Missouri Workers' Compensation Settlement Calculator
Estimate Missouri workers' comp — TTD/PTD capped at 105% SAWW, PPD schedule capped at 55% SAWW
Missouri workers' compensation claims are governed by RSMo 287.170 (TTD — Max/Min Rate): 66⅔% of average weekly earnings, capped at 105% of the state average weekly wage (SAWW) — SAWW is recalculated every July 1 by the Division of Workers' Compensation. Of the 3 landmark Missouri workers' compensation awards documented on this page, the largest is $71K (Thompson v. CSI Commercial Services, Inc. — LIRC affirmed PPD award; 2023).
⚖️ MISSOURI: Strict Construction Rule | TTD/PTD 105% SAWW Cap | PPD 55% SAWW Schedule
Your Injury
Your Estimated Settlement
$6,000 — $6,000
Pain and suffering = $15,000 in medical bills × 0.0 severity multiplier. Your bills are already included in that figure, so they are not added again.
Workers' compensation is a no-fault system: your benefits are not reduced because you were partly or fully responsible for the accident.
Workers' compensation does not pay pain and suffering. Unlike a personal injury claim, it covers medical treatment and a portion of your lost wages only — so no pain-and-suffering amount is included above.
This figure does not include a permanent impairment award. If your injury leaves lasting limitations, most states add a separate payment based on a doctor's impairment rating and a statutory schedule.
If someone other than your employer caused the injury — a subcontractor, a driver, a defective machine — you may also have a separate personal injury claim against that party, and that claim can include pain and suffering.
Keep this estimate — it is gone when you close the tab.
Workers' Compensation Wage Benchmark — New York State claims only
Across New York State claims only, this benchmark is based on 5,586,588 real payments totaling $139.7B from official New York State workers' comp claims.
Average
$25K
Median
$20K
25th %ile
$13K
90th %ile
$44K
Source: New York State Workers' Compensation Board (via data.ny.gov). These figures come from New York State claims only and do not describe benefit levels in other states. Actual payouts may vary based on individual circumstances.
Editorially Reviewed — Content reviewed for accuracy using published legal research, government data, and verified court records. See our methodology
Reviewed by Leonard Goldberg, Editor
Missouri Workers' Compensation Law
Missouri workers' compensation benefits is governed by RSMo 287.170 (TTD — Max/Min Rate): 66⅔% of average weekly earnings, capped at 105% of the state average weekly wage (SAWW) — recalculated every July 1 by the Division of Workers' Compensation. Minimum $40/week. TTD runs for a maximum of 400 weeks and is cut off for any week the employee draws unemployment benefits or is terminated for post-injury misconduct. A 3-day waiting period applies (RSMo 287.160), paid retroactively once disability passes 14 days.
PPD — Weeks Schedule (RSMo 287.190): Same 66⅔% formula, but capped at only 55% of SAWW — noticeably lower than the TTD/PTD ceiling. Missouri pays permanent partial disability according to a fixed statutory schedule of weeks per body part: an arm at the shoulder is 232 weeks, a leg at the hip is 207 weeks, one eye is 140 weeks. Complete severance of a scheduled member adds a 10% bonus to the listed weeks.
Strict Construction (RSMo 287.800, effective 2005): Missouri administrative law judges, the Labor and Industrial Relations Commission, and reviewing courts must construe the workers' compensation chapter strictly and may not give either party — including the injured worker — the benefit of the doubt when weighing evidence or resolving close legal questions. This 2005 reform is widely cited as one of the reasons Missouri claims are harder to win than in states applying liberal, worker-favoring construction.
Key Missouri Workers' Compensation Statutes
Missouri workers' compensation benefits operates under these critical legal rules:
RSMo 287.170
TTD — Max/Min RateStandard: 66⅔% of average weekly earnings, capped at 105% of the state average weekly wage (SAWW) — SAWW is recalculated every July 1 by the Division of Workers' Compensation
Scope: Minimum $40/week. Paid for a maximum of 400 weeks. Denied for any week the employee draws unemployment compensation or is terminated for post-injury misconduct. Subject to a 3-day waiting period (RSMo 287.160), paid retroactively once disability exceeds 14 days.
RSMo 287.190
PPD — Weeks ScheduleStandard: 66⅔% of average weekly earnings, capped at only 55% of SAWW — notably lower than the TTD/PTD ceiling
Scope: Paid per a fixed statutory schedule of weeks by body part (e.g., arm at shoulder = 232 weeks, leg at hip = 207 weeks, one eye = 140 weeks). Complete severance of a scheduled member adds a 10% bonus to the listed weeks.
