How much a North Dakota workers comp settlement is worth depends on three things: the body part injured, your impairment rating, and your weekly wage.
Typical North Dakota settlements run 5000 to 75000 for typical PPI/wage-loss outcomes, with serious permanent or career-ending injuries running well into six figures — but North Dakota is unusual: as a monopolistic state fund, traditional lump-sum “settlements” are uncommon, and most benefits are paid as ongoing statutory wage-loss, medical, and PPI awards rather than a negotiated lump sum. Every case differs; this is a general reference only, not a prediction..
This guide lays out the North Dakota caps, the body-part schedule, and how the math works, in plain English. All figures are from North Dakota sources, verified as of June 2026.
North Dakota at a Glance
| Wage replacement | 66.67% (two-thirds of the injured worker’s gross average weekly wage) |
| Max weekly benefit | 1569 (equal to 125% of the North Dakota State Average Weekly Wage; this is the figure in effect for the July 1, 2025–June 30, 2026 benefit year and is scheduled to readjust July 1, 2026 — confirm the new-year figure with WSI) |
| Min weekly benefit | 753 (statutory minimum = 60% of the SAWW, derived from the current SAWW of about 1255; the worker instead receives net wages if 60% of SAWW would exceed their actual net wage — confirm exact current dollar figure with WSI) |
| Waiting period | 5 (no wage-loss benefits for the first five days of disability) |
| PPD method | Impairment-rating method based on WHOLE-BODY impairment, NOT a traditional scheduled-body-part-weeks system. WSI rates whole-body permanent impairment using the AMA “Guides to the Evaluation of Permanent Impairment,” 6th edition (modified to ND law), then pays a Permanent Partial Impairment (PPI) award = 35% of the SAWW (on the date of the impairment evaluation) multiplied by a “permanent impairment multiplier” tied to the percentage of whole-body impairment (NDCC 65-05-12.2). A worker is generally eligible for a formal PPI evaluation only if the impairment estimate is at least 14% of whole-body function. |
| Lawyer recommended | For serious injuries, denials, or any settlement offer |
In This North Dakota Guide:
How Much Is a Workers’ Comp Settlement in North Dakota?
How much a North Dakota workers comp settlement is worth depends on three things: the body part injured, your impairment rating, and your weekly wage.
Typical North Dakota settlements run 5000 to 75000 for typical PPI/wage-loss outcomes, with serious permanent or career-ending injuries running well into six figures — but North Dakota is unusual: as a monopolistic state fund, traditional lump-sum “settlements” are uncommon, and most benefits are paid as ongoing statutory wage-loss, medical, and PPI awards rather than a negotiated lump sum. Every case differs; this is a general reference only, not a prediction..
This guide lays out the North Dakota caps, the body-part schedule, and how the math works, in plain English. All figures are from North Dakota sources, verified as of June 2026.
Want a quick estimate for your own injury?
North Dakota Body-Part Settlement Values
If your injury is a permanent loss to a specific body part, North Dakota assigns it a set number of weeks of benefits. Your payout is roughly those weeks multiplied by your impairment rating and your weekly comp rate. Here are the North Dakota figures:
North Dakota body-part values: NONE (North Dakota does not use a per-body-part weeks chart like “arm 200, hand 175.” It uses a whole-body impairment percentage. A limited statutory schedule of minimum “permanent impairment multipliers” exists in NDCC 65-05-12.2(10) for amputations and loss of an eye, guaranteeing at least the scheduled multiplier for those losses, but it is expressed as impairment multipliers, not body-part weeks.)
Whole-body / maximum: up to NONE (the PPI award is a lump dollar figure = 35% of SAWW × impairment multiplier; there is no fixed scheduled-weeks cap per body part — the multiplier scales with the whole-body impairment percentage) weeks.
How North Dakota Calculates Your Payout
The weekly wage-loss (TTD/TPD) rate is two-thirds (66.67%) of the worker’s gross average weekly wage, capped at the maximum of 125% of the SAWW (~1569) and floored at the minimum of 60% of the SAWW (~753), with the floor reduced to actual net wages if that is lower. PPI awards use a separate base of 35% of the SAWW × an impairment multiplier.
Permanent disability: Impairment-rating method based on WHOLE-BODY impairment, NOT a traditional scheduled-body-part-weeks system. WSI rates whole-body permanent impairment using the AMA “Guides to the Evaluation of Permanent Impairment,” 6th edition (modified to ND law), then pays a Permanent Partial Impairment (PPI) award = 35% of the SAWW (on the date of the impairment evaluation) multiplied by a “permanent impairment multiplier” tied to the percentage of whole-body impairment (NDCC 65-05-12.2).
A worker is generally eligible for a formal PPI evaluation only if the impairment estimate is at least 14% of whole-body function.
Offsets: Yes — North Dakota offsets/coordinates disability benefits with Social Security retirement benefits (and reduces or terminates wage-loss benefits at retirement age, NDCC 65-05-09.x). Confirm specifics with WSI.
What Settlements Actually Run in North Dakota
5000 to 75000 for typical PPI/wage-loss outcomes, with serious permanent or career-ending injuries running well into six figures — but North Dakota is unusual: as a monopolistic state fund, traditional lump-sum “settlements” are uncommon, and most benefits are paid as ongoing statutory wage-loss, medical, and PPI awards rather than a negotiated lump sum. Every case differs; this is a general reference only, not a prediction.
