Guide
Average weekly wage for workers' comp, state by state
Look-back periods (13, 26, 39 or 52 weeks), overtime, second jobs — the input that moves your check most.
By the Workers' Comp Pay Calc Editorial Team · Updated
Why the wage matters more than the percentage
Every weekly benefit is a percentage of a wage figure, so a mistake in the wage carries straight through to the check. If your insurer leaves out a second job, a regular overtime pattern or a raise you got two weeks before the injury, two-thirds of a too-small number is still too small — and no maximum or minimum will fix it. The wage is also where states differ most, which is why a number copied from another state's rules can be wrong for yours.
The questions to ask about your own figure
- Which weeks were counted? The window ranges from the four pay periods before the injury (Montana) to the full year (New York, Alabama, Virginia). Weeks you were off sick or laid off are often dropped from the divisor.
- Was overtime included? Most states count it; Illinois and Kentucky (for hourly workers) leave regular overtime or premium pay out.
- Were other jobs added? Concurrent employment is counted in many states, sometimes only if the insurer was told in time (Oregon) or the employer knew about it (Kentucky).
- Gross or after tax? Michigan, Iowa, Connecticut and Alaska convert the gross wage to an after-tax or "spendable" figure before applying their percentage — the calculator does this with each agency's table.
- Weekly or monthly? Arizona, Washington and Wyoming work from a monthly wage.
In the calculator, the "Work out my average wage" helper divides gross pay over a period by the number of weeks; set the period to your state's rule below.
Average weekly wage rules by state
| State | How the wage is computed |
|---|---|
| Alabama | Wages earned in the job where you were hurt during the 52 weeks before the injury, divided by 52. Absences of more than 7 days in a row are taken out of the divisor; shorter work histories use the weeks actually worked or a comparable employee. |
| Alaska | Spendable weekly wage at time of injury = gross weekly earnings minus payroll tax deductions. Gross weekly earnings by pay basis: weekly amount; monthly × 12 ÷ 52; yearly ÷ 52; hourly/daily/piece = 1/50 of total wages from all occupations in either of the two calendar years before injury, whichever is most favorable; seasonal/temporary = 1/50 of wages in prior 12 calendar months; concurrent employers combined. |
| Arizona | Average MONTHLY wage at time of injury; 'monthly wage' means the average wage paid during and over the month in which the employee is injured. If not continuously employed for the 30 days before injury, AMW is what reasonably represents monthly earning capacity (prior wage or similar employees). Wages above the annual max AMW are excluded. |
| Arkansas | Arkansas computes the average weekly wage under Ark. Code Ann. § 11-9-518; its text is published only through a commercial code host we could not access. Use the wage your insurer lists on the benefit notice. |
| California | No fixed lookback. Full-time (30+ hrs, 5+ days/week): working days per week × daily earnings at time of injury; concurrent employers aggregated (other jobs at no higher than the hourly rate at time of injury); irregular/commission/piecework: actual weekly earnings averaged over a convenient period not exceeding one year; otherwise 100% of average weekly earning capacity. |
| Colorado | Gross wages over a date range after hire and before the injury, divided by weeks; include all taxable earnings (overtime, vacation, sick pay, bonuses); concurrent employment combined. No fixed lookback stated by the agency tool. |
| Connecticut | Total wages from the employer during the 52 calendar weeks immediately preceding the week of injury divided by the number of calendar weeks actually employed (7 consecutive days absent = a week absent; partial first week excluded). Concurrent employers' wages included if the injuring employer's wages are insufficient to reach the max. |
| Delaware | Total wages paid during the 26 weeks immediately preceding the injury divided by 26; if worked 13-26 weeks, total wages ÷ weeks worked; under 13 weeks, contract rate (hourly × contracted hours, weekly salary, or monthly × 12 ÷ 52). Includes overtime, gratuities, regular bonuses and board/lodging; excludes fringe benefits. |
