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 Minnesota before making any legal decisions about your claim.
Quick Answer: Your Minnesota Workers’ Comp Weekly Benefit
In Minnesota, workers’ comp pays 66.67% of your average weekly wage, up to a maximum of approximately $1,406 per week for 2026 (set at 102% of the State Average Weekly Wage, updated annually by the Minnesota Department of Labor and Industry). Your benefit is calculated from your actual earnings over the 26 weeks before your injury, including overtime and most bonuses. If you earned $1,000 per week on average, your weekly benefit is approximately $666.70.
Source: Minn. Stat. § 176.101, Minnesota DLI Workers’ Compensation Division (2025).
💬 From Shane: Surviving on 66.67% of Your Income
When I first saw that number — 66.67% — I thought, that’s close enough to my paycheck, I’ll manage. I was wrong.
That percentage hits differently when rent is still 100%, your car payment is still 100%, and you’re now paying out-of-pocket for medications you used to get through your employer’s health plan. Workers’ comp does not automatically continue your health insurance. That’s a brutal reality no one explains to you on day one.
Here’s what I wish someone had told me: Print your last 26 pay stubs the day you file your claim. Not next week. That day. Your employer’s HR system gets selective memory fast. Your Average Weekly Wage is the single most important number in your claim — every dollar of undercalculation costs you for the entire duration you are off work. Protect that number like it’s your job, because right now, it literally is.
Budget ruthlessly from week one. Treat the 33% gap as gone. If you can apply for short-term disability through a private policy you held, do it immediately — those payments can often layer on top of workers’ comp up to a cap.
The Exact Legal Formula: How Minnesota Calculates Your Benefit
Step 1: Calculate Your Average Weekly Wage (AWW)
Under Minn. Stat. § 176.011, Subd. 3, your AWW is calculated by taking your total gross wages earned in the 26 weeks immediately before your date of injury, then dividing by 26.
AWW Formula:
AWW = Total Gross Wages (Last 26 Weeks) ÷ 26
Weekly Benefit Formula:
Weekly Benefit = AWW × 0.6667
(Capped at the current maximum weekly benefit of ~$1,406 for 2026)
What Counts Toward Your AWW in Minnesota
| Wage Component | Included in AWW? | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Regular hourly wages | ✅ Yes | All hours worked |
| Overtime pay | ✅ Yes | Full gross amount included |
| Bonuses (regular/production) | ✅ Yes | If paid with regularity |
| Holiday pay | ✅ Yes | Paid holiday included |
| Shift differentials | ✅ Yes | Included as earned wages |
| Second job wages | ✅ Yes | If employer knew about concurrent employment |
| Tips | ✅ Yes | If regularly received and documented |
| One-time discretionary bonuses | ⚠️ Disputed | Employer may contest; attorney review advised |
| Employer health insurance value | ❌ No | Not included in wage calculation |
| Per diem / expense reimbursements | ❌ No | Not wages |
Source: Minn. Stat. § 176.011, Subd. 3; Minnesota DLI Workers’ Compensation System Guide.
The 26-Week Rule: What Counts as a “Week”
Minnesota counts only weeks actually worked. If you had unpaid leave, illness, or a layoff during the 26-week window, those zero-wage weeks are excluded from the denominator. This matters enormously for seasonal workers and anyone with gaps in employment.
Example: You worked 22 of the last 26 weeks. Your total wages were $24,200. Your AWW = $24,200 ÷ 22 = $1,100.00 — not $24,200 ÷ 26 = $930.77.
Pre-Calculated Minnesota Workers’ Comp Benefit Table (2026)
66.67% of Average Weekly Wage | Maximum benefit capped at ~$1,406/week
Use your gross AWW from the left column to find your estimated weekly benefit.
| Avg. Weekly Wage (AWW) | Weekly Benefit (66.67%) | At Maximum Cap? |
|---|---|---|
| $300 | $200.01 | No |
| $400 | $266.68 | No |
| $500 | $333.35 | No |
| $600 | $400.02 | No |
| $700 | $466.69 | No |
| $800 | $533.36 | No |
| $900 | $600.03 | No |
| $1,000 | $666.70 | No |
| $1,100 | $733.37 | No |
| $1,200 | $800.04 | No |
| $1,300 | $866.71 | No |
| $1,400 | $933.38 | No |
| $1,500 | $1,000.05 | No |
| $1,600 | $1,066.72 | No |
| $1,700 | $1,133.39 | No |
| $1,800 | $1,200.06 | No |
| $1,900 | $1,266.73 | No |
| $2,000 | $1,333.40 | No |
| $2,100 | $1,400.07 | No |
| $2,110+ | $1,406.00 | ⚠️ CAPPED |
| $2,200 | $1,406.00 (capped) | ✅ Yes |
| $2,300 | $1,406.00 (capped) | ✅ Yes |
| $2,400 | $1,406.00 (capped) | ✅ Yes |
| $2,500 | $1,406.00 (capped) | ✅ Yes |
| $2,600 | $1,406.00 (capped) | ✅ Yes |
| $2,700 | $1,406.00 (capped) | ✅ Yes |
| $2,800 | $1,406.00 (capped) | ✅ Yes |
| $2,900 | $1,406.00 (capped) | ✅ Yes |
| $3,000 | $1,406.00 (capped) | ✅ Yes |
⚠️ Note: The maximum weekly benefit is updated every October 1 by the Minnesota DLI based on the prior year’s SAWW. Always verify the current maximum at dli.mn.gov before relying on this table for legal or financial decisions.
