How your average weekly wage (AWW) is calculated

Every cash benefit in your claim is built on your average weekly wage. Get the AWW wrong and every check is wrong — so it's worth knowing how it's figured.

Key facts

AWW is based on your gross earnings (before taxes), including overtime and other pay, for the 52 weeks before your injury.
Your weekly benefit is then two-thirds of AWW × your disability percentage.
Wages from a second job (concurrent employment) can be combined into your AWW.
A higher, accurate AWW means a higher benefit — make sure overtime and all earnings are counted.

The methods (WCL §14)

Worked most of the year: take your total earnings for the prior 52 weeks and divide by 52.
The daily-wage method: multiply your average daily wage by 260 (a 5-day worker) or 300 (a 6-day worker) to get annual wages, then divide by 52.
Short employment / seasonal: the wage of a similar worker in the same job can be used to build a fair AWW.
Concurrent employment: combine wages from all covered jobs you held at the time of injury.

Example: earn $1,040 a week gross (including overtime) and AWW is about $1,040. At total disability that's roughly $693/week — unless it's above the state cap. Try it in the calculator.

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