How much is a back injury worth in Tennessee workers' comp?
In Tennessee, a back injury is paid by the whole-person impairment rating your doctor gives (whole-person % × 450 weeks). A 10% rating at the top weekly rate is worth about $60,885; with a 10% whole-person rating and a $1,200 weekly wage, about $36,000. 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 Tennessee
Rated as a whole-body impairment × 450 weeks, like every other injury.
Each week is paid at 66.67% of your average weekly wage, up to $1,353 a week, with a minimum of $202.95 a week (or your full wage if it is lower).
What is different in Tennessee
Tennessee has no body-part schedule: every PPD award is the impairment rating × 450 weeks. If the worker has not returned to work at pre-injury wages when the initial period ends, increased benefits apply (×1.35, with further multipliers for no high school diploma, age over 40 and high county unemployment).
Worked examples
| Rating | $800 weekly wage | $1,200 weekly wage | $1,600 weekly wage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5% whole-person rating | $12,000 | $18,000 | $24,000 |
| 10% whole-person rating | $24,000 | $36,000 | $48,000 |
| 15% whole-person rating | $36,000 | $54,000 | $72,000 |
| 25% whole-person rating | $60,000 | $90,000 | $120,000 |
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.
Tennessee vs. neighboring states
| State | How a back injury is paid | Max for total loss |
|---|---|---|
| Tennessee | whole-person % × 450 weeks | — |
| Alabama | wage loss | — |
| Arkansas | whole-person % × 450 weeks | — |
| Georgia | whole-person % × 300 weeks | — |
| Kentucky | impairment rating (see rule) | — |
| Mississippi | wage loss | — |
| Missouri | whole-person % × 400 weeks | — |
| North Carolina | 300 weeks | $433,800 |
| Virginia | wage loss | — |
"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 Tennessee
Weekly temporary benefits while you cannot work follow these rules:
| Weekly rate | 66.67% of AWW |
|---|---|
| Maximum weekly benefit | $1,488.30 (2026-07-01 to 2027-06-30) |
| Minimum weekly benefit | $202.95/week (FY 2026-27) |
| Waiting period | 7 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 Tennessee workers' comp?
It depends on your doctor's whole-person impairment rating. A 10% rating at the top weekly rate is worth about $60,885; with a 10% whole-person rating and a $1,200 weekly wage, about $36,000.
What is the average workers' comp settlement for a back injury in Tennessee?
Tennessee does not publish an official average settlement. The best benchmark is the statutory award for your rating: with a 10% whole-person rating and a $1,200 weekly wage, about $36,000. 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 Tennessee in 2026?
The maximum weekly temporary total disability benefit is $1,488.30 (2026-07-01 to 2027-06-30).
Is there a waiting period in Tennessee?
Yes. Tennessee does not pay the first 7 days of lost time, but pays them back once disability lasts more than 14 days.
Which law sets these amounts?
Tenn. Code Ann. §§ 50-6-205, 50-6-207, 50-6-102; Tenn. Code Ann. § 50-6-207(3). The official sources are linked at the bottom of this page.
Other injuries in Tennessee
Law and official sources
Official sources
Statute: Tenn. Code Ann. §§ 50-6-205, 50-6-207, 50-6-102; Tenn. Code Ann. § 50-6-207(3)
- Tennessee Bureau of Workers' Compensation (official site)
- tn.gov/workforce/injuries-at-work/injured-workers/injured-workers/benefits/wage-replacemen
- tn.gov/workforce/injuries-at-work/bwc-newsroom/2026/7/10/2026-workers-compensation-legisla
- codes.findlaw.com/tn/title-50-employer-and-employee/tn-code-sect-50-6-205/
- codes.findlaw.com/tn/title-50-employer-and-employee/tn-code-sect-50-6-207/
- law.justia.com/codes/tennessee/2010/title-50/chapter-6/part-2/50-6-207
Figures checked September 30, 2026. Maximums change every year; confirm current figures with the Tennessee 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.