How much a New Jersey workers comp settlement is worth depends on three things: the body part injured, your impairment rating, and your weekly wage. Typical New Jersey settlements run 5000 to 80000 for most permanent partial cases, with minor scheduled-finger cases lower and serious multi-part or partial-total/back cases well into six figures; every case differs and depends on the impairment percentage and wage.
This guide lays out the New Jersey caps, the body-part schedule, and how the math works, in plain English. All figures are from New Jersey sources, verified as of June 2026.
New Jersey at a Glance
| Wage replacement | 70% of the worker’s average weekly wage (New Jersey uses 70%, not the national two-thirds/66.67%) |
| Max weekly benefit | $1,199 |
| Min weekly benefit | $320 |
| Waiting period | 7 days |
| PPD method | Combination. New Jersey uses a statutory schedule of weeks for listed body parts (scheduled losses), plus a non-scheduled “partial total” method for unlisted injuries (back, neck, internal organs, etc.) expressed as a percentage of the whole-body 600-week “total” figure. Each award = (statutory or non-scheduled weeks) x a graduated weekly rate based on 70% of wages. |
| Lawyer recommended | For serious injuries, denials, or any settlement offer |
In This New Jersey Guide:
How Much Is a Workers’ Comp Settlement in New Jersey?
How much a New Jersey workers comp settlement is worth depends on three things: the body part injured, your impairment rating, and your weekly wage. Typical New Jersey settlements run 5000 to 80000 for most permanent partial cases, with minor scheduled-finger cases lower and serious multi-part or partial-total/back cases well into six figures; every case differs and depends on the impairment percentage and wage.
This guide lays out the New Jersey caps, the body-part schedule, and how the math works, in plain English. All figures are from New Jersey sources, verified as of June 2026.
Want a quick estimate for your own injury?
New Jersey Body-Part Settlement Values
If your injury is a permanent loss to a specific body part, New Jersey 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 New Jersey figures:
| Body part (scheduled loss) | Statutory weeks of benefits |
| Arm | 330 weeks |
| Hand | 245 weeks |
| Leg | 315 weeks |
| Foot | 230 weeks |
| Eye | 200 weeks |
| Thumb | 75 weeks |
| Index Finger | 50 weeks |
| Hearing One Ear | 60 weeks |
Whole-body / maximum: up to 600 (the non-scheduled “partial total” / whole-body maximum is 600 weeks; the highest scheduled member, an arm, is 330 weeks) weeks.
How New Jersey Calculates Your Payout
The weekly comp rate is 70% of the worker’s average weekly wage, subject to the 2026 statutory maximum of 1199 and minimum of 320. Permanent partial awards use a graduated rate table tied to the percentage of disability, capped at 75% of the Statewide Average Weekly Wage, with a statutory floor of 35 per week for low percentages.
Permanent disability: Combination. New Jersey uses a statutory schedule of weeks for listed body parts (scheduled losses), plus a non-scheduled “partial total” method for unlisted injuries (back, neck, internal organs, etc.) expressed as a percentage of the whole-body 600-week “total” figure. Each award = (statutory or non-scheduled weeks) x a graduated weekly rate based on 70% of wages.
Offsets: Yes — for permanent total disability, New Jersey applies a Social Security Disability (SSDI) offset/credit under N.J.S.A. 34:15-95.5; there is generally no offset for Social Security retirement benefits
What Settlements Actually Run in New Jersey
5000 to 80000 for most permanent partial cases, with minor scheduled-finger cases lower and serious multi-part or partial-total/back cases well into six figures; every case differs and depends on the impairment percentage and wage 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 New Jersey settlement: body part injured, the permanent impairment percentage (functional loss), the worker’s average weekly wage and resulting comp rate, need for future medical treatment, and ability to return to work
How Workers’ Comp Settlements Work in New Jersey
A New Jersey 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 New Jersey
Most states, including how New Jersey 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 New Jersey settlement rules: New Jersey uses 70% of average weekly wage (not two-thirds). Permanent partial disability is paid only AFTER temporary total benefits end and the case is settled or tried. The non-scheduled formula pays roughly 6 weeks of benefits per 1% of partial-total (600-week) disability.
The rate that governs is the one in effect on the date of accident (or date of exposure/manifestation for occupational claims), so older injuries are valued at that year’s schedule even when paid out in 2026. Enucleation (removal) of an eye adds 25 weeks beyond the 200-week vision loss.
Understanding Your New Jersey Workers Comp Settlement
The size of a New Jersey 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 New Jersey workers comp settlement is built from.
If any part of your New Jersey 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 New Jersey 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 New Jersey?
There is no single average — a New Jersey settlement depends on the body part, your impairment rating, and your wage. Typical ranges run 5000 to 80000 for most permanent partial cases, with minor scheduled-finger cases lower and serious multi-part or partial-total/back cases well into six figures; every case differs and depends on the impairment percentage and wage.
Use the calculator on this page for an estimate, and remember every case is different.
How is a New Jersey workers’ comp settlement calculated?
New Jersey generally pays a share of your average weekly wage (capped at $1199/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 New Jersey 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 New Jersey Sources & Resources
- New Jersey New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development, Division of Workers’ Compensation: https://www.nj.gov/labor/workerscompensation/
- New Jersey Workers’ Comp Statute: https://law.justia.com/codes/new-jersey/title-34/section-34-15-12/
- U.S. Department of Labor — Workers’ Comp: dol.gov
- NCCI (rating/benefit data): ncci.com
These New Jersey 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 New Jersey Workers’ Comp Guides
- How to File a New Jersey Workers’ Comp Claim
- New Jersey 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.