That said, no two cases are alike — the number that matters is the one your own injury, rating, and wage produce, not a statewide average.
What drives a North Dakota settlement: Whole-body impairment rating (AMA 6th ed.), the body part/function affected, the worker’s pre-injury average weekly wage, the SAWW caps in effect, ability to return to work and any residual wage loss, projected future medical needs, and whether future medical is left open versus closed out.
How Workers’ Comp Settlements Work in North Dakota
A North Dakota workers comp settlement usually has two parts: the wage benefits you are paid while you cannot work, and a lump sum for any permanent damage the injury leaves behind. The wage piece replaces a share of your average weekly wage, up to the state cap shown above.
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The permanent piece is where most of the settlement value lives, and it depends on the body part, your impairment rating, and how the state values that loss.
Scheduled vs. Unscheduled Injuries in North Dakota
Most states, including how North Dakota handles many claims, divide permanent injuries into two buckets. A scheduled loss is a specific body part with a set number of weeks assigned to it, like an arm, hand, or leg. An unscheduled loss affects the body as a whole, like a back or a head injury, and is often worth more because it touches your overall ability to earn.
Knowing which bucket your injury falls into is the first step to understanding what your case may be worth.
Other North Dakota settlement rules: North Dakota is one of only a few MONOPOLISTIC state-fund states — there are no private workers’ comp insurers; all coverage and claims go through WSI, and WSI (the state) must approve any settlement. Traditional lump-sum buyouts are limited and require mutual agreement; WSI will sometimes close a disability claim while leaving future medical benefits open.
PPI is whole-body-based (14% threshold for a formal PPI evaluation) rather than scheduled by body part. Benefit caps (125% SAWW max / 60% SAWW min) readjust each July 1. Claim disputes can go to the independent Office of Independent Review (OIR). This is neutral reference information — not legal advice; confirm your exact figures with WSI and a licensed North Dakota attorney.
Understanding Your North Dakota Workers Comp Settlement
The size of a North Dakota workers comp settlement is not random — it follows the state’s own formula. Your average weekly wage sets your benefit rate, the body part and impairment rating set the number of weeks, and the state cap sets the ceiling. Put together, those pieces are what a North Dakota workers comp settlement is built from.
If any part of your North Dakota workers comp settlement is unclear, the calculator below gives a quick estimate and your state board can confirm the current caps and the body-part schedule.
Got a settlement offer? Before you accept, it helps to know what your North Dakota case may really be worth. An attorney can review the offer, often at no upfront cost.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much is a workers’ comp settlement in North Dakota?
There is no single average — a North Dakota settlement depends on the body part, your impairment rating, and your wage.
Typical ranges run 5000 to 75000 for typical PPI/wage-loss outcomes, with serious permanent or career-ending injuries running well into six figures — but North Dakota is unusual: as a monopolistic state fund, traditional lump-sum “settlements” are uncommon, and most benefits are paid as ongoing statutory wage-loss, medical, and PPI awards rather than a negotiated lump sum. Every case differs; this is a general reference only, not a prediction..
Use the calculator on this page for an estimate, and remember every case is different.
How is a North Dakota workers’ comp settlement calculated?
North Dakota generally pays a share of your average weekly wage (capped at $1569 (equal to 125% of the North Dakota State Average Weekly Wage; this is the figure in effect for the July 1, 2025–June 30, 2026 benefit year and is scheduled to readjust July 1, 2026 — confirm the new-year figure with WSI)/week), then adds a permanent-disability amount based on the body part and your impairment rating.
The state’s body-part schedule sets the number of weeks.
Do I need a lawyer to settle my North Dakota workers’ comp case?
Not always, but for a serious injury, a denied claim, or a settlement offer you are unsure about, many claimants talk to a workers’ comp attorney first — the consultation is usually free and represented claimants often recover more.
Official North Dakota Sources & Resources
- North Dakota North Dakota Workforce Safety & Insurance (WSI): https://www.workforcesafety.com
- North Dakota Workers’ Comp Statute: https://ndlegis.gov/cencode/t65c05.pdf (Chapter 65-05, Claims and Compensation; PPI specifically at NDCC 65-05-12.2)
- U.S. Department of Labor — Workers’ Comp: dol.gov
- NCCI (rating/benefit data): ncci.com
These North Dakota workers comp settlement figures were last verified against official sources in June 2026. State benefit caps change every year — confirm the current figure with your state workers’-comp board or a licensed attorney before you rely on it.
More North Dakota Workers’ Comp Guides
- How to File a North Dakota Workers’ Comp Claim
- North Dakota Workers’ Comp Requirements (Employers)
- Workers’ Comp Guides for All 50 States
Disclaimer: This guide is informational only and is not legal, medical, or financial advice. Workers Comp Explained is an independent educational resource, not a law firm or insurer. Workers’ comp benefits, settlement values, deadlines, and requirements vary by state and by the specific facts of your injury and change over time, and any settlement figures here are illustrative only.
Confirm your rights and any deadline with your state’s workers’ compensation board and a licensed attorney before you act.