How much is a neck injury worth in North Carolina workers' comp?
There is no fixed dollar amount for a neck injury in North Carolina. North Carolina's statute has a back entry (300 weeks) but no neck entry, so it does not say whether a neck rating is paid on the back schedule, as an award for an unlisted important part of the body, or through wage-loss benefits. Below: the exact rule, the 2026 weekly maximum ($1,446) and what to ask for before you accept an offer.
How a neck injury is paid in North Carolina
North Carolina's statute has a back entry (300 weeks) but no neck entry, so it does not say whether a neck rating is paid on the back schedule, as an award for an unlisted important part of the body, or through wage-loss benefits.
General rule for permanent injuries in North Carolina: no general whole-body schedule: back is scheduled (300 weeks); other permanent injury to important organs or parts not listed may get an award up to $20,000 ($40,000 from July 1, 2027); alternatively wage-loss/total disability benefits if greater.
What is different in North Carolina
North Carolina is one of the few states that puts the back on its schedule (300 weeks); a back rating of 75% or more counts as total industrial disability. Scheduled benefits and wage-loss benefits are alternatives, and the worker can pursue whichever is greater.
Neck injuries: check the cervical findings
Ask whether the rating report addresses the cervical spine alone or also documents arm symptoms and neurological findings. Keep the imaging report, treatment history and restrictions on lifting or turning your head. Do not enter an arm rating into a whole-person field without the applicable conversion.
How to check an offer when there is no fixed figure
This page cannot reliably estimate a permanent award from the injury name and wage alone. The state rule above identifies whether lost earnings, a special rating method or another category applies. To check an offer, request the calculation used, injury date, accepted wage, applicable rating and benefits still outstanding. The weekly calculator below estimates only temporary total disability under its assumptions; it does not value the settlement. See the state benefit overview.
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 North Carolina
Weekly temporary benefits while you cannot work follow these rules:
| Weekly rate | 66.67% of AWW |
|---|---|
| Maximum weekly benefit | $1,446 (2026-01-01 to 2026-12-31 (injuries in 2026)) |
| Minimum weekly benefit | $30 (rises to $50 on 2027-07-01 per G.S. 97-29) |
| Waiting period | 7 days |
| Waiting days paid back after | 21 days of disability |
| Time limit on temporary benefits | 500 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 is a neck injury paid in North Carolina workers' comp?
North Carolina's statute has a back entry (300 weeks) but no neck entry, so it does not say whether a neck rating is paid on the back schedule, as an award for an unlisted important part of the body, or through wage-loss benefits.
What is the maximum weekly workers' comp benefit in North Carolina in 2026?
The maximum weekly temporary total disability benefit is $1,446 (2026-01-01 to 2026-12-31 (injuries in 2026)).
Is there a waiting period in North Carolina?
Yes. North Carolina does not pay the first 7 days of lost time, but pays them back once disability lasts more than 21 days.
Which law sets these amounts?
N.C. Gen. Stat. §97-28 (waiting period), §97-29 (total incapacity), §97-31 (schedule). The official sources are linked at the bottom of this page.
Other injuries in North Carolina
Law and official sources
Official sources
Statute: N.C. Gen. Stat. §97-28 (waiting period), §97-29 (total incapacity), §97-31 (schedule); N.C. Gen. Stat. §97-31 (schedule incl. (23) back, (24) other organs); §97-29, §97-30 (total/partial wage loss)
- North Carolina Industrial Commission (official site)
- ic.nc.gov/workers-compensation-claims/maximum-weekly-compensation-rates
- ic.nc.gov/ncic/pages/maxrates.html
- ncleg.gov/EnactedLegislation/Statutes/HTML/BySection/Chapter_97/GS_97-29.html
- ncleg.gov/EnactedLegislation/Statutes/PDF/BySection/Chapter_97/GS_97-31.pdf
- ncleg.gov/EnactedLegislation/Statutes/HTML/BySection/Chapter_97/GS_97-31.html
Figures checked September 30, 2026. Maximums change every year; confirm current figures with the North Carolina 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.