Updated 10/01/2025
Average Weekly Wage (AWW) Calculator
Your AWW is the base for most workers' comp benefits. The statute often looks to wage history (commonly discussed as 26 weeks before injury), but the correct method depends on the facts-this tool computes a plain average from what you enter.
Enter each paycheck. Use gross pay (before taxes, not your take-home). If you use dates, everyrow must include both a start and end date. If you don't use dates, leave them blank and enter weeks covered below.
If you leave dates blank, enter the number of weeks these checks cover (commonly 26 weeks immediately before injury, but it varies).
This is an informational tool, not legal advice. Results depend entirely on the information you enter and may not reflect all statutory exceptions or fact-specific rules. Verify against the underlying statute and consult an attorney for case-specific decisions.
How average weekly wage is calculated
AWW is the foundation almost every wage-loss benefit is built on, so getting it right early matters. It uses gross (pre-tax) wages, not take-home pay.
There are many legal methods, and they do not all produce the same number. A common starting point is gross earnings over the 26 weeks before the injury divided by the weeks worked, but varying wages, seasonal work, overtime, a recent raise, tips, bonuses, or a second job can call for a different method — sometimes a longer look-back of up to a year.
This tool computes a plain average from the numbers you enter. It does not decide which legal method applies to your facts.
Worked example
If you earned $26,000 in gross wages over 26 weeks before your injury, your AWW is $26,000 ÷ 26 = $1,000 per week. An annual salary of $62,400 averages to $1,200 per week ($62,400 ÷ 52). If you got a raise partway through, the better figure often comes from using just the weeks at the new, higher wage rather than averaging in the lower pre-raise pay.
When to call
Use your result as a screen. Most claims that are on track do not need a lawyer; the ones that are off track usually do.
Green — may be on track
Your AWW looks consistent with your pay records. Save this result and ask the adjuster for the AWW they are using so you can compare.
Yellow — worth watching
You had overtime, a second job, seasonal swings, a recent raise, or irregular hours. A plain average may understate your AWW. Keep your pay records and watch this closely.
Red — good reason to call
The AWW the insurer is using is meaningfully lower than your records show. AWW errors quietly lower every wage-loss check. Bring your pay records and the calculation to the adjuster — if that does not fix it, this is a good reason to call.
Frequently asked questions
- How is average weekly wage (AWW) calculated for Minnesota workers’ comp?
- AWW is meant to capture your normal weekly earnings before the injury, using gross wages. A common starting point is gross earnings over the 26 weeks before the injury divided by the weeks worked, but Minnesota law allows several methods. They do not all produce the same number, and the correct one is whichever fairly reflects your real earning power — so it pays to find the highest figure the facts support.
- Does workers’ comp use gross wages or net (take-home) wages?
- Always gross wages — your pay before taxes and deductions, not your take-home pay. Using net pay would understate your AWW and every benefit built on it.
- How many weeks are used to calculate AWW — can you go back more than 26 weeks?
- The 26 weeks before the injury is a common starting point, but a longer period is sometimes more appropriate — for example when your wages vary, you work seasonal busy periods, or overtime needs to be captured fairly. In some cases going back a full year is warranted.
- Does overtime count when calculating average weekly wage?
- It can, and it often matters a lot. Regular overtime and similar earnings can be included, and capturing overtime fairly is sometimes the reason to use a longer wage history. Overtime is one of the most common AWW disputes, so keep your pay records.
- How is AWW calculated if I get laid off over the winter or summer?
- Seasonal layoffs can be handled fairly, but it takes more information to do it accurately — a plain average over only part of the year can distort the number in either direction. If your work is seasonal, gather your full pay history and have the method checked.
- What if I just got a raise before my injury — which wages are used?
- Generally you use the weeks at your new, higher wage rather than averaging in the lower pre-raise pay. If a longer period is needed, your new wage can be applied to your normal hours (and overtime) to project a fair AWW. The goal is to reflect what you were actually earning when you got hurt.
- Are wages from a second job included in my average weekly wage?
- They can be. Earnings from concurrent employment may be combined into your AWW in some situations, which raises your benefit. Tell your attorney or QRC about every job you held at the time of injury so none of your wages are left out.
- Do tips count toward average weekly wage?
- Tips can be included, but only if they were claimed on your taxes or are otherwise provable. Reported, documented tips are far easier to add to your AWW, so keep your records.
- Do bonuses, commissions, or per diem count toward AWW?
- Sometimes. Regularly earned bonuses or commissions, and the reasonable value of non-cash benefits like board or lodging, can be part of the wage in some cases. A true reimbursement for expenses usually is not. It is fact-specific, so document everything.
- Why does getting my average weekly wage right matter so much?
- AWW is the foundation of your whole claim. It sets the rate for nearly every wage-loss benefit and influences things like job placement, retraining, and even permanent total disability. An AWW set too low quietly shrinks everything that follows, which is why it is worth verifying at the very start.
- Why is my weekly workers’ comp check lower than I expected?
- Most wage-loss checks (like TTD) are two-thirds of your AWW, so if the AWW is too low, every check is too low. Check your AWW first, then the TTD or TPD math, and compare it against the number the insurer is using.
- Can my AWW be fixed if the insurer calculated it wrong?
- Often, yes — and it is usually not hard. AWW is not locked in when it was based on incomplete wage information. If you show the adjuster your pay records or pay stubs along with the corrected calculation, they will usually correct it, and underpayments can carry interest or penalties.