If you’ve been hurt at work, the first question is almost always the same: “How much will I receive?” Pennsylvania workers’ compensation pays a weekly benefit based on your pre-injury wages and the type of injury you have. Use the calculator below to get an estimate, then call a Pennsylvania workers’ compensation lawyer at Munley Law to go over the specifics of your case at no charge.
This calculator covers two types of PA workers’ compensation benefits:
- Wage Loss Benefits — weekly payments if you can’t work or are earning less due to your injury
- Specific Loss Benefits — a fixed total for the permanent loss of a limb, body part, or sense under Pennsylvania law
Pennsylvania Workers’ Compensation Calculator
Estimate your weekly benefit based on 2026 Pennsylvania state rates. Takes about 60 seconds.
What type of benefit are you calculating?
Select the option that best fits your situation.
What were you earning before your injury?
Enter your pre-injury wages. We’ll calculate your Average Weekly Wage (AWW).
Which body part or sense did you lose?
Pennsylvania law assigns a fixed number of benefit weeks for each type of scheduled loss. Select the one that applies to your injury.
What is your current work status?
This affects how your weekly benefit is calculated.
What were you earning before your injury?
Your weekly benefit rate is based on your pre-injury wages.
This is an estimate. A board-certified workers’ compensation attorney can evaluate your full case — at no cost to you.
How Pennsylvania Workers’ Compensation Benefits Are Calculated
Pennsylvania calculates weekly workers’ compensation benefits using a tiered formula based on your Average Weekly Wage (AWW). The Commonwealth updates these rates each January 1. For 2026, the Statewide Average Weekly Wage is $1,394, up 3.5% from 2025.
| Your Average Weekly Wage (AWW) | Your Weekly Benefit |
|---|---|
| Over $2,091/week | $1,394/week (state maximum) |
| $1,045.51 – $2,091/week | 66⅔% of AWW |
| $774.44 – $1,045.50/week | $697/week (flat rate) |
| $774.43/week or less | 90% of AWW |
These rates apply to total disability, meaning you cannot work at all. If you return to lighter work at a lower wage, partial disability benefits equal 66 and 2/3 percent of the difference between your pre-injury and current wages.
Contact a Workers’ Compensation Attorney at Munley Law
Call Us At 844-686-5397 Worked Examples: What the Numbers Look Like in Practice
Here is how the 2026 formula plays out across four common wage scenarios.
Tier: Below $774.43 → 90% of AWW
Calculation: $720 × 0.90 = $648.00/week
Tier: $774.44–$1,045.50 → flat rate
Calculation: flat benefit = $697.00/week
Tier: $1,045.51–$2,091 → 66⅔% of AWW
Calculation: $1,442.31 × 0.6667 = $961.51/week
Tier: Above $2,091 → state maximum
Calculation: capped at $1,394.00/week regardless of actual wage
What Is Average Weekly Wage (AWW)?
Your AWW is not simply your most recent paycheck. Under Pennsylvania law, it is calculated by taking your gross earnings for the 52 weeks before your injury, dividing them into four 13-week quarters, and averaging the highest three quarters. The formula accounts for seasonal work, overtime-heavy periods, and employment gaps, and it generally works in the injured worker’s favor.
Pennsylvania includes base salary, overtime, bonuses, commissions, tips, and the cash value of certain employer-provided benefits like board and lodging in your AWW. Wages from a second job held at the time of injury count too. The insurer will run their own AWW calculation, but it is not always right. Errors reduce your weekly benefit directly, so it is worth having an attorney check the math.
Pennsylvania Workers’ Compensation Rates by Year
The maximum weekly benefit and rate thresholds are reset each January 1 based on the prior year’s Statewide Average Weekly Wage. Here are the rates for recent years:
| Year of Injury | Max Weekly Benefit (SAWW) | 66⅔% Tier Applies When AWW Is | Flat Rate (50% of SAWW) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | $1,394.00 | $1,045.51 – $2,091.00 | $697.00 |
| 2025 | $1,347.00 | $1,010.26 – $2,020.50 | $673.50 |
| 2024 | $1,325.00 | $993.76 – $1,987.50 | $662.50 |
| 2023 | $1,273.00 | $954.76 – $1,909.50 | $636.50 |
The rate that applies to your case is determined by the date of your injury — not the date you filed your claim or the date benefits began.
