Utah Workers’ Comp Weekly Benefit Calculator (2026)
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
In Utah, workers’ comp pays 66.67% of your Average Weekly Wage (AWW), up to the current state maximum of approximately $1,178 per week (tied to Utah’s State Average Weekly Wage for 2025, as published by the Utah Labor Commission). There is no universal minimum benefit — your payment is purely a percentage calculation. If your AWW produces a benefit below what covers basic survival, that is the legal reality of the system, which is exactly why knowing your number precisely is non-negotiable.
Source: Utah Code § 34A-2-410; Utah Labor Commission SAWW publication, 2025.
From Shane: Surviving on 66.67% of Your Income
When I got hurt the second time in 2015, I made the same mistake I’d made in 2011 — I assumed the check coming in was correct. I never did the math myself. By the time I figured out my employer had averaged my wages over a bad period that included unpaid holiday shutdowns, I’d already lost nearly four months of underpayment I couldn’t recover.
Two-thirds of your wage sounds manageable until you’re actually living it. Your mortgage, your car payment, your groceries — none of those drop by 33%. Before your first check arrives, sit down and build a bare-bones budget using your projected benefit number. Separate fixed expenses (rent, utilities, insurance) from variable ones. Cut variable spending immediately, not once you’re behind. And if the check you receive does not match the math in this guide, do not cash it and stay quiet — ask in writing how your AWW was calculated. That paper trail matters.
The Exact Calculation Formula
Step 1 — Calculate Your Average Weekly Wage (AWW)
Utah law defines AWW as your actual wages earned in the 26 weeks immediately before your date of injury, divided by 26. This is governed by Utah Code § 34A-2-409.
What counts as wages for AWW:
| Compensation Type | Included in AWW? | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Regular hourly wages | ✅ Yes | All hours worked |
| Overtime pay | ✅ Yes | Actual OT dollars earned |
| Bonuses (regular/production) | ✅ Yes | If received in the 26-week window |
| Holiday pay / vacation pay paid out | ✅ Yes | If paid as wages |
| Second-job income | ⚠️ Conditional | Included only if employer had knowledge of concurrent employment |
| Tips (documented) | ✅ Yes | Must be verifiable |
| Employer-side benefits (health ins.) | ❌ No | Not included |
| Per diem / expense reimbursements | ❌ No | Not wages |
Formula:
AWW = Total Gross Wages Earned in 26 Weeks ÷ 26
Weekly Benefit = AWW × 0.6667
Weekly Benefit (capped) = Lesser of (AWW × 0.6667) or $1,178*
*State maximum is 100% of Utah SAWW, updated annually. Verify the current figure at laborcommission.utah.gov before relying on this number.
Step 2 — Apply the Cap
If 66.67% of your AWW exceeds the state maximum, your benefit is capped. The cap kicks in approximately when your AWW exceeds $1,767/week (at a $1,178 maximum). High earners lose disproportionate income — this is one of the most important and least discussed facts about workers’ comp.
Pre-Calculated Weekly Benefit Table: $300 – $3,000 AWW
The figures below use the 66.67% rate and a $1,178 state maximum cap. Verify the cap against the current Labor Commission publication for your injury year.
| Average Weekly Wage | Weekly Benefit (66.67%) | Capped? |
|---|---|---|
| $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 |
| $1,767 | $1,177.59 | At Cap |
| $1,800 | $1,178.00 (capped) | Yes |
| $1,900 | $1,178.00 (capped) | Yes |
| $2,000 | $1,178.00 (capped) | Yes |
| $2,100 | $1,178.00 (capped) | Yes |
| $2,200 | $1,178.00 (capped) | Yes |
| $2,300 | $1,178.00 (capped) | Yes |
| $2,400 | $1,178.00 (capped) | Yes |
| $2,500 | $1,178.00 (capped) | Yes |
| $2,600 | $1,178.00 (capped) | Yes |
| $2,700 | $1,178.00 (capped) | Yes |
| $2,800 | $1,178.00 (capped) | Yes |
| $2,900 | $1,178.00 (capped) | Yes |
| $3,000 | $1,178.00 (capped) | Yes |
What the Law Says vs. What Actually Happens
How Employers Miscalculate AWW to Underpay You
The law says 26 weeks of actual earnings divided by 26. Simple. Here is where it goes wrong in practice:
Problem 1 — They cherry-pick a slow period. If you were laid off for three weeks during your 26-week window and had zero income, some adjusters will include those zero-dollar weeks in the denominator. Utah law allows adjustment when a worker was not employed during the full period — but not every adjuster applies this correctly. Zero-earnings weeks due to employer-caused gaps should often be excluded.
Problem 2 — They strip out overtime. This is the most common tactic I’ve encountered and confirmed repeatedly with attorneys. An adjuster calculates your “base rate” without premium overtime pay. Utah law explicitly includes total wages earned. If overtime is your regular reality, it belongs in your AWW.
Problem 3 — They use a pay stub instead of a W-2 period. Your “typical” paycheck is not the same as 26 weeks of documented earnings. Always request a full wage verification from payroll for the exact 26-week period — not a summary from your supervisor.
