What Workers Can Expect: Wage Percentiles
The weekly wage reported at the time of injury is the foundation for calculating workers’ compensation benefits in New York. Understanding the distribution helps claimants benchmark their own situation.
The median weekly wage is $762 ($40K/year), meaning half of all claimants earned less and half earned more at the time of their workplace injury. However, the average is $962 — pulled higher by a relatively small number of high-earning claimants.
| Percentile | Weekly Wage | Annual Equivalent | What It Means |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | $326 | $17K | Lowest-earning 10% of claimants |
| 25th | $502 | $26K | Lower quartile |
| 50th (Median) | $762 | $40K | Typical claimant wage |
| 75th | $1,187 | $62K | Upper quartile |
| 90th | $1,707 | $89K | High-earning claimants |
| 95th | $2,091 | $109K | Top 5% of earners |
Source: NY Workers’ Compensation Board. Weekly wages at time of injury.