How much is a neck injury worth in Wisconsin workers' comp?
In Wisconsin, a neck injury is paid by the whole-person impairment rating your doctor gives. A 10% rating is worth about $45,400; with a 10% whole-person rating and a $1,200 weekly wage, about $45,400. That is the statutory award for the permanent injury; medical care and benefits while you are off work are paid separately.
How a neck injury is paid in Wisconsin
Unscheduled: rated as a percentage of the body as a whole × 1,000 weeks.
Each week is paid at 66.67% of your average weekly wage, up to $454 a week.
What is different in Wisconsin
Back, neck and other unscheduled injuries are rated against 1,000 weeks, and loss of earning capacity can be added on top. If the worker goes back to the same employer, the award is limited to physical impairment unless the actual wage loss is 15% or more.
Worked examples
| Rating | $800 weekly wage | $1,200 weekly wage | $1,600 weekly wage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5% whole-person rating | $22,700 | $22,700 | $22,700 |
| 10% whole-person rating | $45,400 | $45,400 | $45,400 |
| 15% whole-person rating | $68,100 | $68,100 | $68,100 |
| 25% whole-person rating | $113,500 | $113,500 | $113,500 |
Calculate your neck 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.
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.
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 Wisconsin
Weekly temporary benefits while you cannot work follow these rules:
| Weekly rate | 66.67% of AWW |
|---|---|
| Maximum weekly benefit | $1,375 (Injuries on/after 2026-01-01 (calendar year 2026; max weekly wage $2,062.50)) |
| Minimum weekly benefit | No statutory minimum found |
| Waiting period | 3 days |
| Waiting days paid back after | 7 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 neck injury worth in Wisconsin workers' comp?
It depends on your doctor's whole-person impairment rating. A 10% rating is worth about $45,400; with a 10% whole-person rating and a $1,200 weekly wage, about $45,400.
What is the average workers' comp settlement for a neck injury in Wisconsin?
Wisconsin 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 $45,400. 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 Wisconsin in 2026?
The maximum weekly temporary total disability benefit is $1,375.
Is there a waiting period in Wisconsin?
Yes. Wisconsin does not pay the first 3 days of lost time, but pays them back once disability lasts more than 7 days.
Which law sets these amounts?
Wis. Stat. §§ 102.43, 102.44, 102.52, 102.55; 2025 Wisconsin Act 145; Wis. Stat. §§ 102.44(3), (6), 102.52. The official sources are linked at the bottom of this page.
Other injuries in Wisconsin
Law and official sources
Official sources
Statute: Wis. Stat. §§ 102.43, 102.44, 102.52, 102.55; 2025 Wisconsin Act 145; Wis. Stat. §§ 102.44(3), (6), 102.52
- Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development, Worker's Compensation (official site)
- dwd.wisconsin.gov/wc/letters/insurance/ins-letter-549.htm
- dwd.wisconsin.gov/dwd/publications/wc/WKC-9572-P.pdf
- dwd.wi.gov/wc/legal/pls-2026-ammendments.htm
- law.justia.com/codes/wisconsin/chapter-102/section-102-52
- law.justia.com/codes/wisconsin/chapter-102/section-102-44/
Figures checked September 30, 2026. Maximums change every year; confirm current figures with the Wisconsin 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.