RSMo 287.200
PTD — Lifetime BenefitStandard: 66⅔% of average weekly earnings, capped at 105% of SAWW, minimum $40/week
Scope: Paid for life from the date of maximum medical improvement. May be suspended if the worker is restored to regular work or its equivalent through rehabilitation or assistive devices.
RSMo 287.120
Exclusive RemedyStandard: Workers' comp excludes all other common-law rights and remedies against the employer
Scope: Narrow exception: the employer's own affirmative negligent act that purposefully and dangerously caused or increased the risk of injury. Third-party claims against non-employer defendants are preserved. Self-inflicted injury is excluded from coverage; employer bears the burden of proof on that defense.
RSMo 287.420 / 287.430
Notice + Filing DeadlineStandard: 30-day written notice to employer; 2-year statute of limitations to file a claim
Scope: Written notice of time, place, and nature of injury due within 30 days (or 30 days after an occupational-disease diagnosis) unless the employer wasn't prejudiced by the delay. Claim must be filed within 2 years of the injury or last payment — 3 years if the employer failed to file the required injury report. Second Injury Fund claims: 2 years from injury, or 1 year after the claim against the employer/insurer, whichever is later.
RSMo 287.800
Strict Construction (2005 Reform)Standard: Judges, the Commission, and reviewing courts must construe Chapter 287 strictly
Scope: Effective August 28, 2005. Explicitly bars giving the benefit of the doubt to either party — including the injured worker — when weighing evidence or resolving factual conflicts. Widely cited as making Missouri comparatively harder for claimants to win than states applying liberal, worker-favoring construction.
Recovery Structure
Medical treatment (paid in full, no employee co-pay), temporary total disability (TTD) at 66⅔% of AWW up to 105% of SAWW while unable to work, temporary partial disability (TPD) at 66⅔% of the wage difference during light-duty work (max 100 weeks), permanent partial disability (PPD) via the statutory weeks-per-body-part schedule (capped at 55% of SAWW), permanent total disability (PTD) as a lifetime weekly benefit (capped at 105% of SAWW) when the worker cannot compete in the open labor market, and death benefits for dependents. No pain-and-suffering damages under workers' comp — the trade-off for the exclusive-remedy bar on suing the employer.
Key Missouri Doctrines
Exclusive Remedy: Workers' comp excludes all other common-law rights and remedies against the employer. Second Injury Fund: For injuries on or after January 1, 2014, Fund liability is drastically narrowed to permanent-total-disability claims only, and only where the worker has a documented pre-existing disability of at least 50 weeks (military service, a prior compensable injury, or a condition that directly aggravated the new injury) or works in a sheltered workshop.
Damage Structure + Caps
TTD/PTD capped at 105% of the state average weekly wage; PPD capped at 55% of SAWW and further limited by the statutory weeks-per-body-part schedule; TTD limited to 400 weeks; TPD limited to 100 weeks; minimum weekly compensation of $40 for TTD/PTD claims. No statutory cap on reasonable, necessary medical treatment.
Missouri Workers' Compensation Verdicts + Averages
Recent Missouri Labor and Industrial Relations Commission (LIRC) decisions on permanent partial disability claims:
| Amount | Year | Case / Injury |
|---|---|---|
| $71K | 2023 | Thompson v. CSI Commercial Services, Inc. — LIRC affirmed PPD award — 42.5% PPD, low back (L2-3 and L5-S1 lumbar fusion) — injured lifting and shelving copper coils |
| $38K | 2023 | Battles v. Heptacore Inc./Bloomsdale Excavating — LIRC modified award — 20% PPD, low back (lumbar spine, two surgeries) — injured bending to lift a 10-lb form |
| $26K | 2023 | Kurbursky v. Independent In-Home Services, LLC — LIRC modified on remand — 20% whole-body PPD, cervical/lumbar spine + concussion — combined employer and Second Injury Fund liability; struck head on canoe during home-care shift |
Missouri Workers' Compensation FAQs
What is the maximum weekly workers' comp benefit in Missouri for 2026?
For TTD and PTD claims, Missouri's cap is 105% of the state average weekly wage (SAWW) (RSMo 287.170; RSMo 287.200); PPD claims are capped lower, at 55% of SAWW (RSMo 287.190). The Division of Workers' Compensation recalculates SAWW every July 1 and publishes the exact current dollar figures in its annual Workers' Compensation Memorandum (labor.mo.gov/dwc/notices) — check there for the precise cap that applies to your injury date, since the number changes each fiscal year.
How long do I have to report my Missouri work injury?
