How much a Massachusetts workers comp settlement is worth depends on three things: the body part injured, your impairment rating, and your weekly wage. Typical Massachusetts settlements run Highly case-specific; many Massachusetts §48 lump-sum settlements fall roughly between 15000 and 150000, with severe/permanent-total claims running higher. Every case differs — confirm with the DIA and a licensed attorney..
This guide lays out the Massachusetts caps, the body-part schedule, and how the math works, in plain English. All figures are from Massachusetts sources, verified as of June 2026.
Massachusetts at a Glance
| Wage replacement | 60% of average weekly wage (Massachusetts pays 60% under §34 for temporary total — NOT the typical two-thirds) |
| Max weekly benefit | 1922.48 |
| Min weekly benefit | 384.50 |
| Waiting period | 5 days |
| PPD method | Combination — Massachusetts has NO weeks-per-body-part schedule. Permanent partial is paid as (a) §35 partial-incapacity wage-loss benefits = 60% of the difference between pre-injury AWW and post-injury earning capacity, PLUS (b) a separate §36 “specific injuries / permanent loss of function” benefit calculated as SAWW × a statutory multiplier (loss-of-function percentage set by AMA Guides). §34A covers permanent-and-total incapacity for life. |
| Lawyer recommended | For serious injuries, denials, or any settlement offer |
In This Massachusetts Guide:
How Much Is a Workers’ Comp Settlement in Massachusetts?
How much a Massachusetts workers comp settlement is worth depends on three things: the body part injured, your impairment rating, and your weekly wage. Typical Massachusetts settlements run Highly case-specific; many Massachusetts §48 lump-sum settlements fall roughly between 15000 and 150000, with severe/permanent-total claims running higher. Every case differs — confirm with the DIA and a licensed attorney..
This guide lays out the Massachusetts caps, the body-part schedule, and how the math works, in plain English. All figures are from Massachusetts sources, verified as of June 2026.
Want a quick estimate for your own injury?
Massachusetts Body-Part Settlement Values
If your injury is a permanent loss to a specific body part, Massachusetts 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 Massachusetts figures:
| Body part (scheduled loss) | Statutory weeks of benefits |
| Currently 1922.48): Major Arm | 43 weeks |
| Minor Arm | 39 weeks |
| Both Arms | 96 weeks |
| Major Hand | 34 weeks |
| Minor Hand | 29 weeks |
| Both Hands | 77 weeks |
| Leg | 39 weeks |
| Both Legs | 92 weeks |
| One Eye | 39 weeks |
Whole-body / maximum: up to §35 partial-incapacity = 260 weeks (extendable to 520 weeks in qualifying cases); §36 is a lump multiplier, not weeks; §34A permanent-and-total = no week cap (lifetime). §34 temporary total = 156 weeks. weeks.
How Massachusetts Calculates Your Payout
Weekly §34 rate = 60% of the worker’s average weekly wage (AWW = gross earnings in the 52 weeks before injury ÷ 52), subject to the statewide maximum (the SAWW, 1922.48) and minimum (20% of SAWW = 384.50). If AWW is below the minimum, the benefit equals the AWW.
Permanent disability: Combination — Massachusetts has NO weeks-per-body-part schedule. Permanent partial is paid as (a) §35 partial-incapacity wage-loss benefits = 60% of the difference between pre-injury AWW and post-injury earning capacity, PLUS (b) a separate §36 “specific injuries / permanent loss of function” benefit calculated as SAWW × a statutory multiplier (loss-of-function percentage set by AMA Guides). §34A covers permanent-and-total incapacity for life.
Offsets: No Social Security retirement offset under c. 152. Workers’ comp cannot be collected concurrently with unemployment for the same period; §34A benefits receive an annual COLA; coordination/reverse-offset can apply with SSDI.
What Settlements Actually Run in Massachusetts
Highly case-specific; many Massachusetts §48 lump-sum settlements fall roughly between 15000 and 150000, with severe/permanent-total claims running higher. Every case differs — confirm with the DIA and a licensed attorney. 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 Massachusetts settlement: Body part and degree of permanent loss of function (§36), §35/§34A wage-loss exposure, the worker’s average weekly wage, value of future medical treatment, and ability/likelihood of returning to work.
How Workers’ Comp Settlements Work in Massachusetts
A Massachusetts 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 Massachusetts
Most states, including how Massachusetts 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 Massachusetts settlement rules: §36 specific-injury (loss-of-function) benefits are paid IN ADDITION to weekly incapacity benefits and are NOT reduced by them. Scarring/disfigurement is compensable ONLY on the face, neck, or hands, capped at 15000. Max/min weekly rates reset every October 1 based on the new SAWW (figures above are for injuries on/after Oct 1, 2025). Lump-sum settlements require DIA approval under §48.
Understanding Your Massachusetts Workers Comp Settlement
The size of a Massachusetts 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 Massachusetts workers comp settlement is built from.
If any part of your Massachusetts 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 Massachusetts 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 Massachusetts?
There is no single average — a Massachusetts settlement depends on the body part, your impairment rating, and your wage. Typical ranges run Highly case-specific; many Massachusetts §48 lump-sum settlements fall roughly between 15000 and 150000, with severe/permanent-total claims running higher. Every case differs — confirm with the DIA and a licensed attorney.. Use the calculator on this page for an estimate, and remember every case is different.
How is a Massachusetts workers’ comp settlement calculated?
Massachusetts generally pays a share of your average weekly wage (capped at $1922.48/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 Massachusetts 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 Massachusetts Sources & Resources
- Massachusetts Massachusetts Department of Industrial Accidents (DIA): https://www.mass.gov/orgs/department-of-industrial-accidents
- Massachusetts Workers’ Comp Statute: https://malegislature.gov/Laws/GeneralLaws/PartI/TitleXXI/Chapter152/Section36
- U.S. Department of Labor — Workers’ Comp: dol.gov
- NCCI (rating/benefit data): ncci.com
These Massachusetts 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 Massachusetts Workers’ Comp Guides
- How to File a Massachusetts Workers’ Comp Claim
- Massachusetts 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.