- How California Workers' Comp Settlements Are Calculated
- Find Your Average Weekly Earnings and Temporary Disability Rate
- How Long Can You Collect Temporary Disability Benefits
- How Your Whole Person Impairment Rating Is Adjusted to a Disability Percentage
- How Many Weeks of Permanent Disability Pay You Get Based on Your Rating
- Permanent Total Disability Weekly Rates in California
- California Statewide Average Weekly Wage and How It Affects Your Benefits
- Mileage Reimbursement Rates for Medical Travel in California
- How to Get a Lawyer Who Can Maximize Your California Workers' Comp Settlement
California workers' comp benefits change every year, and knowing the current numbers can mean the difference between a fair settlement and leaving money on the table. These charts break down exactly what you may be entitled to.
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How California Workers' Comp Settlements Are Calculated
A California workers' comp settlement typically combines several benefit categories into one number. Understanding each piece helps you evaluate whether an offer is reasonable.
The main components include temporary disability in California (TD) payments for lost wages while you recover, permanent disability (PD) payments for lasting impairment, medical treatment costs, and a supplemental job displacement benefit (SJDB) if your employer cannot offer modified work.
Your settlement amount depends on several key factors: your average weekly earnings before the injury, the date your injury occurred, the severity of your permanent impairment, and your age and occupation at the time of the injury. Under California workers compensation law, benefit rates are tied to the Statewide Average Weekly Wage (SAWW), which the state recalculates each year. That means two identical injuries can produce different settlement values depending on when they happened.
Each chart below covers one piece of the calculation. Together, they give you a workers' comp settlement chart for California that reflects 2026 rates and recent prior years.
Find Your Average Weekly Earnings and Temporary Disability Rate
Your average weekly earnings (AWE) are the starting point for almost every benefit calculation. California generally calculates your average weekly earnings (AWE) based on your actual earnings at the time of your injury, or by calculating an average of your earnings over the previous year or period of employment if your income fluctuates or you work part-time, as defined in Labor Code § 4453(c).
Your temporary disability rate equals two-thirds of your AWE – but the state sets a floor and a ceiling each year. If your AWE falls below the minimum threshold, you receive the minimum TD rate. If it falls above the maximum threshold, you receive the maximum. Everyone in between gets exactly two-thirds of their AWE.
The table below shows these thresholds, along with permanent disability weekly rate ranges and the SJDB voucher value, organized by injury date. Find your date of injury in the left column, then read across to locate the numbers that apply to your claim.
| Date of injury | Average Weekly Earnings | Temporary Disability Rate | Permanent Disability (PD) Percentage | PD Minimum Weekly Rate | PD Maximum Weekly Rate | SJDB |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1/1/26 | Below $396.92 | $264.61 | 1 to 54 | $160.00 | $290.00 | $6,000 |
| $396.93 to $2646.17 | 2/3 x AWW | 55 to 69 | $160.00 | $290.00 | $6,000 | |
| 70 to 99 | $160.00 | $290.00 | $6,000 | |||
| 1/1/25 | Below $378.05 | $252.03 | 1 to 54 | $160.00 | $290.00 | $6,000 |
| $378.06 to $2520.43 | 2/3 x AWW | 55 to 69 | $160.00 | $290.00 | $6,000 | |
| 70 to 99 | $160.00 | $290.00 | $6,000 | |||
| 1/1/24 | Below $364.29 | $242.86 | 1 to 54 | $160.00 | $290.00 | $6,000 |
| $364.30 to $2428.72 | 2/3 x AWW | 55 to 69 | $160.00 | $290.00 | $6,000 | |
| 70 to 99 | $160.00 | $290.00 | $6,000 | |||
| 1/1/23 | Below $364.29 | $242.86 | 1 to 54 | $160.00 | $290.00 | $6,000 |
| $364.30 to $2428.72 | 2/3 x AWW | 55 to 69 | $160.00 | $290.00 | $6,000 | |
| 70 to 99 | $160.00 | $290.00 | $6,000 | |||
| 1/1/22 | Below $346.42 | $230.95 | 1 to 54 | $160.00 | $290.00 | $6,000 |
| $346.43 to $2309.56 | 2/3 x AWW | 55 to 69 | $160.00 | $290.00 | $6,000 | |
| 70 to 99 | $160.00 | $290.00 | $6,000 | |||
| 1/1/21 | Below $305.16 | $203.44 | 1 to 54 | $160.00 | $290.00 | $6,000 |
| $305.17 - $2034.47 | 2/3 x AWW | 55 to 69 | $160.00 | $290.00 | $6,000 | |
| 70 to 99 | $160.00 | $290.00 | $6,000 | |||
| 1/1/20 | Below $292.36 | $194.91 | 1 to 54 | $160.00 | $290.00 | $6,000 |
| $292.37 - $1949.15 | 2/3 x AWW | 55 to 69 | $160.00 | $290.00 | $6,000 | |
| 70 to 99 | $160.00 | $290.00 | $6,000 |
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How Long Can You Collect Temporary Disability Benefits
Temporary disability payments do not last forever. California Labor Code § 4656 caps the duration based on the type of injury.
