Tennessee Workers’ Comp Weekly Benefit Calculator (2026 Complete Guide)
Disclaimer: This content is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. I am not a lawyer. Consult a licensed workers’ comp attorney in Tennessee before making any decisions about your claim.
⚡ Quick Answer
In Tennessee, workers’ comp pays 66.67% of your average weekly wage (AWW), up to the current state maximum of approximately $1,283 per week (110% of Tennessee’s 2024 State Average Weekly Wage of $1,166.11, as published by the Tennessee Department of Labor & Workforce Development). The minimum benefit is approximately $233 per week (20% of SAWW). Your specific benefit depends on your AWW calculated from the 52 weeks prior to your injury.
Note: The SAWW is updated annually each July 1. Always verify the current figure at tn.gov/workforce.
From Shane: Living on 66.67% Is Not a Math Problem — It’s a Survival Problem
When I was out on workers’ comp, I had a spreadsheet open on day one. Sixty-six-point-six-seven percent sounds close enough to your full paycheck until you realize that’s your gross wage, and you still have car payments, a mortgage, and kids who need shoes.
Here is what nobody told me upfront: your employer’s insurance adjuster calculates your AWW using whatever payroll records they choose. If they cherry-pick slow weeks, exclude your overtime, or conveniently forget about the bonus you got in month two, your weekly check gets permanently smaller for the entire duration of your claim.
I lost several hundred dollars per week in the first two months of my claim before an attorney caught the miscalculation. That money was gone. I never recovered it.
Use this guide. Do the math yourself before you accept a single payment.
The Exact Calculation Formula Tennessee Law Requires
Governing statute: Tennessee Code Annotated § 50-6-207 and the Workers’ Compensation Law at § 50-6-102.
Step 1: Determine Your Average Weekly Wage (AWW)
Tennessee uses a 52-week lookback period ending the day before your injury.
$$AWW = \frac{\text{Total gross wages earned in the 52 weeks prior to injury}}{52}$$
If you worked fewer than 52 weeks for the employer, you divide by the number of weeks actually worked.
Step 2: Calculate Your Temporary Total Disability (TTD) Benefit
$$\text{Weekly Benefit} = AWW \times 0.6667$$
Step 3: Apply the Cap and Floor
| Threshold | 2024–2025 Amount | Basis |
|---|---|---|
| Maximum weekly benefit | ~$1,282.72 | 110% of SAWW ($1,166.11) |
| Minimum weekly benefit | ~$233.22 | 20% of SAWW ($1,166.11) |
Source: Tennessee Department of Labor & Workforce Development, 2024 SAWW publication.
If your calculated benefit exceeds $1,282.72, you are capped. If it falls below $233.22, you receive the floor — unless 66.67% of your AWW is actually less than the minimum, in which case you still receive 66.67% (the floor protects you, but it cannot exceed your actual wage rate).
What Is Included in AWW? (Tennessee-Specific Rules)
| Wage Type | Included in AWW? | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Regular hourly wages | ✅ Yes | Full gross amount |
| Overtime pay | ✅ Yes | Must be included per TCA § 50-6-102(2) |
| Bonuses (regular/production) | ✅ Yes | If paid with sufficient regularity |
| Holiday pay & shift differentials | ✅ Yes | Included in total gross |
| Tips (reported income) | ✅ Yes | Must be documented |
| Second-job wages (same employer) | ✅ Yes | If employer was aware |
| Second-job wages (different employer) | ❌ Generally No | Unless job was related to injury |
| Employer-paid health insurance | ❌ No | Not a wage |
| Discretionary bonuses (one-time) | ⚠️ Disputed | Consult attorney; fact-specific |
Pre-Calculated Weekly Benefit Table (Tennessee, 2026)
Based on 66.67% benefit rate, $233.22 minimum, $1,282.72 maximum. Verify current SAWW for precise figures.
| Gross Weekly Wage | Calculated 66.67% | Benefit Paid | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| $300 | $200.01 | $233.22 | Floor applied |
| $350 | $233.35 | $233.35 | Near floor |
| $400 | $266.68 | $266.68 | |
| $500 | $333.35 | $333.35 | |
| $600 | $400.02 | $400.02 | |
| $700 | $466.69 | $466.69 | |
| $800 | $533.36 | $533.36 | |
| $900 | $600.03 | $600.03 | |
| $1,000 | $666.70 | $666.70 | |
| $1,100 | $733.37 | $733.37 | |
| $1,200 | $800.04 | $800.04 | |
| $1,300 | $866.71 | $866.71 | |
| $1,400 | $933.38 | $933.38 | |
| $1,500 | $1,000.05 | $1,000.05 | |
| $1,600 | $1,066.72 | $1,066.72 | |
| $1,700 | $1,133.39 | $1,133.39 | |
| $1,800 | $1,200.06 | $1,200.06 | |
| $1,900 | $1,266.73 | $1,266.73 | |
| $1,924 | $1,282.72 | $1,282.72 | Cap threshold* |
| $2,000 | $1,333.40 | $1,282.72 | Cap applied |
| $2,100 | $1,400.07 | $1,282.72 | Cap applied |
| $2,200 | $1,466.74 | $1,282.72 | Cap applied |
| $2,300 | $1,533.41 | $1,282.72 | Cap applied |
| $2,400 | $1,600.08 | $1,282.72 | Cap applied |
| $2,500 | $1,666.75 | $1,282.72 | Cap applied |
| $2,600 | $1,733.42 | $1,282.72 | Cap applied |
| $2,700 | $1,800.09 | $1,282.72 | Cap applied |
| $2,800 | $1,866.76 | $1,282.72 | Cap applied |
| $2,900 | $1,933.43 | $1,282.72 | Cap applied |
| $3,000 | $2,000.10 | $1,282.72 | Cap applied |
*Cap threshold: Workers earning above approximately $1,924/week receive the same maximum benefit regardless of actual wages.
