How much a Minnesota workers comp settlement is worth depends on three things: the body part injured, your impairment rating, and your weekly wage. Typical Minnesota settlements run Most Minnesota workers’ comp settlements (often paid as a full, final stipulation/”close-out”) commonly fall in the range of about 15000 to 100000, with minor injuries lower and serious/permanent or disputed-medical cases well into the six figures.
Every case differs based on the specific facts.. This guide lays out the Minnesota caps, the body-part schedule, and how the math works, in plain English. All figures are from Minnesota sources, verified as of June 2026.
Minnesota at a Glance
| Wage replacement | 66.67% (66-2/3% of the gross average weekly wage for temporary total disability) |
| Max weekly benefit | 1536.84 |
| Min weekly benefit | 307.37 |
| Waiting period | 3 days |
| PPD method | Whole-body impairment rating. Minnesota does NOT use scheduled body-part weeks. The doctor assigns a percent permanent partial disability “of the whole body” under Minn. Rules ch. 5223; that percentage is then multiplied by a dollar amount from the statutory table in Minn. Stat. 176.101, subd. 2a, paid as a lump sum. |
| Lawyer recommended | For serious injuries, denials, or any settlement offer |
In This Minnesota Guide:
How Much Is a Workers’ Comp Settlement in Minnesota?
How much a Minnesota workers comp settlement is worth depends on three things: the body part injured, your impairment rating, and your weekly wage. Typical Minnesota settlements run Most Minnesota workers’ comp settlements (often paid as a full, final stipulation/”close-out”) commonly fall in the range of about 15000 to 100000, with minor injuries lower and serious/permanent or disputed-medical cases well into the six figures.
Every case differs based on the specific facts.. This guide lays out the Minnesota caps, the body-part schedule, and how the math works, in plain English. All figures are from Minnesota sources, verified as of June 2026.
Want a quick estimate for your own injury?
Minnesota Body-Part Settlement Values
If your injury is a permanent loss to a specific body part, Minnesota 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 Minnesota figures:
Minnesota body-part values: NONE (Minnesota rates every injury as a percent of the whole body, not as statutory weeks per body part)
Whole-body / maximum: up to NONE (not measured in weeks; the whole-body PPD lump sum tops out at approximately 567840 at a 95.5-100% whole-body rating, with lower tiers such as ~114260 at the lowest impairment range) weeks.
How Minnesota Calculates Your Payout
The weekly comp rate is the gross average weekly wage at the time of injury multiplied by 66-2/3%, then capped at the maximum of 1536.84/week (effective Oct. 1, 2025; equal to 108% of the statewide average weekly wage of 1423) and floored at the minimum (20% of the max, i.e. 307.37, or the worker’s actual wage if lower). The max adjusts each October 1.
Permanent disability: Whole-body impairment rating. Minnesota does NOT use scheduled body-part weeks. The doctor assigns a percent permanent partial disability “of the whole body” under Minn. Rules ch. 5223; that percentage is then multiplied by a dollar amount from the statutory table in Minn. Stat. 176.101, subd. 2a, paid as a lump sum.
Offsets: PTD only. After 25000 of permanent-total-disability benefits have been paid, the weekly PTD benefit is reduced by certain government disability benefits for the same injury and by Social Security retirement (old-age) benefits. Per the Ekdahl/Hartwig decisions, only Social Security retirement may offset PTD — not PERA, TRA, MSRS or other public pensions. No such offset applies to TTD or PPD.
What Settlements Actually Run in Minnesota
Most Minnesota workers’ comp settlements (often paid as a full, final stipulation/”close-out”) commonly fall in the range of about 15000 to 100000, with minor injuries lower and serious/permanent or disputed-medical cases well into the six figures. Every case differs based on the specific 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 Minnesota settlement: Whole-body impairment (PPD) rating, the worker’s average weekly wage, body part/severity, projected future medical cost, ability to return to work and wage loss, and whether the claim or medical care is disputed.
How Workers’ Comp Settlements Work in Minnesota
A Minnesota 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 Minnesota
Most states, including how Minnesota 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 Minnesota settlement rules: PPD is paid as a lump sum (impairment % × statutory dollar amount), separate from wage-loss benefits. Settlements are typically resolved by a stipulation for settlement approved by the DLI or a workers’ comp judge, and may be a “full, final and complete” close-out (sometimes leaving future medical open).
To qualify for PTD a worker must meet a minimum whole-body PPD threshold (e.g., 17%, or lower combined with age 55+ and limited education). This is neutral reference information for injured workers, not legal advice — many claimants confirm their exact rate and any settlement with the Minnesota DLI and a licensed attorney.
Understanding Your Minnesota Workers Comp Settlement
The size of a Minnesota 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 Minnesota workers comp settlement is built from.
If any part of your Minnesota 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 Minnesota 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 Minnesota?
There is no single average — a Minnesota settlement depends on the body part, your impairment rating, and your wage. Typical ranges run Most Minnesota workers’ comp settlements (often paid as a full, final stipulation/”close-out”) commonly fall in the range of about 15000 to 100000, with minor injuries lower and serious/permanent or disputed-medical cases well into the six figures. Every case differs based on the specific facts..
Use the calculator on this page for an estimate, and remember every case is different.
How is a Minnesota workers’ comp settlement calculated?
Minnesota generally pays a share of your average weekly wage (capped at $1536.84/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 Minnesota 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 Minnesota Sources & Resources
- Minnesota Minnesota Department of Labor and Industry (DLI), Workers’ Compensation Division: https://www.dli.mn.gov/business/workers-compensation
- Minnesota Workers’ Comp Statute: https://www.revisor.mn.gov/statutes/cite/176.101
- U.S. Department of Labor — Workers’ Comp: dol.gov
- NCCI (rating/benefit data): ncci.com
These Minnesota 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 Minnesota Workers’ Comp Guides
- How to File a Minnesota Workers’ Comp Claim
- Minnesota 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.