How much is a hand injury worth in Alaska workers' comp?
In Alaska, a hand injury is paid by the whole-person impairment rating your doctor gives. A 10% rating is worth about $27,300. That is the statutory award for the permanent injury; medical care and benefits while you are off work are paid separately.
How a hand injury is paid in Alaska
Alaska has no body-part schedule. An injury to the hand is rated as an impairment and paid under the state's general formula: Whole-person impairment % (AMA Guides) × $273,000, paid as a single lump sum.
Alaska pays the whole-person impairment rating times $273,000, as a single lump sum.
What is different in Alaska
Alaska has no body-part schedule: every permanent impairment is rated strictly as a percentage of the whole person under the AMA Guides. The award is paid in a single lump sum and may not be discounted for present value.
Worked examples
In Alaska this award does not depend on your wage.
| Rating | Award |
|---|---|
| 5% whole-person rating | $13,650 |
| 10% whole-person rating | $27,300 |
| 15% whole-person rating | $40,950 |
| 25% whole-person rating | $68,250 |
Calculate your hand award
Compare only the same benefit component on the same gross basis. If an offer includes medical care, temporary benefits or other rights, do not enter it here. The balance subtracts payments for this same benefit only, not fees or other offsets.
The result is the statutory permanent award only. Medical care, temporary benefits and fees are not included. Use the exact rating from the medical report: a body-part rating and a whole-person rating are not interchangeable.
Hand injuries: document function and the affected member
Identify whether the report rates the entire hand, individual digits or an upper extremity. Keep findings about grip, sensation and dexterity, plus restrictions on tools or repetitive tasks. An isolated finger award and a hand award may follow different rules; this page does not calculate combinations of injuries.
Settlement value vs. the statutory award
The statutory benefit described here and a settlement value are different figures. Request an itemized proposal identifying the benefits included, amounts already paid, deductions, future medical treatment and rights being resolved. Which benefits can be settled and what approval is required depend on state rules. This page does not calculate future medical costs or predict a negotiated outcome.
While you recover: temporary disability in Alaska
Weekly temporary benefits while you cannot work follow these rules:
| Weekly rate | 80% of spendable weekly wage (gross minus payroll taxes) |
|---|---|
| Maximum weekly benefit | $1,627 (2026-01-01 to 2026-12-31) |
| Minimum weekly benefit | $358 (22% of max rate), or actual spendable wage if lower |
| Waiting period | 3 days |
| Waiting days paid back after | 28 days of disability |
| Time limit on temporary benefits | No fixed week limit in statute |
Estimate your weekly check
Assumes temporary total disability and no post-injury work earnings. It does not calculate partial disability, retroactive payments, offsets or special low-wage rules. Confirm the injury date and the insurer's wage calculation.
Frequently asked questions
How much is a hand injury worth in Alaska workers' comp?
It depends on your doctor's whole-person impairment rating. A 10% rating is worth about $27,300.
What is the average workers' comp settlement for a hand injury in Alaska?
Alaska does not publish an official average settlement. The best benchmark is the statutory award for your rating: with a 10% whole-person rating, about $27,300. A settlement can be higher or lower depending on future medical care, disputed ratings and which other benefits it closes.
What is the maximum weekly workers' comp benefit in Alaska in 2026?
The maximum weekly temporary total disability benefit is $1,627 (2026-01-01 to 2026-12-31).
Is there a waiting period in Alaska?
Yes. Alaska does not pay the first 3 days of lost time, but pays them back once disability lasts more than 28 days.
Which law sets these amounts?
AS 23.30.150, 23.30.175, 23.30.185, 23.30.190; AS 23.30.190. The official sources are linked at the bottom of this page.
Other injuries in Alaska
Law and official sources
Official sources
Statute: AS 23.30.150, 23.30.175, 23.30.185, 23.30.190; AS 23.30.190
- Alaska Division of Workers' Compensation (Department of Labor and Workforce Development) (official site)
- labor.alaska.gov/wc/bulletins/25-06.pdf
- labor.alaska.gov/wc/benefitcalculator.htm
- law.justia.com/codes/alaska/title-23/chapter-30/article-5/section-23-30-175/
- law.justia.com/codes/alaska/title-23/chapter-30/article-5/section-23-30-190/
- codes.findlaw.com/ak/title-23-labor-and-workers-compensation/ak-st-sect-23-30-150.html
Figures checked September 30, 2026. Maximums change every year; confirm current figures with the Alaska workers' compensation agency.
Estimate only. Your real award depends on your doctor's rating, your wage records, offsets and settlement terms. This page is general information, not legal advice.