For most injuries occurring on or after January 1, 2008, you can collect up to 104 weeks of TD within five years of the injury date. Certain severe conditions – such as amputations, severe burns, or hepatitis B and C – qualify for up to 240 weeks. More recent legislation expanded the 240-week cap without a five-year window for specific conditions, such as cancer, under Labor Code § 3212.1, which applies exclusively to active firefighting members and peace officers.
The table below lists these categories. Find the description that best matches your situation to see how many weeks you may receive.
| Injury Type or Date | Maximum Allowed Weeks | Time Limit |
|---|---|---|
| Standard work injuries(occurring on or after Jan. 1, 2008) | 104 weeks | Must be used within 5 years of the injury date. |
| Severe listed conditions(e.g., amputations, severe burns, HIV, hepatitis B/C, high-velocity eye injuries) | 240 weeks | Must be used within 5 years of the injury date. |
| Specific conditions under Section 3212.1(occurring on or after Jan. 1, 2023) | 240 weeks | Not limited by a 5-year window. |
Source: California Labor Code § 4656
How Your Whole Person Impairment Rating Is Adjusted to a Disability Percentage
After you reach maximum medical improvement, a doctor assigns a whole person impairment (WPI) rating using the AMA Guides, Fifth Edition. California then adjusts that number upward by a 1.4 multiplier to produce your standard disability rating – before occupation and age modifiers are applied.
This adjustment matters because a seemingly small WPI can translate into a significantly higher disability percentage. For example, a 20 WPI becomes a 28 after the 1.4 adjustment. Any WPI of 72 or above converts to 100.
Use the table below by finding your WPI in the left column and reading across to the adjusted value.
| WPI | 1.4 Adjustment | WPI | 1.4 Adjustment | WPI | 1.4 Adjustment | WPI | 1.4 Adjustment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1 | 26 | 36 | 51 | 71 | 76 | 100 |
| 2 | 3 | 27 | 38 | 52 | 73 | 77 | 100 |
| 3 | 4 | 28 | 39 | 53 | 74 | 78 | 100 |
| 4 | 6 | 29 | 41 | 54 | 76 | 79 | 100 |
| 5 | 7 | 30 | 42 | 55 | 77 | 80 | 100 |
| 6 | 8 | 31 | 43 | 56 | 78 | 81 | 100 |
| 7 | 10 | 32 | 45 | 57 | 80 | 82 | 100 |
| 8 | 11 | 33 | 46 | 58 | 81 | 83 | 100 |
| 9 | 13 | 34 | 48 | 59 | 83 | 84 | 100 |
| 10 | 14 | 35 | 49 | 60 | 84 | 85 | 100 |
| 11 | 15 | 36 | 50 | 61 | 85 | 86 | 100 |
| 12 | 17 | 37 | 52 | 62 | 87 | 87 | 100 |
| 13 | 18 | 38 | 53 | 63 | 88 | 88 | 100 |
| 14 | 20 | 39 | 55 | 64 | 90 | 89 | 100 |
| 15 | 21 | 40 | 56 | 65 | 91 | 90 | 100 |
| 16 | 22 | 41 | 57 | 66 | 92 | 91 | 100 |
| 17 | 24 | 42 | 59 | 67 | 94 | 92 | 100 |
| 18 | 25 | 43 | 60 | 68 | 95 | 93 | 100 |
| 19 | 27 | 44 | 62 | 69 | 97 | 94 | 100 |
| 20 | 28 | 45 | 63 | 70 | 98 | 95 | 100 |
| 21 | 29 | 46 | 64 | 71 | 99 | 96 | 100 |
| 22 | 31 | 47 | 66 | 72 | 100 | 97 | 100 |
| 23 | 32 | 48 | 67 | 73 | 100 | 98 | 100 |
| 24 | 34 | 49 | 69 | 74 | 100 | 99 | 100 |
| 25 | 35 | 50 | 70 | 75 | 100 | 100 | 100 |
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How Many Weeks of Permanent Disability Pay You Get Based on Your Rating
Once you have a final PD rating – which is ultimately used to calculate typical workers' comp settlement body part prices – Labor Code § 4658 determines how many weeks of payments you receive. The system uses a tiered structure – higher ratings earn more weeks per percentage point.