Missouri requires written notice to your employer within 30 days of the accident, or within 30 days of an occupational-disease diagnosis (RSMo 287.420) — stating the time, place, and nature of the injury. Missing the 30-day window isn't automatically fatal if you can show the employer wasn't prejudiced by the delay, but don't count on that exception: report in writing right away and keep a copy. Separately, you must file your actual claim within 2 years of the injury or the last payment made — 3 years if your employer never filed the required injury report (RSMo 287.430).
Can I sue my employer in Missouri in addition to workers' comp?
Generally no. RSMo 287.120 makes workers' comp your 'exclusive remedy' against your employer, replacing any common-law negligence suit. The narrow exception is the employer's own affirmative negligent act that purposefully and dangerously caused or increased your risk of injury. Third-party claims against someone other than your employer — a negligent driver, a defective-equipment manufacturer, a subcontractor — are not barred and often run alongside your comp claim; unlike comp, a third-party suit can recover pain and suffering.
What is Missouri's Second Injury Fund, and does it still apply to my claim?
The Second Injury Fund pays extra compensation when a new work injury combines with an earlier disability to leave you worse off than either injury alone. For injuries before January 1, 2014, the Fund covered combined permanent partial disability. For injuries on or after that date (RSMo 287.220), Fund liability is limited to permanent total disability claims where you have a documented pre-existing disability of at least 50 weeks — from military service, a prior compensable work injury, or a condition that directly aggravated your new injury — or you work in a sheltered workshop. If your injury happened after 2014 and you're only claiming partial disability, the Fund generally will not apply.
Should I accept the first settlement offer?
Almost never — and especially not in Missouri. Because judges here must construe the law strictly and cannot give you the benefit of the doubt on close questions (RSMo 287.800, effective 2005), a well-documented claim matters even more than in states with worker-friendly construction rules. Initial offers typically undervalue permanent impairment and future medical needs. Before signing anything, get an independent medical evaluation and talk to a workers' comp attorney — Missouri comp attorney fees are regulated by statute, and most firms work on contingency.
Pending Missouri Workers' Compensation Issues
Active legal developments (as of April 2026):
- DOLIR's exact FY2027 SAWW-based maximum weekly rate (effective July 1, 2026) is published in the '2026 Workers' Compensation Memorandum' (labor.mo.gov/media/pdf/2026-workers-compensation-memorandum) but the specific dollar figure could not be extracted from that PDF as of August 2026 (rendering/access limitation) — verify directly before publishing a specific dollar cap.
- Second Injury Fund coverage for injuries on or after January 1, 2014 is limited to PTD claims with a qualifying pre-existing disability of 50+ weeks or sheltered-workshop employment (RSMo 287.220) — PPD-only claims after that date generally do not qualify, a frequent point of claimant confusion.
- The public LIRC decision archive (ott.law) used for the verdicts above currently indexes decisions only through 2023; more recent (2024-2026) Commission rulings were not independently verified in August 2026.
- Whether any bill pending in the 2026 Missouri General Assembly session would amend RSMo Chapter 287 has not been confirmed as part of the August 2026 review.
Informational only — consult a licensed attorney for case-specific advice.
Primary Sources
- revisor.mo.gov/main/OneChapter.aspx?chapter=287
- revisor.mo.gov/main/OneSection.aspx?section=287.170
- revisor.mo.gov/main/OneSection.aspx?section=287.190
- revisor.mo.gov/main/OneSection.aspx?section=287.220
- labor.mo.gov/dwc/notices
- labor.mo.gov/media/pdf/2026-workers-compensation-memorandum
- ott.law/workers-comp/decisions
Other State Workers' Compensation Calculators
Washington
