How is the workers' comp weekly rate calculated?

Most states pay a percentage of the worker's average weekly wage, typically two-thirds (66.67 percent), for temporary total disability. The result is then capped at the statutory maximum and floored at the statutory minimum, so very high and very low earners are adjusted to those limits.

What is the difference between TTD, TPD, and PPD?

Temporary total disability (TTD) is paid while the worker cannot work at all. Temporary partial disability (TPD) covers a portion of lost wages when the worker returns at reduced earnings. Permanent partial disability (PPD) compensates a lasting impairment, often as the weekly rate times a scheduled number of weeks.

How does the maximum and minimum cap work?

Each state sets a maximum weekly benefit, often tied to the statewide average wage, and a minimum floor. If the calculated percentage of wage exceeds the maximum, the worker receives the maximum; if it falls below the minimum, they receive the minimum. The tool applies both clamps automatically.

How is temporary partial disability figured?

TPD generally pays a percentage, often the same two-thirds, of the difference between the pre-injury average weekly wage and the worker's reduced post-injury earnings. The tool computes this from the post-injury wage you enter, capping it at the same statutory maximum.

Is this an official benefit determination?

No. It is an estimate using a single rate percentage and your entered caps. Actual benefits depend on each state's exact average-weekly-wage rule, current year caps, cost-of-living adjustments, offsets, and the impairment rating, so verify against the governing state schedule.

Workers' Compensation Benefit Estimator

Workers’ compensation weekly benefits are driven by the average weekly wage, a state percentage, and statutory caps. This estimator applies that percentage, clamps the result to the state maximum and minimum, and shows temporary total, temporary partial, and permanent partial figures so you can project a claim’s value quickly.

How it works

The base rate is a percentage of the average weekly wage, bounded by the state caps. Partial and permanent rates build on that base:

TTD       = clamp(AWW × rate%, min cap, max cap)
TPD       = min(rate% × (AWW − post-injury wage), max cap)
PPD/week  = TTD rate (subject to the schedule)
PPD total = PPD weekly rate × scheduled weeks for the impairment

Clamping to the maximum and minimum is what makes the estimate realistic: high earners are limited to the state ceiling and low earners are raised to the floor.

Example and tips

A worker with a 900 average weekly wage in a state paying two-thirds, with a 1,100 maximum and 250 minimum, has a temporary total rate of 600 per week. If they return to light duty earning 400, temporary partial pays two-thirds of the 500 wage loss, about 333 per week. For a permanent partial award, multiply the weekly rate by the scheduled weeks the state assigns to the body part and impairment. Always confirm the current-year caps and the exact average-weekly-wage rule for the governing state, since both change annually.