| District of Columbia | Based on the wages you were earning at the time of injury, under the rules in § 32-1511 (full-time work in the year before injury, or comparable employees when your own history is short). |
| Florida | 1 ÷ 13 of wages earned in the 13 calendar weeks before the accident (excluding the week of the accident) if employee worked substantially the whole (≥75% of customary hours) of those 13 weeks; otherwise similar employee's 13 weeks; seasonal workers may use calendar year ÷ 52 weeks; else full-time weekly wage. |
| Georgia | Wages in the 13 weeks immediately preceding the injury if employee worked substantially the whole of the 13 weeks; else a similar employee's 13 weeks; else full-time weekly wage. Includes value of employer-furnished food/housing; includes wages from similar concurrent employment. |
| Hawaii | Computed to most fairly represent AWW from all covered employment; where feasible, earnings in the 12 months preceding injury (excluding weeks lost to sickness); if currently at higher wages, use the higher wages; floor = hourly rate × 35 (part-time <35 hrs: hourly rate × average hours in prior 52 weeks, for TTD/TPD only). |
| Idaho | By pay basis: weekly-fixed = that amount; monthly × 12 ÷ 52; yearly ÷ 52; hourly/daily/output = most favorable of the four 13-week periods in the 52 weeks before the accident, excluding overtime/premium pay; concurrent employers counted if employer knew. |
| Illinois | Actual earnings in the 52 weeks ending with the last full pay period before injury, excluding overtime and bonus, divided by 52 (or by weeks worked if 5+ calendar days lost or employed <52 weeks); concurrent employers counted if employer knew. |
| Indiana | Earnings in the employment at time of injury during the 52 weeks immediately preceding injury ÷ 52; if 7+ calendar days lost, divide by remaining weeks; if employed <52 weeks, divide by weeks worked; allowances in lieu of wages included. |
| Iowa | Gross weekly earnings at time of injury by pay period (weekly/biweekly/semimonthly/monthly/yearly); hourly/daily/output workers: last completed 13 consecutive calendar weeks before injury, including shift differential but excluding overtime/premium pay; non-representative weeks replaced. Rounded to nearest dollar. |
| Kansas | Wages earned during calendar weeks employed by the employer, up to 26 calendar weeks immediately preceding injury, divided by weeks actually worked or 26; first partial week excluded; 'money' includes sick/vacation/PTO, bonuses, gratuities; 'additional compensation' (board/lodging, employer-paid insurance/pension) defined separately. |
| Kentucky | Weekly/monthly/yearly fixed wages converted directly (monthly × 12 ÷ 52; yearly ÷ 52). Hourly/daily/output wages: the most favorable of the four 13-consecutive-week periods in the 52 weeks before injury, divided by 13 (excluding overtime/premium pay); <13 weeks employed: projected 13-week wages. Seasonal: 1/50 of 12-month earnings. Concurrent employment counted if employer knew of it. |
| Louisiana | Hourly employees working 40+ hours: hourly rate × the greater of average actual hours in the four full weeks before the accident or 40 hours; part-time: hourly rate × average actual hours in the 4 full weeks; monthly salary × 12 ÷ 52; annual ÷ 52; piecework/commission: 26-week gross earnings ÷ days worked × average days per week; seasonal: annual income ÷ 52. Nontaxable benefits excluded except employee-elected pre-tax withholdings (for example health insurance) which are included. |
| Maine | Amount the employee was receiving at time of injury for a regular full working week if the employment continued at least 200 full working days in the preceding year; otherwise total wages in the preceding year ÷ number of weeks any part of which was worked; seasonal workers: prior calendar-year wages ÷ 52; concurrent employers' wages combined; discontinued fringe benefits included only up to a benefit of 2/3 of 125% of SAWW (DOI on/after 2020). |
| Maryland | Average of weekly wages when working full time at the time of injury, including tips and value of housing/lodging/meals (LE §9-602(a)). Employer wage statement: average wage during the 14 weeks before the accident, excluding involuntary layoff/authorized absences (COMAR 14.09.03.06B); preliminary award uses gross wages including overtime. |