How to catch it: Pull your own paystubs for the 26 weeks before your injury date. Add every gross dollar. Divide by 26. Compare to what the adjuster reports. If their number is lower by more than a few dollars, put your question in writing immediately.
Real Case Example: Fluctuating Hours + Overtime
Worker: Marcus T., commercial electrician, Salt Lake City
Injury Date: March 15, 2025
26-Week Lookback Period: September 15, 2024 – March 14, 2025
| Period | Gross Wages |
|---|---|
| Weeks 1–6 (regular season) | $8,400 |
| Weeks 7–10 (overtime push, project deadline) | $7,200 |
| Weeks 11–13 (holiday shutdown, zero pay) | $0 |
| Weeks 14–22 (return to regular schedule) | $12,150 |
| Weeks 23–26 (pre-injury weeks, mixed OT) | $5,600 |
| Total Earned | $33,350 |
Correct AWW calculation:
$33,350 ÷ 26 = $1,282.69
Correct weekly benefit:
$1,282.69 × 0.6667 = $854.84
What the adjuster initially paid:
The adjuster excluded the four high-overtime weeks, calling them “anomalous,” and calculated AWW at $1,090, producing a benefit of $726.67 — a weekly underpayment of $128.17.
Over a 12-week recovery, that discrepancy equals $1,538.04 in lost wages. Marcus caught it because he ran his own numbers before the first check arrived. His attorney sent a written demand with supporting paystubs and the AWW was corrected within 21 days.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: How far back does Utah look to calculate my AWW?
Direct Answer: Utah uses the 26 weeks immediately before your date of injury.
Utah Code § 34A-2-409 mandates the 26-week lookback. This means the calculation window is fixed — it cannot be shortened to make your wage look lower unless there is a legitimate legal reason (such as you were recently hired and have fewer than 26 weeks with that employer). If you were employed for fewer than 26 weeks, the law provides an alternative calculation method: the AWW may be based on your actual weeks worked, or by using a comparable employee’s wage history as a reference point. Either approach must reflect a fair representation of your earning capacity, not just a mathematical accident that produces a low number.
Q: Does my second job income count toward my AWW in Utah?
Direct Answer: Yes — but only if your primary employer knew you had a second job at the time of your injury.
This conditional rule exists across many states and consistently surprises workers. Under Utah’s system, if your employer was unaware of your moonlighting, that income is excluded. However, “awareness” is interpreted broadly — if you ever mentioned it, if it appeared on documents you submitted during hiring, or if coworkers knew, there is an argument for inclusion. If you work two jobs and both employers knew, document that knowledge. A tax return showing dual W-2 income can support your claim. Talk to an attorney before conceding this income is excluded — it can meaningfully raise your AWW and your benefit amount.
Q: Does workers’ comp in Utah cover my full salary if I’m salaried, not hourly?
Direct Answer: Yes. Salary is treated as wages under Utah law, and the AWW calculation works identically.
Take your gross salary paid over the 26-week period and divide by 26. The percentage-based formula applies the same way. Where salaried workers get tripped up is with bonuses: if you received a quarterly bonus within the 26-week window, that bonus is included in the wage total. If the bonus pays out annually and fell outside the window, it may not be captured — which is one reason why injury timing can accidentally affect your AWW. Keep records of all compensation, including deferred bonuses and commissions, and have your attorney assess whether they should be argued into your wage calculation.
Q: Is there a waiting period before Utah workers’ comp benefits begin?
Direct Answer: Yes. Utah has a 3-day waiting period. If your disability lasts 14 or more days, you are retroactively paid for those first 3 days.
This is a critical and commonly misunderstood rule. If you return to work before day 14, you will not receive pay for the first three days of your disability. If your disability extends to 14 days or longer, those first three days are paid retroactively. Keep documentation of every day you were unable to work from day one, even if you think your injury is minor. Workers who assume a short recovery often find it stretches past 14 days and lose out on retroactive pay simply because they failed to track and document the early days.
Q: Can my workers’ comp weekly benefit be reduced in Utah?
Direct Answer: Yes — in specific situations, including return to modified duty, receipt of Social Security Disability benefits, or voluntary retirement.
If your employer offers you light-duty or modified work and you refuse without a valid medical reason, Utah law allows your benefit to be reduced or suspended. If you are receiving Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI), your combined workers’ comp and SSDI benefits may be offset so that total payments do not exceed 80% of your pre-injury AWW. Additionally, if you voluntarily removed yourself from the labor market before your injury (e.g., you were already planning to retire), a dispute can arise over your wage-loss claim. These reductions are not automatic and must be properly documented by the insurer. Demand written justification for any reduction.
Q: What happens if my employer disputes my AWW calculation?
Direct Answer: The dispute goes to the Utah Labor Commission, Adjudication Division — but you can and should fight this with documentation before it reaches that stage.
Your first move is always to request the adjuster’s full wage computation worksheet in writing. Ask them to identify the specific payroll records they used, the 26-week period applied, and whether any weeks were excluded and why. Compare against your own paystubs. If the numbers diverge and the insurer will not correct them, you have the right to file a claim with the Utah Labor Commission. This is precisely where having a workers’ comp attorney becomes valuable — attorneys can subpoena
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