How much an Oregon workers comp settlement is worth depends on three things: the body part injured, your impairment rating, and your weekly wage. This guide lays out the Oregon caps, the body-part schedule, and how the math works, in plain English. All figures are from Oregon sources, verified as of October 2026.
Oregon at a Glance
| Wage replacement | 66.67 |
| Max weekly benefit | 1943.41 |
| Min weekly benefit | 50 (or 90 percent of the worker’s average weekly wage if that is less — Oregon generally pays the lower of the two) |
| Waiting period | 3 days |
| PPD method | A combination with no body-part schedule. Oregon pays two parts. (1) Impairment benefit: the impairment percentage x 100 x the state average weekly wage, so each 1 percent of impairment is worth 1461.21 for July 1, 2026 to June 30, 2027. (2) Work-disability benefit, paid only if the worker is not released to, or not offered, their regular job: the impairment percentage x 150 x the worker’s average weekly wage x an adaptability factor (age, education, skills). For this part the wage counts as no less than 50 percent and no more than 133 percent of the state average weekly wage. Impairment ratings follow the WCD disability rating standards (OAR 436-035). |
| Lawyer recommended | For serious injuries, denials, or any settlement offer |
In This Oregon Guide:
How Much Is a Workers’ Comp Settlement in Oregon?
How much an Oregon workers comp settlement is worth depends on three things: the body part injured, your impairment rating, and your weekly wage. This guide lays out the Oregon caps, the body-part schedule, and how the math works, in plain English. All figures are from Oregon sources, verified as of October 2026.
Want a quick estimate for your own injury?
Oregon Body-Part Settlement Values
If your injury is a permanent loss to a specific body part, Oregon 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 Oregon figures:
Oregon body-part values: NONE (Oregon replaced its old scheduled-degree system with the impairment-percentage formula above; arm, hand, leg and other body parts are rated as an impairment percentage under the OAR 436-035 standards, not as statutory weeks)
Whole-body / maximum: up to NONE (there is no cap in weeks; the impairment benefit tops out at 100 percent x 100 x the state average weekly wage) weeks.
How Oregon Calculates Your Payout
Temporary total disability is 66.67 percent of the worker’s gross average weekly wage at the time of injury. It cannot be more than 133 percent of the state average weekly wage (1461.21 x 1.33 = 1943.41 for July 1, 2026 to June 30, 2027) or less than the lower of 50 dollars or 90 percent of the worker’s wage. The state average weekly wage resets every July 1.
Under SB 1519 (2026), for injuries on or after January 1, 2027, the rate changes to 75 percent of wages up to 75 percent of the state average weekly wage, plus 65 percent of wages above that.
Permanent disability: A combination with no body-part schedule. Oregon pays two parts. (1) Impairment benefit: the impairment percentage x 100 x the state average weekly wage, so each 1 percent of impairment is worth 1461.21 for July 1, 2026 to June 30, 2027.
(2) Work-disability benefit, paid only if the worker is not released to, or not offered, their regular job: the impairment percentage x 150 x the worker’s average weekly wage x an adaptability factor (age, education, skills). For this part the wage counts as no less than 50 percent and no more than 133 percent of the state average weekly wage. Impairment ratings follow the WCD disability rating standards (OAR 436-035).
Offsets: Permanent total disability benefits may be reduced by Social Security disability benefits (ORS 656.209). Overpaid time-loss can also be recovered from later benefits.
What Settlements Actually Run in Oregon
What drives an Oregon settlement: The impairment rating (percentage under OAR 436-035); which body part or body system is affected; whether the worker was released to and offered their regular job, which decides whether the work-disability benefit applies; the worker’s average weekly wage; the adaptability factor (age, education, skills, physical capacity); time-loss still owed; future medical needs (medical benefits cannot be settled away in a Claim Disposition Agreement);
disputed issues of compensability; and attorney fees.
How Workers’ Comp Settlements Work in Oregon
An Oregon 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.
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.
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Scheduled vs. Unscheduled Injuries in Oregon
Most states, including how Oregon 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 Oregon settlement rules: Oregon has two kinds of settlement. A Claim Disposition Agreement (ORS 656.236) settles everything except medical benefits, needs Board approval, and gives the worker 30 days to cancel after approval. A Disputed Claim Settlement settles a claim the insurer has denied. The state average weekly wage rose 3.116 percent, from 1417.06 to 1461.21, effective July 1, 2026 (WCD Bulletin 111, revised May 4, 2026).
WCD will revise the bulletin before the end of 2026 for the SB 1519 changes to temporary and permanent total disability. Confirm current figures with WCD and a licensed attorney.
Understanding Your Oregon Workers Comp Settlement
The size of an Oregon 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 an Oregon workers comp settlement is built from.
If any part of your Oregon 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 Oregon 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 Oregon?
There is no single average — an Oregon settlement depends on the body part, your impairment rating, and your wage. Use the calculator on this page for an estimate, and remember every case is different.
How is an Oregon workers’ comp settlement calculated?
Oregon generally pays a share of your average weekly wage (capped at $1943.41/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 Oregon 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 Oregon Sources & Resources
- Oregon Oregon Workers’ Compensation Division (Department of Consumer and Business Services); disputes and settlements go to the Oregon Workers’ Compensation Board: https://wcd.oregon.gov
- Oregon Workers’ Comp Statute: https://www.oregonlegislature.gov/bills_laws/ors/ors656.html
- U.S. Department of Labor — Workers’ Comp: dol.gov
- NCCI (rating/benefit data): ncci.com
These Oregon workers comp settlement figures were last verified against official sources in October 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.
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More Oregon Workers’ Comp Guides
- How to File an Oregon Workers’ Comp Claim
- Oregon 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.