| Massachusetts | Earnings during the 12 calendar months immediately preceding the injury divided by 52; if more than two weeks' time lost, divide by remaining weeks. Concurrent insured employers' earnings combined. Fringe benefits (health insurance, pensions etc.) excluded. |
| Michigan | Total wages in the highest-paid 39 of the 52 weeks immediately preceding the injury, divided by 39; all employment (concurrent), inclusive of overtime, premium pay and COLA; discontinued fringe benefits included only up to the point the weekly benefit would exceed 2/3 SAWW. If fewer than 39 weeks worked: total wages ÷ weeks actually worked. AWW rounded to nearest dollar. |
| Minnesota | Weekly wage = daily wage × days normally worked; if daily wage irregular/part-time: total wages, vacation and holiday pay earned in the last 26 weeks ÷ days on which earned; days normally worked for <5-day or irregular schedules = days worked in last 26 weeks ÷ weeks worked. Concurrent employers' days included. Regular/frequent overtime counted; occasional overtime not. |
| Mississippi | Mississippi's wage rules are in Miss. Code § 71-3-31, which is published only through a commercial code host we could not access. Use the average weekly wage shown on your benefit notice. |
| Missouri | Weekly/monthly(× 12 ÷ 52)/yearly( ÷ 52) fixed wages; hourly/daily/output wages: wages in the last 13 calendar weeks immediately preceding the week of injury divided by 13 (or by weeks actually employed if fewer). Gross wages include board/lodging value and reported tips; exclude fringe benefits. |
| Montana | Average actual earnings for the four pay periods immediately preceding the injury; fewer than 4 pay periods: hourly rate × hours/week hired for; for good cause, up to 1 year may be used. Concurrent employments aggregated. |
| Nebraska | Continuous employment paid by day/hour/output: average weekly income using earnings during as much of the preceding six months as worked for the same employer, average earnings for a working day of ordinary length, excluding overtime (unless premium collected on overtime). Seasonal: 1/50 of total wages from all occupations in the year before the accident. |
| Nevada | Average monthly wage: 12 weeks of earnings before injury (1 year or full employment period used if not representative, and must be used if it increases AMW; min 4 weeks); gross earnings ÷ days in period = average daily wage; × 30.44 = AMW. Reported cash tips included; employer health insurance excluded. Concurrent employment wages summed. |
| New Hampshire | Gross earnings with the same employer over the preceding 26 weeks ÷ 26, or over 26-52 weeks ÷ that number of weeks, whichever is more favorable to the employee; short employment: rate of hire or comparable workers. Concurrent covered employers combined. |
| New Jersey | Wages = money rate under the contract of hiring at time of accident. Hourly: hourly rate × customary hours in an ordinary day = daily wage; weekly wage = daily wage × customary working days in an ordinary week (part-week workers: hourly rate × hours regularly worked, for 34:15-12a only). Output/piece rate: earnings over preceding 6 months ÷ days worked. Board & lodging valued at $25/week unless fixed. Recorded tips: 6-month average added. |
| New Mexico | Total wages over the 26 weeks before the accident divided by 26 (or period worked if less than 26 weeks); includes overtime, gratuities, board/rent/housing/lodging; excludes fringe benefits and bonuses; wages from a second or part-time job included. |
| New York | Gross earnings (including overtime) for the 52 weeks prior to the date of injury; 5-day worker: total pay ÷ days paid × 260 ÷ 52 (6-day: x300; 4-day/seasonal: x200) |
| North Carolina | Earnings in the employment at time of injury during the 52 weeks immediately preceding injury, divided by 52; if more than 7 consecutive calendar days lost, divide by remaining weeks; fewer than 52 weeks employed: earnings ÷ weeks worked if fair; otherwise comparable-worker method. |
| North Dakota | Weekly wages the employee was receiving from all covered employments at the date of first disability, rounded to nearest dollar; if not fixed by the week: hourly/daily rate × hours/days per 7-day week, monthly × 12 ÷ 52, biweekly/2, etc.; seasonal: after 28 days, 1/50 of total wages over prior 12 months or prior tax year or avg of 3 tax years, whichever highest. |
