How much is an eye injury worth in Massachusetts workers' comp?
Select the injury-date period before calculating
Static figures and examples show this table's current period. The selector changes calculator maximums and minimums. It does not use the payment date or automatically apply cost-of-living adjustments. For other dates, check with the agency.
| Injury date | Temporary weekly maximum | Permanent weekly maximum, where applicable |
|---|---|---|
| 2026-10-01 – 2027-09-30 | $2,007.20 | — |
| 2025-10-01 – 2026-09-30 | $1,922.48 | — |
In Massachusetts, an eye injury is worth up to $78,281 for total loss (39 × the state average weekly wage). With 25% loss of use, the award is about $19,570. That is the statutory award for the permanent injury; medical care and benefits while you are off work are paid separately.
How an eye injury is paid in Massachusetts
This component is 39 × loss percentage × the statewide average weekly wage for the selected period. The current table uses $2,007.20 as its multiplier, not your individual wage.
What is different in Massachusetts
Massachusetts does not pay weeks per body part: Sec. 36 specific-loss awards are a one-time lump sum equal to the state average weekly wage times a statutory multiplier, paid on top of weekly wage-loss benefits. Disfigurement awards (up to $15,000) are limited to the face, neck or hands when purely scar-based.
Worked examples
In Massachusetts this award does not depend on your wage.
| Rating | Award |
|---|---|
| 10% loss of use | $7,828.08 |
| 25% loss of use | $19,570.20 |
| 50% loss of use | $39,140.40 |
| 100% loss of use | $78,280.80 |
Calculate your eye 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.
Eye injuries: confirm one eye, both eyes and the vision measure
Obtain the ophthalmology report and ask how corrected vision and other lasting visual effects were measured for the rating. One-eye and two-eye losses are different scenarios. The figure on this page is not a valuation of every kind of vision problem or a combined award for both eyes.
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.
Massachusetts vs. neighboring states
| State | How an eye injury is paid | Max for total loss |
|---|---|---|
| Massachusetts | 39 × the state average weekly wage | $78,280.80 |
| Connecticut | 157 weeks | $184,475 |
| New Hampshire | 84 weeks | $195,132 |
| New York | 160 weeks | $205,040 |
| Rhode Island | 160 weeks | $28,800 |
| Vermont | whole-person % × 405 weeks | $77,517 at a 10% rating |
"Max for total loss" applies to body-part schedules at the top weekly rate. Compare all 50 states and D.C.
While you recover: temporary disability in Massachusetts
Weekly temporary benefits while you cannot work follow these rules:
| Weekly rate | 60% of AWW |
|---|---|
| Maximum weekly benefit | $2,007.20 (2026-10-01 to 2027-09-30) |
| Minimum weekly benefit | $401.44; or actual wage if lower |
| Waiting period | 5 days |
| Waiting days paid back after | 21 days of disability |
| Time limit on temporary benefits | 156 weeks |
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 an eye injury worth in Massachusetts workers' comp?
Massachusetts sets 39 × the state average weekly wage for total loss, up to $78,281. A partial loss is paid in proportion to your doctor's rating: with 25% loss of use, about $19,570.
What is the average workers' comp settlement for an eye injury in Massachusetts?
Massachusetts does not publish an official average settlement. The best benchmark is the statutory award for your rating: with 25% loss of use, about $19,570. 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 Massachusetts in 2026?
The maximum weekly temporary total disability benefit is $2,007.20 (2026-10-01 to 2027-09-30).
Is there a waiting period in Massachusetts?
Yes. Massachusetts does not pay the first 5 days of lost time, but pays them back once disability lasts more than 21 days.
Which law sets these amounts?
M.G.L. c. 152 ss. 29, 34, 35, 36, 1(10); M.G.L. c. 152 §§ 35, 36 (incl. 36(i) partial loss, 36(j) bodily function, 36(k) disfigurement). The official sources are linked at the bottom of this page.
Other injuries in Massachusetts
Law and official sources
Official sources
Statute: M.G.L. c. 152 ss. 29, 34, 35, 36, 1(10); M.G.L. c. 152 §§ 35, 36 (incl. 36(i) partial loss, 36(j) bodily function, 36(k) disfigurement)
- Department of Industrial Accidents (official site)
- mass.gov/info-details/minimum-and-maximum-compensation-rates
- law.justia.com/codes/massachusetts/part-i/title-xxi/chapter-152/section-34/
- law.justia.com/codes/massachusetts/part-i/title-xxi/chapter-152/section-29/
- law.justia.com/codes/massachusetts/part-i/title-xxi/chapter-152/section-36/
Figures checked September 30, 2026. Maximums change every year; confirm current figures with the Massachusetts 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.