How Workers' Comp Pays in California
Temporary disability, permanent disability, medical care and the job voucher: what each one pays after a work injury, and how the amounts are figured.
California workers' comp pays two-thirds of your average weekly wage while you're unable to work, between $264.61 and $1,764.11 a week for 2026 injuries. If you're left with a lasting impairment, permanent disability pays two-thirds of your wage, capped at $290 a week, for a number of weeks set by your disability rating. Medical treatment is covered with no copay, and workers who can't return to their job get a $6,000 retraining voucher. Benefits aren't taxed.
1. Temporary disability: while you're off work
Temporary total disability (TD) replaces lost wages while your doctor says you can't work, or while your employer can't offer work within your restrictions. The rate is two-thirds of your average weekly wage (Labor Code 4653), kept between the minimum and maximum for the year you were hurt. DWC raises both every January 1 in line with the state average weekly wage:
| Average weekly wage | Weekly TD (2026 injury) |
|---|---|
| $300 | $264.61 |
| $600 | $400.00 |
| $900 | $600.00 |
| $1,200 | $800.00 |
| $1,800 | $1,200.00 |
| $2,400 | $1,600.00 |
| $3,000 | $1,764.11 |
The 2026 maximum of $1,764.11 is reached at $2,646.17 a week in earnings (up from $1,680.29 for 2025 injuries). Your average weekly wage includes overtime, tips and earnings from a second job.
Timing. The first 3 days off aren't paid unless you're off more than 14 days or are hospitalized as an inpatient (Labor Code 4652). Payments come every 14 days. For most injuries TD stops after 104 weeks of payments within 5 years of the injury; some serious conditions, such as amputations and severe burns, allow up to 240 weeks.
Example: a worker earning $1,200 a week who is off for 42 days gets $800.00 a week, about $4,800.00 in total, with no waiting period because the time off is longer than 14 days.
If you go back to light duty at lower pay, temporary partial disability makes up part of the lost wages instead.
2. Permanent disability: after you've recovered as much as you will
When your doctor finds your condition "permanent and stationary" and some impairment remains, it's given a percentage rating that reflects the injury, your occupation and your age. That rating sets how many weeks of permanent disability (PD) you receive, under the schedule in Labor Code 4658:
| Portion of the rating | Weeks per percentage point |
|---|---|
| Over 0% up to 9.75% | 3 |
| Over 9.75% up to 14.75% | 4 |
| Over 14.75% up to 24.75% | 5 |
| Over 24.75% up to 29.75% | 6 |
| Over 29.75% up to 49.75% | 7 |
| Over 49.75% up to 69.75% | 8 |
| Over 69.75% up to 99.75% | 16 |
The weeks add up across the brackets, so a higher rating earns proportionally more. The weekly PD rate is two-thirds of your average weekly wage, but limited to $160–$290 a week at every rating level for injuries since 2014. Unlike TD, those limits are fixed in the Labor Code and don't rise each year.
Example: a 15% rating for the same $1,200-a-week worker is 50.5 weeks at $290, or about $14,645. Ratings of 70% or more also add a small life pension, and a 100% rating pays for life at the TD rate.
3. Medical care
Your employer's insurer pays for all reasonable and necessary treatment for the injury: doctor visits, hospital care, surgery, physical therapy, prescriptions and medical mileage, with no deductible or copay. If your employer has a medical provider network, you'll usually be treated within it after the first visit. Medical care can continue for life if the injury needs it.
4. The job voucher
If you have a permanent disability and your employer doesn't offer you regular, modified or alternative work, you can get a $6,000 Supplemental Job Displacement Benefit voucher for retraining or skill upgrades at a state-approved school.
5. Death benefits
If a work injury or illness is fatal, dependents receive death benefits paid at the TD rate, and burial expenses are covered up to $10,000 for injuries since 2013.
Run your numbers
Estimate your weekly check and total for your time off with the Workers' Comp Temporary Disability Calculator, then estimate a permanent award with the Permanent Disability Estimator. For an injury that isn't work-related, see the SDI benefit calculator.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does workers' comp pay in California?
While you can't work, temporary disability pays two-thirds of your average weekly wage. For 2026 injuries that's at least $264.61 and at most $1,764.11 a week. If a lasting impairment remains, permanent disability pays two-thirds of your wage within $160 to $290 a week for a number of weeks set by your rating.
When does workers' comp start paying?
The first payment is due within 14 days after your employer learns of the injury and disability. The first 3 days off aren't paid unless you're off more than 14 days or hospitalized overnight.
How long does workers' comp pay in California?
Temporary disability lasts until you can return to work or your condition is permanent and stationary, up to 104 weeks within 5 years for most injuries. Permanent disability then pays for a set number of weeks, from 3 weeks per percentage point for low ratings to 16 weeks per point above 70%.
Is workers' comp taxable in California?
No. Workers' compensation benefits aren't taxed by the IRS or California.
Can I get SDI and workers' comp at the same time?
Not for the same days. If your workers' comp claim is delayed or denied, State Disability Insurance may pay in the meantime, and EDD then files a lien to be repaid if workers' comp later pays for those days.
This article is for general information only and is not legal advice. Your claims administrator calculates your benefits. For free help, contact a DWC Information & Assistance officer, or talk to a workers' compensation attorney.