What Are Specific Loss Benefits?
Pennsylvania’s Workers’ Compensation Act (Section 306c) provides a separate benefit for the permanent loss — or permanent loss of use — of certain body parts. These are called specific loss benefits, and they are calculated by multiplying your weekly disability rate by a fixed number of weeks assigned to each body part under state law.
| Body Part / Loss | Scheduled Weeks (PA Law) |
|---|---|
| Arm or Leg | 410 weeks |
| Hand | 335 weeks |
| Eye | 275 weeks |
| Foot | 250 weeks |
| Hearing (both ears) | 260 weeks |
| Thumb | 100 weeks |
| Index Finger | 50 weeks |
| Hearing (one ear) | 60 weeks |
For a construction worker earning $75,000/year ($961.51/week benefit rate), the permanent loss of a hand would yield: $961.51 × 335 weeks = $322,105.85 in total specific loss benefits. These are paid in addition to any wage loss benefits received during recovery.
Frequently Asked Questions About PA Workers’ Comp Calculations
Does overtime count toward my Average Weekly Wage?
Yes. Pennsylvania law includes overtime, bonuses, commissions, and tips in the AWW calculation. If you regularly worked overtime before your injury, those earnings are factored in, not just your base hourly rate. That often pushes the AWW higher than workers expect, so it is worth verifying the insurer’s calculation.
What if I worked two jobs when I was injured?
If you were working two jobs when you were injured, wages from both are included in your AWW under Pennsylvania law. Your weekly benefit reflects your total combined earnings, not just what you made at the job where you got hurt.
How long do total disability benefits last in Pennsylvania?
Total disability benefits have no fixed end date under Pennsylvania law. After 104 weeks, though, your employer’s insurer can request an Impairment Rating Evaluation (IRE). If your whole-body impairment rating comes in below 35%, the insurer can move to convert your benefits to partial disability, which is capped at 500 total weeks.
What happens to my benefit if I return to work at a lower wage?
If you return to modified or light-duty work at a lower wage, your total disability benefit converts to a partial disability benefit. The calculation changes to 66⅔% of the difference between your pre-injury AWW and your current earning capacity. For example, if your AWW was $1,000/week and you now earn $600/week, your partial benefit would be 66⅔% × $400 = $266.67/week.
Can I receive both wage loss benefits and specific loss benefits at the same time?
Yes, in most cases. Specific loss benefits are payable in addition to wage loss benefits you receive during recovery. Once the specific loss period begins, though, the payment structure can change based on your situation. Call Munley Law and we can walk you through how both streams apply to your case.
What is an Impairment Rating Evaluation (IRE) and how does it affect my benefits?
An IRE is a medical evaluation the insurer can request after you have received 104 weeks of total disability benefits. A physician assigns a whole-body impairment percentage based on AMA guidelines. If the rating is 35% or higher, your total disability status holds. If it comes in below 35%, the insurer can petition to convert your benefits to partial disability, capping your remaining benefits at 500 weeks total. You have the right to challenge the result.
Which year’s rates apply to my claim?
The rates that apply to your case are set by the date of your injury, not when you filed your claim or when benefits started. If you were injured in December 2024, the 2024 maximum rate of $1,325/week applies even if benefits continue into 2025 or 2026.
How Munley Law Can Help
Munley Law has represented injured workers across Pennsylvania for more than 65 years. Our workers’ compensation attorneys know the tactics insurers use to minimize benefit calculations, from disputing AWW figures to timing impairment rating requests strategically, and we know how to push back.
We handle workers’ compensation cases on a contingency basis: no attorney fees unless we recover benefits for you. Contact us for a free consultation to discuss your injury, your calculation, and what your case may actually be worth.
