The two-thirds rule

How Much Does Workers' Comp Pay?

Every figure sourced and dated. Updated 2026-09-01.

While you cannot work, workers' comp pays 66.67% of your average weekly wage, tax-free, up to state caps and durations (California's temporary cap is 104 weeks).

And when it settles

Most settlements land at $20,000 to $50,000, with state averages spanning $47,600 to $67,500. Permanent-partial value is a formula: impairment rating x state weeks x weekly rate. Back to Workers' Compensation.

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Sources for every figure on this page

66.67%: standard temporary-disability rate: two-thirds of average weekly wage (WorkCompCalc 2026) (published estimate, retrieved 2026-09-01).
104 weeks: California temporary-disability maximum (Helbock Law 2026) (published estimate, retrieved 2026-09-01).
$20,000 to $50,000: WorkCompCalc 2026: where most workers' comp settlements land (published estimate, retrieved 2026-09-01).
$47,600 to $67,500: WorkCompCalc 2026: state-average spread, Ohio to California (published estimate, retrieved 2026-09-01).
impairment rating x state weeks x weekly rate: SetCalc 2026: the permanent-partial settlement formula (published estimate, retrieved 2026-09-01).