How much workers comp pays is usually two-thirds of your weekly wage before taxes, up to your state's weekly cap. If your check comes in under that, the insurer may have your wage wrong. Call us for a free case review, and pay nothing unless you win.
How much does workers comp pay each week?
Most states pay two-thirds of your average weekly wage before taxes. Texas and New Jersey pay 70% of that wage. Massachusetts pays 60%, and Washington pays 60% to 75% based on dependents.
Every state also caps the weekly check. North Carolina's cap for 2026 is $1,446, and Pennsylvania's is $1,394. When your workers comp pay rate times your wage tops the cap, the cap sets your check.
The calculator uses each state's rate and cap. See workers comp by state for yours.
Your average weekly wage
The math starts with your gross pay before the injury. Texas averages the 13 weeks before you got hurt. Many states also count overtime and pay from a second job.
How long the checks last
Temporary checks stop when you go back to work or reach maximum medical improvement. They also stop at your state's limit.
Florida stops them at 104 weeks. Massachusetts stops at 156 weeks. Virginia counts all wage checks against 500 weeks. Read more on how long workers comp lasts.
If your check looks too small
Wrong wage numbers are common. The insurer may miss a second job, skip overtime, or use the wrong weeks.
Take Lisa, who works two jobs in a state that pays two-thirds. She earns $700 a week where she got hurt and $300 at her other job. Her wage is $700 + $300 = $1,000, and two-thirds of $1,000 is $666.67.
Leave out her second job, and two-thirds of $700 is only $466.67. That gap is $666.67 minus $466.67, or $200 a week.
Call us first for a free review. An attorney in your state checks the insurer's math against your pay stubs and pushes back when it is wrong.
Checks that stopped cold are a different fight. Read about what to do when your workers comp payments stopped.
How the calculator figures it
Your weekly wage times your state's rate, capped at the state maximum. Arizona and Nevada cap the monthly wage instead, so we turn that into a weekly figure.
New York also multiplies by how disabled you are. A New York worker earning $500 a week who is 50% disabled gets $166.67. Fully disabled, the same worker gets $333.33.
Call now for a free review of your workers comp benefits, and an attorney checks the real number.
Questions injured workers ask
What is the workers comp pay rate in my state?
Most states pay two-thirds of your average weekly wage, up to a weekly cap. A few states pay more or less. The calculator shows your state's rate and cap.
Does overtime count toward my workers comp check?
Many states count overtime and pay from a second job in your average weekly wage. If the insurer left them out, your check may be too low.
What should I do if my check seems wrong?
Your first move is a call to us for a free case review. An attorney in your state checks how the insurer figured your wage. There is no fee unless you win.
Is there a waiting period before checks start?
Most states skip pay for the first few days of missed work. If you stay out long enough, those days get paid back. The rules differ by state.
Rates updated Sep 12, 2026