Wisconsin Workers’ Comp Settlements — Best Proven Guide (2026)

✓ Verified June 2026

How much a Wisconsin workers comp settlement is worth depends on three things: the body part injured, your impairment rating, and your weekly wage. Typical Wisconsin settlements run Every case differs, but many Wisconsin scheduled-injury claims settle in roughly the 15000 to 75000 range; serious whole-body, surgical, or amputation cases (e.g., amputations have averaged near 118800 nationally) commonly reach six figures, while minor injuries settle for a few thousand.

There is no fixed “chart” amount — confirm with the Wisconsin DWD Worker’s Compensation Division and a licensed attorney.. This guide lays out the Wisconsin caps, the body-part schedule, and how the math works, in plain English. All figures are from Wisconsin sources, verified as of June 2026.

Wisconsin at a Glance

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Wage replacement 66.67% (two-thirds of the average weekly wage)
Max weekly benefit $1,375
Min weekly benefit NONE (Wisconsin pays two-thirds of the worker’s actual average weekly wage; there is no separate flat dollar floor — for very low earners the benefit simply equals two-thirds of actual wage)
Waiting period 3 days
PPD method Combination. Scheduled injuries to the extremities (arms, legs, hands, feet, fingers, toes, eyes, hearing) are paid by statutory body-part weeks under Wis. Stat. 102.52–102.555: the physician’s permanent impairment rating (a percentage, subject to statutory minimum ratings) is multiplied by the scheduled weeks for that member, then paid at the PPD weekly rate. Unscheduled injuries to the trunk, back, neck, or head are rated as a percentage of permanent disability to the body as a whole (1000-week base).
Lawyer recommended For serious injuries, denials, or any settlement offer

How Much Is a Workers’ Comp Settlement in Wisconsin?

How much a Wisconsin workers comp settlement is worth depends on three things: the body part injured, your impairment rating, and your weekly wage. Typical Wisconsin settlements run Every case differs, but many Wisconsin scheduled-injury claims settle in roughly the 15000 to 75000 range; serious whole-body, surgical, or amputation cases (e.g., amputations have averaged near 118800 nationally) commonly reach six figures, while minor injuries settle for a few thousand.

There is no fixed “chart” amount — confirm with the Wisconsin DWD Worker’s Compensation Division and a licensed attorney.. This guide lays out the Wisconsin caps, the body-part schedule, and how the math works, in plain English. All figures are from Wisconsin sources, verified as of June 2026.

Want a quick estimate for your own injury?

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Wisconsin Body-Part Settlement Values

If your injury is a permanent loss to a specific body part, Wisconsin 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 Wisconsin figures:

Body part (scheduled loss) Statutory weeks of benefits
Arm At Shoulder 500 weeks
Arm At Elbow 450 weeks
Hand At Wrist 400 weeks
Leg At Hip 500 weeks
Leg At Knee 425 weeks
Foot At Ankle 250 weeks
Eye (Enucleation Or Total Loss Of Vision) 275 weeks
Index/First Finger With Metacarpal 60 weeks

Whole-body / maximum: up to 1000 (whole-body / unscheduled maximum); the largest single scheduled member is 500 weeks (arm at shoulder or leg at hip) weeks.

How Wisconsin Calculates Your Payout

The weekly rate is two-thirds of the worker’s average weekly wage (AWW). The AWW used for the maximum is capped at 110% of the statewide average weekly wage; for injuries on or after January 1, 2026 the maximum AWW is 2062.50, so two-thirds yields the 1375 maximum weekly TTD/PTD/death rate. (The 2025 maximum was 1326.)

Permanent disability: Combination. Scheduled injuries to the extremities (arms, legs, hands, feet, fingers, toes, eyes, hearing) are paid by statutory body-part weeks under Wis. Stat. 102.52–102.555: the physician’s permanent impairment rating (a percentage, subject to statutory minimum ratings) is multiplied by the scheduled weeks for that member, then paid at the PPD weekly rate.

Unscheduled injuries to the trunk, back, neck, or head are rated as a percentage of permanent disability to the body as a whole (1000-week base).

Offsets: Social Security disability (SSDI) offset — combined SSDI plus workers’ comp generally cannot exceed 80% of the worker’s average current earnings; benefits may also be coordinated with permanent total disability and Social Security under 2025 Wisconsin Act 145. Otherwise NONE for ordinary retirement.

What Settlements Actually Run in Wisconsin

Every case differs, but many Wisconsin scheduled-injury claims settle in roughly the 15000 to 75000 range; serious whole-body, surgical, or amputation cases (e.g., amputations have averaged near 118800 nationally) commonly reach six figures, while minor injuries settle for a few thousand. There is no fixed “chart” amount — confirm with the Wisconsin DWD Worker’s Compensation Division 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 Wisconsin settlement: Body part injured and its statutory week value, the permanent impairment/disability rating percentage, the worker’s average weekly wage, projected future medical care, loss of earning capacity, and the worker’s ability to return to the same or similar work.

How Workers’ Comp Settlements Work in Wisconsin

A Wisconsin 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 Wisconsin

Most states, including how Wisconsin 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 Wisconsin settlement rules: Dominant-hand disabilities are increased by 25% (Wis. Stat. 102.52). 2025 Wisconsin Act 145 (effective April 1, 2026) raised the maximum PPD weekly rate to 454 (rising to 462 on Jan 1, 2027), increased permanent-total-disability/supplemental benefits, and adjusted the SSDI offset and statute of limitations. Full-and-final “compromise” settlements under Wis. Stat. 102.16 must be reviewed and approved by the Worker’s Compensation Division.

The maximum PPD weekly rate is far lower than the TTD maximum, so permanent-disability awards are capped at that lower weekly figure. Always confirm current figures with the DWD and a licensed Wisconsin attorney.

Understanding Your Wisconsin Workers Comp Settlement

The size of a Wisconsin 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 Wisconsin workers comp settlement is built from.

If any part of your Wisconsin 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 Wisconsin 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 Wisconsin?

There is no single average — a Wisconsin settlement depends on the body part, your impairment rating, and your wage. Typical ranges run Every case differs, but many Wisconsin scheduled-injury claims settle in roughly the 15000 to 75000 range; serious whole-body, surgical, or amputation cases (e.g., amputations have averaged near 118800 nationally) commonly reach six figures, while minor injuries settle for a few thousand.

There is no fixed “chart” amount — confirm with the Wisconsin DWD Worker’s Compensation Division and a licensed attorney.. Use the calculator on this page for an estimate, and remember every case is different.

How is a Wisconsin workers’ comp settlement calculated?

Wisconsin generally pays a share of your average weekly wage (capped at $1375/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 Wisconsin 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 Wisconsin Sources & Resources

These Wisconsin 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 Wisconsin Workers’ Comp Guides

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.

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