For injuries on or after January 1, 2013, a 10% PD rating translates to 30.25 total weeks of PD payments: the first 9.75% at 3 weeks each (29.25 weeks) plus 0.25% at 4 weeks (1 week). The numbers climb steeply at higher ratings, with each percentage point above 70% worth 16 weeks.
The table below shows weeks per percentage point at each tier. Multiply the weeks by your PD weekly rate to estimate your total permanent disability value.
| PD % Range | Weeks per 1% of PD |
|---|---|
| 0.25% - 9.75% | 3 weeks |
| 10% - 14.75% | 4 weeks |
| 15% - 24.75% | 5 weeks |
| 25% - 29.75% | 6 weeks |
| 30% - 49.75% | 7 weeks |
| 50% - 69.75% | 8 weeks |
| 70% - 99.75% | 16 weeks |
Source: California Labor Code § 4658
Permanent Total Disability Weekly Rates in California
A permanent total disability (PTD) rating of 100% means you cannot return to any type of work. Under Labor Code § 4453, PTD benefits are paid for life at a weekly rate tied to the SAWW in effect on your date of injury.
For injuries on or after January 1, 2026, the maximum PTD weekly rate is $1,764.11. The minimum is $264.61. These rates increase each year as the SAWW rises.
The table below lists minimum and maximum PTD weekly rates by injury date going back to 2020.
| Date of Injury | Min PTD/Week | Max PTD/Week | Statutory Basis |
|---|---|---|---|
| On or after 1/1/2026 | $264.61 | $1,764.11 | LC § 4453(a)(10) + SAWW 4.988% |
| On or after 1/1/2025 | $252.03 | $1,680.29 | |
| On or after 1/1/2024 | $242.86 | $1,619.15 | |
| On or after 1/1/2023 | $242.86 | $1,619.15 | |
| On or after 1/1/2022 | $230.95 | $1,539.71 | |
| On or after 1/1/2021 | $203.44 | $1,356.31 | |
| On or after 1/1/2020 | $194.91 | $1,299.43 |
Source: California Labor Code § 4453
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California Statewide Average Weekly Wage and How It Affects Your Benefits
The SAWW drives nearly every benefit cap in the California workers' comp system. When the SAWW rises, maximum temporary disability (TD) and permanent total disability (PTD) rates increase for injuries occurring that calendar year, though standard permanent partial disability (PD) rates remain fixed by statute.
For 2026, the SAWW is $1,789.00 – a 4.99% jump from 2025. That increase directly raised the maximum TD rate and the PTD ceiling for new injuries. If you are hurt in a year when the SAWW declines (as it did for the 2024 rate year, dropping from $1,651 to $1,642), your benefit caps stay the same because Labor Code § 4453(a)(10) prohibits maximum limits from being reduced.
The table below tracks SAWW values and year-over-year percentage changes.
| Year | SAWW | SAWW increase |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | $1,789.00 | 4.98826% |
| 2025 | $1,704.00 | 3.77588% |
| 2024 | $1,642.00 | 0.00000% |
| 2023 | $1,651.00 | 5.15924% |
| 2022 | $1,570.00 | 13.5213% |
| 2021 | $1,383.00 | 4.377% |
Mileage Reimbursement Rates for Medical Travel in California
California requires insurance carriers to reimburse injured workers for mileage driven to and from medical appointments. The reimbursement rate follows the IRS standard mileage rate and updates annually.
For travel on or after January 1, 2026, the rate is $0.725 per mile. It might be a good idea to keep a simple log – date, destination, and round-trip miles – so you can submit accurate reimbursement requests.
| Date | Cents per mile |
|---|---|
| On or after 1/1/2026 | $.72.5 |
| On or after 1/1/2025 | $0.70 |
| On or after 1/1/2024 | $0.67 |
| On or after 1/1/2023 | $0.66 |
| On or after 7/1/2022 | $0.63 |
| On or after 1/1/2022 | $0.59 |
| On or after 1/1/2021 | $0.56 |
| On or after 1/1/2020 | $0.58 |
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How to Get a Lawyer Who Can Maximize Your California Workers' Comp Settlement
Settlement offers from insurers often fall short of what injured workers deserve. An experienced attorney can identify undervalued benefits and negotiate a higher payout. ConsumerShield matches you directly with experienced local personal injury lawyers who specialize in workers' compensation cases like yours. The process is free, fast, and built to connect you with someone who understands California's system inside and out.
