California Permanent Disability Calculator
Quick answer: In California, each point of your final permanent disability (PD) rating buys a set number of weeks, and the weeks per point rise as the rating goes up. Payments are two-thirds of your average weekly wage, between $160 and $290 a week for injuries since 2014. A 37% rating is 180 weeks, or $52,200 at the $290 maximum.
| Two-thirds of wage | $0 |
| Weekly limits (injuries since 2014) | $160 – $290 |
| Paid every two weeks | $0 |
| About how long | 0 years |
How California turns a rating into dollars
- Start with the final rating. The rating takes into account the nature of the injury, your occupation, and your age at the time of injury (§4660.1). The result is your final PD rating. This calculator starts from that final number.
- Count the weeks. Labor Code §4658(e) assigns weeks for each percentage point, and the weeks per point go up in bands. The bands are cumulative: points 1 through 9.75 pay 3 weeks each, points 10 through 14.75 pay 4 weeks each, and so on.
- Find the weekly rate. PD is paid at two-thirds of average weekly earnings. For injuries on or after January 1, 2014, the earnings used can't be less than $240 or more than $435 (§4453(b)(9)), so the weekly rate falls between $160 and $290.
- Multiply. Weeks times weekly rate is the total. Payments generally start within 14 days after the last temporary disability payment and come every two weeks (§4650(b), (c)).
Weeks per point of rating
| Part of the rating | Weeks for each 1% |
|---|---|
| 0.25% – 9.75% | 3 |
| 10% – 14.75% | 4 |
| 15% – 24.75% | 5 |
| 25% – 29.75% | 6 |
| 30% – 49.75% | 7 |
| 50% – 69.75% | 8 |
| 70% – 99.75% | 16 |
California PD chart: what common ratings are worth
Most full-time workers earn more than $435 a week and get the $290 maximum. The second column shows a lower-wage worker earning $300 a week, which works out to $200 a week in PD.
| Final rating | Weeks | At $290/week (max) | At $200/week |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5% | 15 | $4,350 | $3,000 |
| 10% | 30.25 | $8,772.50 | $6,050 |
| 15% | 50.5 | $14,645 | $10,100 |
| 20% | 75.5 | $21,895 | $15,100 |
| 25% | 100.75 | $29,217.50 | $20,150 |
| 30% | 131 | $37,990 | $26,200 |
| 37% | 180 | $52,200 | $36,000 |
| 40% | 201 | $58,290 | $40,200 |
| 50% | 271.25 | $78,662.50 | $54,250 |
| 60% | 351.25 | $101,862.50 | $70,250 |
| 70% | 433.25 | $125,642.50 | $86,650 |
What people ask
These questions come up again and again in searches and forums. Here's what the law says.
A final rating of 37% is 180 weeks of permanent disability. At the $290 maximum weekly rate that's $52,200, paid every two weeks for about three and a half years. A lower wage means a lower weekly rate and a smaller total.
Labor Code §§4453(b)(9), 4658(e)
Not necessarily. This is the permanent disability amount the schedule produces. A settlement is negotiated and can also cover things like future medical care, so the number can be higher or lower. Use this as a reference point when you look at an offer.
Labor Code §4658
The limits are different. For 2026 injuries, temporary disability can reach $1,764.11 a week, while permanent disability for injuries since 2014 is capped at $290 a week.
DWC 2026 TD rates; Labor Code §4453(b)(9)
Sources
This calculator applies California's statutory schedule to a final PD rating. It is not legal advice and is not affiliated with the State of California. Ratings and awards are decided in your case by the claims administrator or the Workers' Compensation Appeals Board.