What the Law Says vs. What Actually Happens
Minnesota law is clear on how AWW must be calculated. In practice, employers and their insurers routinely lowball it.
The 3 Most Common Employer Miscalculations
1. Averaging Overtime to Zero
The insurer pulls your W-2 or a generic wage rate instead of your actual 26-week pay history. If you worked heavy overtime in the months before your injury, this drops your AWW significantly. Fix: Pull every pay stub. Calculate it yourself. Compare.
2. Excluding Your Second Job
Under Minn. Stat. § 176.011, Subd. 3, wages from a second concurrent employer can be included — but only if your primary employer knew you held that second job. Insurers routinely exclude it without asking. Fix: Document that your employer knew. Email records, verbal acknowledgment witnesses, even a schedule conflict conversation qualifies.
3. Counting Zero-Wage Weeks in the Denominator
This is the most common math error. Including unpaid weeks deflates your AWW. If you had a two-week gap during FMLA or a shutdown, those weeks should not count in the divisor. Fix: Annotate each pay stub. Zero-wage weeks get flagged and excluded.
Real Case Example: Fluctuating Hours + Overtime
Worker: Warehouse associate, Minneapolis.
Injury date: March 3.
Situation: Works variable hours, frequently 50+ hours per week in Q4, fewer in Q1.
Last 26 weeks of earnings (weeks actually worked: 24):
| Period | Gross Wages |
|---|---|
| 14 weeks (regular season) | $13,440 ($960/wk avg) |
| 10 weeks (heavy OT season) | $15,500 ($1,550/wk avg) |
| 2 weeks unpaid (illness) | $0 — excluded |
| Total | $28,940 |
Correct AWW Calculation:
$28,940 ÷ 24 working weeks = $1,205.83 AWW
Correct Weekly Benefit:
$1,205.83 × 66.67% = $804.00/week
Insurer’s Initial Calculation (incorrect):
Insurer used base hourly rate × 40 hours = $960/week AWW → $640/week benefit.
Underpayment: $804.00 − $640.00 = $164/week underpaid. Over a 26-week disability, that’s $4,264 in lost benefits — all from one calculation error that took a lawyer 45 minutes to catch.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Does workers’ comp in Minnesota pay me during the first week I’m off?
A: Only if your disability lasts longer than 10 calendar days. Minnesota has a 3-day waiting period under Minn. Stat. § 176.221. If you miss work for 3 or more days but return before day 10, you are not paid for those first 3 days. If your disability extends beyond 10 calendar days, you are retroactively paid for the initial 3-day waiting period as well. This retroactive trigger is critical — many workers assume those first days are simply lost. They are not, as long as you are off for more than 10 total days. Document every day missed from the date of injury, including partial days. Do not rely on your employer’s attendance records; keep your own independent log.
Q: How does overtime affect my Average Weekly Wage calculation?
A: Overtime is fully included in your AWW calculation in Minnesota. Under Minn. Stat. § 176.011, Subd. 3, the calculation uses your actual gross wages — meaning your time-and-a-half or double-time earnings are counted dollar for dollar across the 26-week lookback period. This is why high-overtime workers are particularly vulnerable to employer miscalculation. An insurer calculating your benefit from a base hourly rate effectively erases every hour you worked over 40. If you worked regular overtime, your actual AWW may be 20–40% higher than a “base wage” calculation suggests. Demand your actual pay stubs, not a wage verification form completed by HR. The raw payroll data is the legally required basis for the calculation, not an administrative summary.
Q: What is the minimum weekly benefit in Minnesota?
A: Minnesota does not set a single fixed minimum benefit the way some states do. For most injured workers, the benefit simply reflects 66.67% of their actual AWW, which can be quite low for part-time workers. However, for workers whose AWW is so low that 66.67% produces a very small amount, practical minimums emerge through interaction with vocational rehabilitation and settlement standards. Part-time workers, gig workers, and seasonal employees should be especially careful to verify that all concurrent income sources are included
More Minnesota Workers Comp Resources
See Also
- Minnesota Workers’ Compensation: The Complete 2026 Guide
- Minnesota Workers’ Comp for Hotel Workers: The Complete Guide (2026)
- Minnesota Workers’ Comp for Teachers: The Complete 2026 Guide
- Minnesota Workers’ Comp for Nurses: The Complete Guide (2026)
- How Long Can You Receive Workers’ Comp Benefits in Minnesota? (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.