Florida Workers’ Comp Weekly Benefit Calculator (2026)
In Florida, workers’ comp pays 66.67% of your average weekly wage (AWW), subject to a maximum of $1,358.00 per week and a minimum of $20.00 per week. Your AWW is calculated using your gross earnings from the 13 weeks immediately before your injury date, divided by 13. Overtime, bonuses, and wages from a second job held concurrently may all be factored in. If the employer miscalculates any of these inputs — and they often do — your weekly check will be wrong from day one.
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 your state.
📌 Quick Answer Box
Florida workers’ comp weekly benefit rate: 66.67% of your Average Weekly Wage (AWW)
– 2026 Maximum: $1,358.00/week
– 2026 Minimum: $20.00/week
– Calculation period: 13 weeks immediately preceding your injury
– Governing statute: Florida Statutes § 440.14
From Shane: The Reality of Living on 66.67%
I remember the exact moment a friend called me after his New York injury — he’d just done the math on what 66.67% of his wage actually meant for his family. It meant our mortgage was suddenly $400 short every month. It meant my wife picked up extra shifts. It meant I sat at the kitchen table with a spreadsheet trying to figure out which bills we could defer.
Nobody tells you this before you get hurt. The insurance adjuster hands you a check and says “this is what the law says.” What they don’t say is that they calculated your AWW using only your base hours, quietly dropping your overtime, ignoring the bonus you got in week 9, and pretending your second weekend job didn’t exist. I was being underpaid by $187 a week for four months before my attorney caught it.
This guide exists so that doesn’t happen to you. Know the number before you cash the first check.
— Shane
The Exact Calculation Formula
Florida Statutes § 440.14 defines the method for calculating your Average Weekly Wage with precision. Here is every step.
Step 1: Identify Your 13-Week Lookback Period
Count backward exactly 13 weeks from the date of your injury. Do not count the week in which the injury occurred. If you worked fewer than 13 weeks at that employer, Florida law allows alternate methods — including using a similar employee’s wage history.
Step 2: Sum All Gross Earnings
Add together all gross wages for those 13 weeks. This includes:
| Earnings Type | Included in AWW? | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Regular hourly wages | ✅ Yes | All hours worked |
| Overtime pay | ✅ Yes | Gross overtime, not base only |
| Tips (reported) | ✅ Yes | Must be reported to employer |
| Performance bonuses | ✅ Yes | If paid during the 13-week period |
| Sign-on bonuses | ⚠️ Disputed | May be prorated; consult attorney |
| Second job wages | ✅ Yes | If employer knew about second job |
| Per diem/expense reimbursements | ❌ No | Not considered wages |
| Health insurance premiums | ❌ No | Not considered wages |
The “second job” rule is critical. Under § 440.14(1)(f), wages from a concurrent employer are included if the primary employer had knowledge of that secondary employment. This is routinely ignored by adjusters.
Step 3: Divide by 13
AWW = Total Gross Wages (13 weeks) ÷ 13
Step 4: Apply the 66.67% Rate
Weekly Indemnity Benefit = AWW × 0.6667
Step 5: Apply the Cap and Floor
- If your calculated benefit exceeds $1,358.00, you receive $1,358.00.
- If your calculated benefit is below $20.00, you receive $20.00.
Pre-Calculated Florida Workers’ Comp Benefit Table (2026)
Benefits calculated at 66.67% of Average Weekly Wage. All figures rounded to the nearest cent.
