How much is a back injury worth in Idaho workers' comp?
In Idaho, a back injury is paid by the whole-person impairment rating your doctor gives. A 10% rating is worth about $31,212. That is the statutory award for the permanent injury; medical care and benefits while you are off work are paid separately.
How a back injury is paid in Idaho
The spine is not on the schedule; back impairment is paid as a percentage of the 500-week whole person, plus possible disability in excess of impairment.
Idaho pays permanent impairment at a flat $624.25 a week (55% of the state average weekly wage), whatever you earned.
What is different in Idaho
PPD is paid at a flat 55% of the average weekly state wage regardless of the worker's own wage. On top of the impairment rating, the Commission can award disability in excess of impairment based on age, occupation and ability to compete in the labor market.
Worked examples
In Idaho this award does not depend on your wage.
| Rating | Award |
|---|---|
| 5% whole-person rating | $15,606.25 |
| 10% whole-person rating | $31,212.50 |
| 15% whole-person rating | $46,818.75 |
| 25% whole-person rating | $78,031.25 |
Calculate your back 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.
Back injuries: information needed to value the claim
Separate the diagnosis (for example, a strain, disc injury or surgery) from the permanent rating. Ask for the medical report identifying the spinal region, any nerve involvement, lasting work restrictions and whether maximum medical improvement has been reached. A diagnosis or surgery alone is not a dollar amount.
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 Idaho
Weekly temporary benefits while you cannot work follow these rules:
| Weekly rate | 67% of AWW (after 52 weeks: 67% of the state average weekly wage, within limits) |
|---|---|
| Maximum weekly benefit | $1,021.50 (2026-01-01 to 2026-12-31) |
| Minimum weekly benefit | 45% of state AWW = $510.75 (2026), but during first 52 weeks not more than 90% of the worker's AWW and not less than 15% of state AWW |
| Waiting period | 5 days |
| Waiting days paid back after | 14 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 back injury worth in Idaho workers' comp?
It depends on your doctor's whole-person impairment rating. A 10% rating is worth about $31,212.
What is the average workers' comp settlement for a back injury in Idaho?
Idaho does not publish an official average settlement. The best benchmark is the statutory award for your rating: with a 10% whole-person rating, about $31,212. 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 Idaho in 2026?
The maximum weekly temporary total disability benefit is $1,021.50 (2026-01-01 to 2026-12-31).
Is there a waiting period in Idaho?
Yes. Idaho does not pay the first 5 days of lost time, but pays them back once disability lasts more than 14 days.
Which law sets these amounts?
Idaho Code 72-402 (waiting period), 72-408 (rate), 72-409 (max/min), 72-428 (schedule), 72-429; Idaho Code 72-423, 72-424, 72-425, 72-426 (500-week whole man), 72-428 (schedule), 72-429, 72-430. The official sources are linked at the bottom of this page.
Other injuries in Idaho
Law and official sources
Official sources
Statute: Idaho Code 72-402 (waiting period), 72-408 (rate), 72-409 (max/min), 72-428 (schedule), 72-429; Idaho Code 72-423, 72-424, 72-425, 72-426 (500-week whole man), 72-428 (schedule), 72-429, 72-430
- Idaho Industrial Commission (official site)
- iic.idaho.gov/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/2026-Death-Benefits.pdf
- iic.idaho.gov/benefits-administration/benefits-faqs/
- legislature.idaho.gov/statutesrules/idstat/title72/t72ch4/sect72-408/
- legislature.idaho.gov/statutesrules/idstat/title72/t72ch4/sect72-409/
- legislature.idaho.gov/wp-content/uploads/statutesrules/idstat/Title72/T72CH4.pdf
Figures checked September 30, 2026. Maximums change every year; confirm current figures with the Idaho 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.