A workers comp carpal tunnel settlement is paid against your hand, which Illinois values at 205 weeks. For carpal tunnel from repetitive work, Illinois caps the award at 28.5 to 57 weeks. Call now for a free case review, and an attorney in your state gets on it right away.
How a workers comp carpal tunnel settlement is figured
Carpal tunnel is usually paid as a loss to the hand. Each state sets a number of weeks for a whole hand. Your rating then decides how much of that hand you lost.
Illinois spells it out. A whole hand is worth 205 weeks for newer injuries. Repetitive carpal tunnel is capped at 28.5 to 57 weeks of that hand.
New York works the same way with a schedule loss of use rating. When the insurer agrees with your doctor's percentage, that percentage sets your weeks. Learn more about your impairment rating.
Typical carpal tunnel settlement amounts
No official national average exists. The money depends on your state, your wage and your rating.
Mike runs a press in Illinois, and years of the same motion wore out his right wrist. His carpal tunnel came from repetitive work, so the 28.5 to 57 week cap applies. The top of that range is twice the bottom, since 28.5 times 2 is 57. His weekly rate times his weeks gives the dollar figure. See workers comp in Illinois.
Ohio shows how high a hand can go. Ohio's 2026 table pays $224,175 for total loss of a hand. That is 175 weeks at $1,281 a week, because 175 times $1,281 is $224,175. A carpal tunnel award is usually a part of that figure. See workers comp in Ohio.
What raises a carpal tunnel settlement
These push the number up:
- Both hands. Each hand is rated, and each is usually paid on its own.
- A higher rating after treatment ends.
- Surgery, more so if the hand stays weak after it.
- A job you cannot go back to with those hands.
Repetitive injuries carry their own notice rules. The clock often starts when a doctor tells you the job caused it. If the insurer says your wrists are not work related, read about a denied claim.
Surgery and your rating
Carpal tunnel release often helps. A good result can lower your rating, and a lower rating means fewer weeks paid.
Do not settle before you heal. Your rating should come after you reach maximum medical improvement.
The insurer may send you to its own doctor. That independent medical exam can push your rating down, so tell the attorney before you go.
What it costs to have a lawyer
The case review is free. You pay no fee unless you win, and the attorney is paid only out of money recovered.
State law caps that fee. Illinois limits it to 20% of what you recover. More on what a workers comp lawyer costs.
What to do now
- Call us for the free case review.
- Get your doctor to put in writing that your job caused it.
- Report it to your employer in writing right away.
- Sign no settlement offer until an attorney reads it.
Questions injured workers ask
What is the average settlement for carpal tunnel?
There is no official national average. The number depends on your state, your rating and your wage. Illinois caps repetitive carpal tunnel at 28.5 to 57 weeks of the hand.
Is it hard to get workers comp for carpal tunnel?
It takes a doctor tying it to your job. Call us for a free review first. Then report it in writing as soon as a doctor makes that link.
Is carpal tunnel a permanent injury?
It can be, if you still lose function after treatment. Your rating sets how much.
How does a settlement work for carpal tunnel in both hands?
Each hand is rated and usually paid on its own. That makes the total higher than one hand alone.
Should I have surgery before I settle?
Call us for a free review before you sign anything. Surgery is a choice for you and your doctor. Settling before you heal can lock in the wrong rating.
Reviewed 8/30/2026