Estimate & general information only — not legal advice. Results are educational estimates based on the figures you enter and 2026 California rates. They do not account for every fact (medical reports, apportionment, disputes) and do not create an attorney-client relationship. For an accurate answer, speak with a licensed California workers' compensation attorney — we can connect you for free.
How is your average weekly wage (AWW) calculated in California?
Your average weekly wage is the single most important number in a workers' comp claim — it drives both your temporary-disability checks and your permanent-disability award. Yet it's also one of the most frequently underpaid figures, because insurers often look only at base pay.
Under Labor Code §§4453–4454, your AWW is meant to reflect your real earning capacity at the time of injury. That can include a lot more than your hourly rate:
- Overtime, if it was regular and reasonably expected;
- Bonuses, commissions, and tips;
- Per-diem and the reasonable value of board, lodging, or fuel your employer provided;
- Concurrent employment — earnings from a second job can be added (LC 4453(c)(4)).
Once your AWW is set, your temporary-disability rate is two-thirds of it, subject to the 2026 minimum of $264.61 and maximum of $1,764.11 per week. The permanent-disability rate is also two-thirds of AWW but capped much lower — $160 to $290 per week for ratings under 70%.
If your income varied or you had multiple jobs, a basic estimate may understate what you're owed. That's a common, fixable problem — and a free wage review is the way to catch it.