| Average Weekly Wage (AWW) | Weekly Benefit (66.67%) | Monthly Estimate (×4.33) |
|---|---|---|
| $300 | $200.01 | $866.04 |
| $400 | $266.68 | $1,154.72 |
| $500 | $333.35 | $1,443.40 |
| $600 | $400.02 | $1,732.09 |
| $700 | $466.69 | $2,020.77 |
| $800 | $533.36 | $2,309.45 |
| $900 | $600.03 | $2,598.13 |
| $1,000 | $666.70 | $2,886.81 |
| $1,100 | $733.37 | $3,175.49 |
| $1,200 | $800.04 | $3,464.17 |
| $1,300 | $866.71 | $3,752.85 |
| $1,400 | $933.38 | $4,041.54 |
| $1,500 | $1,000.05 | $4,330.22 |
| $1,600 | $1,066.72 | $4,618.90 |
| $1,700 | $1,133.39 | $4,907.58 |
| $1,800 | $1,200.06 | $5,196.26 |
| $1,900 | $1,266.73 | $5,484.94 |
| $2,000 | $1,333.40 | $5,773.62 |
| $2,037+ | $1,358.00 (CAP) | $5,880.14 |
| $2,100 | $1,358.00 (capped) | $5,880.14 |
| $2,200 | $1,358.00 (capped) | $5,880.14 |
| $2,300 | $1,358.00 (capped) | $5,880.14 |
| $2,400 | $1,358.00 (capped) | $5,880.14 |
| $2,500 | $1,358.00 (capped) | $5,880.14 |
| $2,600 | $1,358.00 (capped) | $5,880.14 |
| $2,700 | $1,358.00 (capped) | $5,880.14 |
| $2,800 | $1,358.00 (capped) | $5,880.14 |
| $2,900 | $1,358.00 (capped) | $5,880.14 |
| $3,000 | $1,358.00 (capped) | $5,880.14 |
Note: The benefit cap applies to any AWW above approximately $2,037/week. High earners lose an increasing percentage of their actual wages. A worker earning $3,000/week only replaces 45.3% of income, not 66.67%.
What the Law Says vs. What Actually Happens
Florida law is specific. Insurance carrier behavior is something else entirely.
Common AWW Miscalculations Used to Underpay You
1. Excluding Overtime
Adjusters frequently calculate AWW using only your base hourly rate times standard hours. If you regularly worked 50-hour weeks, that overtime is legally required to be included in your gross earnings. Request your actual wage statements — not a summary the adjuster provides.
2. Dropping “Irregular” Weeks
If you had a low-earning week during the 13-week period (vacation, sick day, short week), some adjusters will drop it from the numerator but keep the divisor at 13. Under § 440.14, the full 13-week gross is divided by 13, period. There is no provision for selectively excluding weeks.
3. Ignoring the Second Job
If you told your employer you worked weekends at a second job, those wages must be included. “Employer knowledge” can be established through casual conversations, direct deposit records at a bank they used for payroll, or tax records. This is worth hundreds of dollars per week for many workers.
4. Using Net Pay Instead of Gross
Your benefit is calculated on gross wages — before taxes, before health insurance deductions. Using net pay is a straightforward miscalculation that lowers your AWW artificially.
Action Step: Request a complete copy of the wage calculation worksheet from the adjuster in writing. You have the right to see it. Compare it line by line against your own paystubs.
Real Case Example: Fluctuating Hours & Overtime
Worker: Maria, a licensed practical nurse (LPN) in Tampa. Injured her back on a patient transfer.
Employment details:
– Base hourly rate: $24.00
– Regularly worked 10–15 hours of overtime per week
– Received a $500 retention bonus in week 7 of the 13-week lookback period
Maria’s Actual 13-Week Gross Earnings:
| Week | Regular Pay | Overtime Pay | Bonus | Weekly Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | $960 | $540 | — | $1,500 |
| 2 | $960 | $432 | — | $1,392 |
| 3 | $960 | $594 | — | $1,554 |
| 4 | $960 | $360 | — | $1,320 |
| 5 | $960 | $486 | — | $1,446 |
| 6 | $960 | $540 | — | $1,500 |
| 7 | $960 | $378 | $500 | $1,838 |
| 8 | $960 | $594 | — | $1,554 |
| 9 | $960 | $432 | — | $1,392 |
| 10 | $960 | $540 | — | $1,500 |
| 11 | $960 | $486 | — | $1,446 |
| 12 | $960 | $378 | — | $1,338 |
| 13 | $960 | $432 | — | $1,392 |
| TOTAL | $12,480 | $5,772 | $500 | $18,752 |
Correct AWW Calculation:
AWW = $18,752 ÷ 13 = $1,442.46
Weekly Benefit = $1,442.46 × 0.6667 = $961.49
What the adjuster initially calculated (base pay only, no OT, no bonus):
AWW = $12,480 ÷ 13 = $960.00
Weekly Benefit = $960.00 × 0.6667 = $640.03
Weekly underpayment: $321.46
Monthly underpayment: ~$1,391.92
Over a 12-week claim: $3,857.52 underpaid
Maria’s attorney submitted a formal wage dispute. The carrier recalculated and issued back pay within 21 days.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What happens if I worked for less than 13 weeks before my injury?
