, a representative weekly benefit would be roughly $600. The percentage is set by state law and is usually paid tax-free.
Your benefit is bounded by a state minimum and maximum. Even high earners are capped at the state's maximum weekly rate, and low earners are floored at the minimum. This calculator uses representative figures of about $265 (min) and $1,764 (max) — your state's numbers will differ and usually adjust each year.
AWW often includes more than your base pay. Overtime, shift differentials, bonuses, tips, and sometimes the value of lost fringe benefits or a second job can raise it. Because insurers sometimes leave these out, it's worth double-checking the figure they used.
In most states, temporary total disability pays about two-thirds (66.7%) of your average weekly wage, and it's usually tax-free. The exact percentage and how it's calculated vary by state, and the amount is capped between a state minimum and maximum.
Often yes. Many states include overtime, bonuses, tips, and shift differentials when calculating AWW — and sometimes the value of lost benefits or earnings from a second job. Insurers don't always include them, which can shortchange you, so it's worth reviewing.
Every state sets a maximum weekly benefit (and a minimum). Even if two-thirds of your wage would be higher, your weekly check is limited to the state max. Many states adjust these limits every year, so the cap that applies depends on your injury date and state.
For variable income, states typically average your earnings over a look-back period — often the 52 weeks before your injury — or use your highest-earning weeks. Using your total earnings for the last year (the "52-week total" option) usually gives the most realistic estimate.
This calculator provides a general, simplified estimate for educational purposes only. It is not legal advice and does not reflect any specific state's workers' compensation formulas. No attorney-client relationship is formed by using this tool.
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