What the Law Says vs. What Actually Happens
This is the section insurance adjusters hope you skip.
Common Employer/Insurer Miscalculations
1. Using only your base hourly rate.
Tennessee law explicitly requires overtime to be included in AWW. Adjusters frequently pull a “straight-time” figure from HR payroll summaries that strip out all overtime. If you regularly worked 50-hour weeks, this error can cost you $100–$300 per week.
How to catch it: Request a complete payroll history — every paycheck stub, every pay period — for the full 52 weeks before your injury. Add the gross amounts yourself. Divide by 52. Compare to the figure on your first comp check.
2. Cherry-picking weeks when you worked less.
Some adjusters pull a quarterly summary during a period you had a slow season, a vacation, or an unpaid absence. This artificially deflates your AWW.
How to catch it: The 52-week rule is your shield. Demand the full year. If you were only employed less than 52 weeks, the divisor is the actual number of weeks worked — not 52.
3. Excluding bonuses.
Tennessee courts have held that regularly paid production or attendance bonuses are wages under § 50-6-102. A bonus paid four times a year qualifies. A one-time signing bonus may not. Adjusters routinely exclude all bonuses without analysis.
4. Wrong injury date.
The 52-week lookback starts the day before the injury, not the date you filed your claim or reported the injury. A wrong anchor date can shift the entire calculation window.
The bottom line: According to data compiled by the Workers’ Compensation Research Institute (WCRI), benefit calculation errors are among the most frequently litigated issues in Tennessee comp claims. You are not being paranoid by auditing your own check.
Real Case Example: Fluctuating Hours and Overtime
Worker: Marcus, 34, warehouse loader, Memphis, TN
Injury: Torn rotator cuff, October 15, 2024
Employment: 14 months with the same employer
His actual pay history (52 weeks prior to injury):
| Period | Gross Wages Earned |
|---|---|
| Weeks 1–12 (slow season, ~40 hrs/wk) | $14,400 |
| Weeks 13–28 (peak season, ~52 hrs/wk) | $22,400 |
| Weeks 29–40 (standard, ~44 hrs/wk) | $14,880 |
| Weeks 41–52 (holiday rush, ~56 hrs/wk) | $19,200 |
| Total gross (52 weeks) | $70,880 |
Correct AWW calculation:
$$AWW = \frac{\$70,880}{52} = \$1,363.08$$
Correct weekly TTD benefit:
$$\$1,363.08 \times 0.6667 = \$908.48$$
What the adjuster actually paid Marcus initially:
The adjuster used only Marcus’s standard hourly rate × 40 hours = $1,100/week AWW, producing a benefit of $733.40/week.
The underpayment: $908.48 − $733.40 = $174.88 per week.
Over a 6-month claim, that is $4,197 in lost benefits.
Marcus only caught this because he kept every pay stub. His attorney filed a dispute and the insurer corrected the AWW.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Does Tennessee workers’ comp pay for partial disability (when I can return to light duty but earn less)?
A: Yes. Tennessee provides Temporary Partial Disability (TPD) benefits when you return to work in a light-duty capacity and earn less than your pre-injury wage. The benefit equals 66.67% of the difference between your pre-injury AWW and your current light-duty wages. For example, if your pre-injury AWW was $1,000 and you are now earning $600/week on light duty, the TPD benefit is 66.67% × ($1,000 − $600) = 66.67% × $400 = $266.68 per week. This continues until you reach Maximum Medical Improvement (MMI). TPD is capped at the same state maximum as TTD. Critically, if your employer offers light-duty work within your restrictions and you refuse without good cause, you can lose your right to any temporary benefits. Always consult an attorney before turning down modified duty assignments. Document in writing if the offered work exceeds your physician’s restrictions.
Q: How long can I receive TTD benefits in Tennessee?
A: Tennessee does not
More Tennessee Workers Comp Resources
See Also
- Tennessee Workers’ Compensation: The Complete Guide for Injured Workers (2026)
- Tennessee Workers’ Comp for Delivery Drivers: The Complete 2026 Guide
- Tennessee Workers’ Comp for Security Guards: The Complete 2026 Guide
- Tennessee Workers’ Comp for Home Health Aides: The Complete 2026 Guide
- How Long Can You Receive Workers’ Comp Benefits in Tennessee? (Complete 2024 Guide)
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