How much is hearing loss worth in Tennessee workers' comp?
In Tennessee, hearing loss 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 hearing loss is paid in Tennessee
Tennessee has no body-part schedule. An injury to the hearing loss is rated as an impairment and paid under the state's general formula: Impairment rating × 450 weeks at 66.67% of AWW; all PPD is apportioned to the body as a whole.
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 hearing loss 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.
Hearing loss: check the audiogram and whether both ears are rated
Request the audiogram and the report explaining the hearing-loss percentage, which ear or ears it covers and how work-related exposure was assessed. Do not enter a one-ear rating into a two-ear formula. Tinnitus and hearing loss are not interchangeable inputs, and this calculator does not determine the medical rating.
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 hearing loss is paid | Max for total loss |
|---|---|---|
| Tennessee | whole-person % × 450 weeks | — |
| Alabama | 163 weeks | $35,860 |
| Arkansas | 158 weeks | $112,970 |
| Georgia | 150 weeks | $120,000 |
| Kentucky | impairment rating (see rule) | — |
| Mississippi | 150 weeks | — |
| Missouri | 180 weeks | $122,072 |
| North Carolina | 150 weeks | $216,900 |
| Virginia | impairment rating (see rule) | — |
"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 hearing loss 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 hearing loss 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.