How much a North Carolina workers comp settlement is worth depends on three things: the body part injured, your impairment rating, and your weekly wage. Typical North Carolina settlements run 20000 to 80000 for many cases, though minor injuries settle for a few thousand and severe/permanent-disability or major-surgery cases can reach several hundred thousand dollars; every case differs based on the facts.
This guide lays out the North Carolina caps, the body-part schedule, and how the math works, in plain English. All figures are from North Carolina sources, verified as of June 2026.
North Carolina at a Glance
| Wage replacement | 66.67% (two-thirds of the average weekly wage) |
| Max weekly benefit | $1,446 |
| Min weekly benefit | $30 |
| Waiting period | 7 days |
| PPD method | Scheduled body-part weeks — the impairment rating percentage is multiplied by the statutory number of weeks for that body part, then by the worker’s weekly comp rate (N.C. Gen. Stat. § 97-31). For non-scheduled/whole-body losses, a worker may instead elect general/wage-loss disability under §§ 97-29 (total) or 97-30 (partial), whichever is more favorable. |
| Lawyer recommended | For serious injuries, denials, or any settlement offer |
In This North Carolina Guide:
How Much Is a Workers’ Comp Settlement in North Carolina?
How much a North Carolina workers comp settlement is worth depends on three things: the body part injured, your impairment rating, and your weekly wage. Typical North Carolina settlements run 20000 to 80000 for many cases, though minor injuries settle for a few thousand and severe/permanent-disability or major-surgery cases can reach several hundred thousand dollars; every case differs based on the facts.
This guide lays out the North Carolina caps, the body-part schedule, and how the math works, in plain English. All figures are from North Carolina sources, verified as of June 2026.
Want a quick estimate for your own injury?
North Carolina Body-Part Settlement Values
If your injury is a permanent loss to a specific body part, North Carolina 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 Carolina figures:
| Body part (scheduled loss) | Statutory weeks of benefits |
| Arm | 240 weeks |
| Hand | 200 weeks |
| Leg | 200 weeks |
| Foot | 144 weeks |
| Eye | 120 weeks |
| Thumb | 75 weeks |
| Index Finger | 45 weeks |
| Back | 300 weeks |
Whole-body / maximum: up to 300 (back, and the catch-all for important internal/external organs or non-scheduled body parts under § 97-31(24)) weeks.
How North Carolina Calculates Your Payout
The weekly comp rate is 66.67% (two-thirds) of the average weekly wage. The average weekly wage is generally figured under § 97-2(5) by taking the worker’s total earnings in the 52 weeks before the injury and dividing by 52; the resulting rate is capped at the year-of-injury maximum (1446 for 2026) and floored at the 30 minimum.
Permanent disability: Scheduled body-part weeks — the impairment rating percentage is multiplied by the statutory number of weeks for that body part, then by the worker’s weekly comp rate (N.C. Gen. Stat. § 97-31). For non-scheduled/whole-body losses, a worker may instead elect general/wage-loss disability under §§ 97-29 (total) or 97-30 (partial), whichever is more favorable.
Offsets: No offset for Social Security retirement benefits. North Carolina does allow a credit against comp for unemployment benefits received and for employer-funded disability/salary-continuation payments (§§ 97-42, 97-42.1).
What Settlements Actually Run in North Carolina
20000 to 80000 for many cases, though minor injuries settle for a few thousand and severe/permanent-disability or major-surgery cases can reach several hundred thousand dollars; every case differs based on the facts 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 Carolina settlement: body part injured, the doctor-assigned permanent impairment (PPD) rating, the worker’s average weekly wage/comp rate, the cost of expected future medical care, and the worker’s ability to return to work or earn pre-injury wages
How Workers’ Comp Settlements Work in North Carolina
A North Carolina 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.
Scheduled vs. Unscheduled Injuries in North Carolina
Most states, including how North Carolina 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.
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Knowing which bucket your injury falls into is the first step to understanding what your case may be worth.
Other North Carolina settlement rules: A scheduled-injury worker may elect to take PPD under the § 97-31 schedule OR pursue ongoing total/partial wage-loss benefits under §§ 97-29/97-30, choosing whichever pays more. Most settlements are “clinchers” — full and final compromise settlement agreements that must be reviewed and approved by the Industrial Commission.
North Carolina also caps temporary total disability at 500 weeks in many post-2011 claims (with an extended-benefits exception for total loss of wage-earning capacity), and pays separate compensation for serious bodily disfigurement under § 97-31(21)-(22). Confirm with your state board and a licensed attorney.
Understanding Your North Carolina Workers Comp Settlement
The size of a North Carolina 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 Carolina workers comp settlement is built from.
If any part of your North Carolina 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 Carolina 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 Carolina?
There is no single average — a North Carolina settlement depends on the body part, your impairment rating, and your wage. Typical ranges run 20000 to 80000 for many cases, though minor injuries settle for a few thousand and severe/permanent-disability or major-surgery cases can reach several hundred thousand dollars; every case differs based on the facts.
Use the calculator on this page for an estimate, and remember every case is different.
How is a North Carolina workers’ comp settlement calculated?
North Carolina generally pays a share of your average weekly wage (capped at $1446/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 Carolina 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 Carolina Sources & Resources
- North Carolina North Carolina Industrial Commission: https://www.ic.nc.gov
- North Carolina Workers’ Comp Statute: https://www.ic.nc.gov/ncic/pages/statute/97-31.htm
- U.S. Department of Labor — Workers’ Comp: dol.gov
- NCCI (rating/benefit data): ncci.com
These North Carolina 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 Carolina Workers’ Comp Guides
- How to File a North Carolina Workers’ Comp Claim
- North Carolina 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.