L&I state fund + self-insure, PPD dollar-amount schedule, $2,303.31/wk equiv
California
SIBTF reform 2026, $1,764/wk max, QME + SB 636
New York
$1,281.50/wk max, LWEC non-schedule PPD, 2025 Protection in Workplace Act
Texas
Non-subscriber option, $1,271/wk, IBR
Illinois
Lifetime uncapped medical, $2,045.63/wk (2026)
Florida
$1,358/wk, 104-week TTD cap, narrow catastrophic definition
Michigan
PIWEC phantom wages, 80% after-tax AWW, $1,201/wk max 2026
New Jersey
Second Injury Fund, 400/450-wk caps, $1,199/wk max 2026
Ohio
BWC monopoly fund, Industrial Commission PTD, $1,281/wk
Pennsylvania
Act 111 (2017), 500-wk partial cap, $1,394/wk max 2026
Alabama
Max $1,219/wk TTD, but non-scheduled PPD (back injuries) capped at just $220/wk
Arizona
$6,131/mo max AMW (66⅔% TTD/PTD), PPD paid in months not weeks
Colorado
Competitive state fund, $1,464/wk max (91% SAWW), 4-day notice deadline
Connecticut
Max $1,716/wk (2026), 28-day contest deadline, SIF closed since 1995
Georgia
Exclusive remedy, $800/wk TTD cap, catastrophic designation unlocks lifetime benefits
Iowa
80% spendable earnings, $2,431/wk max, active Second Injury Fund
Indiana
$877/wk max (66⅔% AWW), 8-day wait, Second Injury Fund
Kentucky
Impairment-factor PPD formula, $1,277.99/wk max, coal black-lung claims
Louisiana
Second Injury Fund, SEB to 520wks, $903/wk max (Sept 2026)
Massachusetts
Opt-out exclusive remedy, $1,922/wk max rate, PPD paid in statewide-wage multiples
Maryland
Exclusive remedy, $1,537/wk max (2026), Uninsured Employers' Fund safety net
Minnesota
Private-carrier market, $1,536.84/wk max, PTSD presumption for first responders
North Carolina
500-week TTD/PPD cap, $1,446/wk max (2026), 66 2/3% AWW
Oklahoma
TTD/PTD capped at $1,128.66/wk, opt-out struck down, Multiple Injury Trust Fund
Oregon
3-way market (SAIF+private+self-insure), $1,943/wk max, CDA keeps medical open
South Carolina
Exclusive remedy, $1,189.94/wk max (2026), 500-wk TTD cap, lifetime for TBI/spinal
Tennessee
$1,488.30/wk max (FY26-27), 15-day notice, PPD = rating × 450 wks, no jury trials
Virginia
500-week comp cap (PTD lifetime), $1,507/wk max, 66 2/3% AWW
Wisconsin
Dual-track cap: $1,375/wk TTD (110% SAWW) vs just $454/wk PPD; 6/12-yr SOL
Alaska
PPI = $273K × WPI%, TTD/PTD 80% of wage, max $1,627/wk (2026)
Arkansas
Max $953/wk (85% SAWW), odd-lot doctrine barred, 450-wk wage-loss cap
Washington DC
Max $1,852.07/wk (Jan 2025), 30-day notice, LHWCA-style weeks-based PPD schedule
Delaware
Max $962.72/wk (2026), 90-day notice, Medicare-based HCPS fee caps
Hawaii
66⅔% AWW, $1,240/wk max (2026), Special Compensation Fund after 104wks
Idaho
Max $1,021.50/wk (90% ASW), 500-week whole man, ISIF second-injury fund
Kansas
$905/wk max TTD/PTD, 415-wk PPD cap, SB 430 (2024) raised PTD cap $155K→$400K
Maine
Max $1,561/wk (125% of SAWW), 7-day wait, no statutory minimum, exclusive remedy
Mississippi
Max $654.63/wk, 5-day wait, Second Injury Trust Fund
Montana
$1,192/wk max, 400-week PPD formula, 60-mo medical closure
North Dakota
Monopolistic state fund (WSI), $1,614/wk max, no private insurance or self-insurance
Nebraska
Max $1,166/wk (2026), Espinoza multi-member LOEC rule, exclusive remedy
New Hampshire
$2,309/wk cap (150% SAWW); Second Injury Fund; 3-yr claim filing deadline
New Mexico
100% SAWW cap, $1,146.66/wk max, $36/wk min since 1975
Nevada
Privatized market, monthly PPD annuity (0.6%/1% WPI), max $5,691.79/mo (FY27)
Rhode Island
62% AWW formula, $1,622/wk max, dedicated Workers' Compensation Court
South Dakota
No insurance mandate • $1,152/wk max (2026) • Subsequent Injury Fund repealed 1999
Utah
Max $1,376/wk (2026), 6-yr/12-yr filing window, narrow intentional-injury exception
Vermont
Max $1,914/wk (2026), 6-mo. filing deadline, whole-person PPD schedule
West Virginia
Deliberate-intent exception, $1,150.91/wk max, no punitive damages, privatized market
Wyoming
Monopolistic state fund, no private insurance; PTD capped at 80 months, not lifetime
Main Workers' Comp Calculator
Nationwide WC benefits overview
All Workers' Compensation Calculators by State
Other Calculators for Missouri
Each Missouri calculator reflects state-specific laws (caps, statutes of limitations, comparative-negligence rules) and uses Missouri verdict data where available.