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.
California workers' comp settlement calculator
Most California workers' comp cases end in a settlement, and the biggest dollar figure is usually the permanent disability (PD) award. This estimator builds a realistic range the way the system actually works — using California's PD schedule rather than a generic national formula.
Here's what drives the number:
- Your PD rating sets the number of weeks of benefits under Labor Code §4658(e). If you don't know your rating yet, we estimate from the injured body part — but a doctor's rating is far more accurate.
- Your PD weekly rate is two-thirds of your average weekly wage, capped at $160–$290 per week for ratings under 70% (2026).
- Future medical care can be a separate, major component — sometimes settled as a buyout or Medicare Set-Aside — and can rival the PD value.
- Unpaid back benefits (TD you were owed but never received) add to the total.
We present a range, never a single hard number, because the real figure depends on the medical-legal reports (QME/AME), apportionment (how much of the disability is blamed on work vs. other causes), and negotiation. Ratings of 70%+ add a lifetime life pension and should always be handled with an attorney.
Use this to understand the ballpark — then get a free review so you don't settle for less than the case is worth.