A: Florida Statutes § 440.14(1)(b) provides a specific fallback for this situation. If you worked fewer than 13 weeks with the employer at the time of injury, your AWW is calculated using the wages of a “similar employee” who did work the full 13-week period in the same type of work at the same location. If no comparable employee exists, the calculation falls to a fair and reasonable estimate based on your actual earnings and contract terms. This provision protects newer workers from having their benefits unfairly diminished simply because they were recently hired. New hires in construction, healthcare, and seasonal industries frequently encounter this issue. Document your agreed-upon hourly rate, any employment contracts, and any relevant job offer letters, as these will establish your earning capacity when a comparable employee comparison is unavailable. A carrier that simply divides your total earnings by the number of weeks actually worked — which is mathematically equivalent to the 13-week method only if all weeks were actually worked — may be applying the wrong statutory formula.
Q: Are temporary total disability (TTD) and temporary partial disability (TPD) calculated differently?
A: TTD and TPD use the same AWW as their starting point, but the application differs. For Temporary Total Disability — meaning you cannot work at all — you receive 66.67% of your AWW up to the $1,358.00 cap. For Temporary Partial Disability — meaning you’ve returned to work in a reduced capacity and are earning less than 80% of your pre-injury AWW — the formula is different. TPD pays 80% of the difference between 80% of your pre-injury AWW and your current post-injury earnings. Example: If your pre-injury AWW was $1,000 and you now earn $400/week, your TPD benefit is 80% × ($800 − $400) = 80% × $400 = $320/week. TPD is often underpaid because adjusters miscalculate the “80% of AWW” baseline, using the wrong AWW figure. Always verify the base number used in the TPD calculation against your original wage records. Source: Florida Statutes § 440.15(4).
Q: Does workers’ comp in Florida pay during the waiting period?
A: Florida has a 7-day waiting period before indemnity (wage replacement) benefits begin. If your disability lasts 21 or more days, you are retroactively paid for the initial 7-day waiting period as well. If your disability resolves before 21 days, you will not receive pay for those first 7 days. This is a critical distinction. A worker who is out for exactly 20 days receives 13 days of compensation. A worker out for 21 days receives 21 days. Medical benefits under workers’ comp in Florida, however, have no waiting period — authorized medical treatment must be provided immediately. Many injured workers are confused when their first check arrives and does not cover the first week. This is the waiting period rule operating as intended, not an error by the carrier. Source: Florida Statutes § 440.12(1).
Q: Can my employer dispute my Average Weekly Wage calculation?
A: Yes, and this is common. Your employer or their insurance carrier can file a petition to contest your AWW at any point during your claim. Disputes over AWW are handled through the Florida Division of Administrative Hearings (DOAH) before a Judge of Compensation Claims (JCC). The burden of proof lies with the party challenging the calculation. You can — and should — proactively defend your AWW by gathering all 13 weeks of paystubs, W-2s, direct deposit records, and any documentation of bonuses or concurrent employment. If the carrier disputes your AWW and succeeds in lowering it, every payment you received at the higher rate may be subject to a lien or credit applied against future payments. Acting defensively and building your wage documentation file immediately after injury is far less costly than resolving a retroactive AWW dispute later.
Q: What if I was paid partially off the books or in cash
More Florida Workers Comp Resources
See Also
- Florida Workers’ Compensation: The Complete Guide (2026)
- Florida Workers’ Comp Settlement for Fall From Height: The Definitive Guide (2026)
- Florida Workers’ Comp Settlement for Construction Accidents: The Definitive Guide (2026)
- Florida Workers’ Comp Settlement for Forklift Accident: The Definitive Guide (2026)
- How Long Can You Receive Workers’ Comp Benefits in Florida? The Complete Guide
Need help finding the right next step?
This article is general educational information, not personal advice. You can use our Contact and Feedback page to report a correction, suggest a topic, or—where available—optionally request a connection with an independent professional.