How Much Workers' Comp Pays in Washington
How Washington calculates weekly workers' comp benefits, the current maximum, the waiting period and permanent disability.
Short answer: Time-loss compensation is paid as a percentage of the worker's wages based on family status at the time of injury: 60% for a single worker, plus 5% for a spouse or registered domestic partner, plus an amount for each dependent child (2% per child for up to five children for injuries… RCW 51.32.060; L&I, Time-Loss Compensation (March 2026)
| Weekly benefit rate | Time-loss compensation is paid as a percentage of the worker's wages based on family status at the time of injury: 60% for a single worker, plus 5% for a spouse or registered domestic partner, plus an amount for each dependent child (2% per child for up to five children for injuries before July 1, 2026). L&I adjusts benefits each July 1 to reflect changes in the state's average wage. Washington pays time-loss on a monthly basis rather than weekly. |
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| Maximum weekly benefit | Washington sets a monthly, not weekly, maximum: for injuries on or after July 1, 1996, time-loss may not exceed 120% of the state's average monthly wage. L&I's chart lists a maximum of $9,981.00 per month ($332.70 per day) effective July 1, 2026, up from $9,516.00 effective July 1, 2025. |
| How long benefits last | Washington law sets no maximum number of weeks for time-loss (temporary total disability) compensation. It is paid so long as the total disability continues and stops as soon as recovery is complete enough that the worker's earning power is restored to its pre-injury level. If earning power is only partly restored, reduced (loss of earning power) payments may continue, but only when the loss of earning power exceeds five percent. Benefits also end for a worker who has voluntarily retired from the workforce. Source: RCW 51.32.090 |
| Waiting period | Workers are never paid time-loss for the day of injury. For injuries on or after June 6, 2024, time-loss (or loss of earning power) is not paid for the first three days after the injury unless the worker is still disabled on the seventh day after the injury, in which case the first three days are paid. |
| Permanent disability | A worker with a permanent loss of bodily function receives a permanent partial disability award. Some losses (such as amputation or loss of vision or hearing) have amounts set by law; other impairments are rated by the attending provider or independent medical examiners once the worker is medically stable. The award is based on the degree of damage, not on whether the worker can work. A worker who is permanently and totally disabled may be granted a monthly pension. |
Where to get help in Washington
More Washington workers' compensation
- Filing a Workers' Comp Claim in Washington
- Workers' Comp Settlements in Washington
- Retaliation for Filing Workers' Comp in Washington
- Suing Over a Work Injury in Washington
- Appealing a Denied Workers' Comp Claim in Washington
- All Washington workers' compensation rules
FAQ
How much does workers' comp pay in Washington?
Time-loss compensation is paid as a percentage of the worker's wages based on family status at the time of injury: 60% for a single worker, plus 5% for a spouse or registered domestic partner, plus an amount for each dependent child (2% per child for up to five children for injuries before July 1, 2026). L&I adjusts benefits each July 1 to reflect changes in the state's average wage.
What is the maximum workers' comp benefit in Washington?
Washington sets a monthly, not weekly, maximum: for injuries on or after July 1, 1996, time-loss may not exceed 120% of the state's average monthly wage. L&I's chart lists a maximum of $9,981.00 per month ($332.70 per day) effective July 1, 2026, up from $9,516.00 effective July 1, 2025.
How long can you receive workers' comp in Washington?
Washington law sets no maximum number of weeks for time-loss (temporary total disability) compensation. It is paid so long as the total disability continues and stops as soon as recovery is complete enough that the worker's earning power is restored to its pre-injury level. If earning power is only partly restored, reduced (loss of earning power) payments may continue, but only when the loss of earning power exceeds five percent. Benefits also end for a worker who has voluntarily retired from the workforce.
Is there a waiting period for workers' comp in Washington?
Workers are never paid time-loss for the day of injury. For injuries on or after June 6, 2024, time-loss (or loss of earning power) is not paid for the first three days after the injury unless the worker is still disabled on the seventh day after the injury, in which case the first three days are paid.
How does permanent disability work under workers' comp in Washington?
A worker with a permanent loss of bodily function receives a permanent partial disability award. Some losses (such as amputation or loss of vision or hearing) have amounts set by law; other impairments are rated by the attending provider or independent medical examiners once the worker is medically stable. The award is based on the degree of damage, not on whether the worker can work. A worker who is permanently and totally disabled may be granted a monthly pension.
General legal information, not legal advice. Laws change and local rules can differ; check the linked official source or talk to a lawyer about your situation.