| Ohio | For the first 12 weeks, the full weekly wage you were earning when hurt; after that, your average weekly wage for the year before the injury, leaving out time lost to illness, strikes, lockouts or other causes beyond your control. |
| Oklahoma | Gross earnings divided by number of full weeks of employment with the employer, up to 52 weeks; piece-rate: hourly equivalent × full-time hours; overtime averaged over weeks worked (max 52); Commission may use another just method. |
| Oregon | Worker's wage at time of injury: daily wage × number of days per week regularly employed (one job); for multiple jobs, all subject-employment earnings if insurer gets notice within 30 days and verifiable wage documentation within 60 days; director rules (OAR 436-060-0025) for irregular workers. |
| Pennsylvania | Fixed weekly/monthly/yearly wages converted; otherwise total wages in each of the highest three of the last four consecutive 13-week periods in the 52 weeks before injury, divided by 13 and averaged; shorter-tenure and seasonal rules; annual bonus/incentive/vacation pay divided by 52 and added; concurrent employers' wages included; fringe benefits excluded. |
| Rhode Island | Full-time/regular: gross wages (including overtime) in the 13 calendar weeks immediately preceding the week of injury ÷ number of weeks actually employed; bonuses and overtime averaged over up to 52 weeks; all employers in the 13 weeks counted (concurrent employment). DLT brochure: part-time (<20 hrs/wk) uses 26 weeks; seasonal (hired ≤16 weeks) uses 52 weeks of all employment. |
| South Carolina | Total wages paid for the last four quarters immediately preceding the quarter of injury (as reported on DEW Employer Contribution Reports) divided by 52 or by the actual number of weeks wages were paid, whichever is less; shorter employment: earnings ÷ weeks worked; otherwise comparable-employee method. |
| South Dakota | If employed by same employer 52 weeks before injury: total earnings over 52 weeks ÷ 52 (if >7 consecutive days lost, divide by weeks actually worked); otherwise earnings ÷ weeks actually worked, or comparable-worker 52-week earnings; fallback: average day's earnings × 300 ÷ 52. |
| Tennessee | Gross earnings (including overtime and bonuses) for the 52 weeks before injury ÷ 52; if employed < 52 weeks, earnings ÷ weeks worked or a similar worker's 52-week AWW. |
| Texas | Sum of wages paid in the 13 consecutive weeks immediately preceding the injury divided by 13 (similar-employee wage if < 13 weeks); TDI says non-pecuniary wages like employer-paid health insurance are included. |
| Utah | Set by how wages are fixed at time of injury: yearly ÷ 52; monthly/4-1/3; weekly as is; daily × days worked (min 3); hourly × hours would have worked (min 20 hours); output-based: best 13-week period of last 52 weeks (excluding overtime/premium); commission may use another fair method. |
| Vermont | Average weekly earnings during the 26 weeks preceding injury (excluding weeks absent for sickness/suspension; only the higher wage counts if recently promoted); concurrent covered employment combined. |
| Virginia | Earnings in the employment at injury during the 52 weeks before injury ÷ 52; if more than 7 consecutive calendar days were lost, those weeks are removed from the divisor; shorter employment uses weeks actually worked. |
| Washington | Monthly wages from ALL employment at time of injury; if not paid monthly, daily wage × 22 (5-day week), × 26 (6-day), × 30 (7-day) etc. |
| West Virginia | Daily rate of pay at time of injury, or the weekly average from the best quarter of wages out of the preceding four quarters, whichever is more favorable to the employee. |
| Wisconsin | Hourly/daily earnings at injury × normal full-time workweek set by employer (overtime hours beyond the normal day excluded); DWD guidance compares with gross wages for the 52 weeks before the injury week ÷ weeks worked and uses the greater. |
| Wyoming | 'Actual monthly earnings' at time of injury excluding casual or unscheduled overtime and fringe benefits (overtime = hours over 40/week) |
Each row summarizes the statute or agency guidance cited on that state's page. Your insurer's wage statement controls; if it looks wrong, ask how it was computed.