You know your job better than anyone. Some days you sit behind a screen for eight hours, and the biggest danger is a sluggish Wi-Fi connection. Other days you’re lifting heavy gear, breathing in fumes, or working around machines that could hurt you in a heartbeat. Those tougher jobs come with bigger risks, and far too many Pennsylvanians get hurt on them every year.
An injury can flip your world upside down. Medical bills add up, paychecks stop coming, and stress hits hard. That is when workers’ compensation steps in. Once you meet the workers’ compensation eligibility rules, the program covers your medical treatment and replaces part of the wages you miss while you heal.
Here is what the payments look like in 2025. The most you can collect each week is $1,347. If you earned between $1,010.26 and $2,020.50 a week before the accident, you get two-thirds of that amount. If your paycheck landed between $748.33 and $1,010.25, you receive $673.50 a week. Folks making $748.32 or less take home 90% of their pre-injury earnings. It is not full pay, but it keeps the lights on and food in the fridge.
You deserve every dollar the law allows, and you should not head back to work until your body is ready. If you run into pushback from an insurance company or have questions about the paperwork, reach out to the Western Pennsylvania workers’ compensation lawyers at Luxenberg Garbett Kelly & George P.C. Call us today at (724) 658-8535 to discuss your case and ensure you get the compensation you deserve.
Understanding the Role of Average Weekly Wage in Workers’ Compensation
Your Average Weekly Wage (AWW) is the starting point for every workers’ comp payment you receive in Pennsylvania. It looks at what you made before the injury and sets the bar for the checks that follow. The bigger that number, the more money you’ll see while you heal and when your claim finally wraps up.
Calculating your Average Weekly Wage (AWW) is a straightforward process. Add up every paycheck from the 52 weeks before the accident, then divide by the weeks you actually worked. Regular pay, overtime, and certain bonuses all count. Health-insurance contributions from your boss don’t. Money from side gigs as an independent contractor stays off the list, too.
For workers with irregular schedules, such as seasonal employees, special adjustments are made to more accurately reflect your typical earnings. The claims handler can look at your highest three-quarters of the earnings from the last four completed weeks before the injury to get a fair picture of what you usually bring home. This adjustment keeps seasonal and other uneven-schedule workers from getting short-changed.
It’s important to note that Pennsylvania’s workers’ compensation system considers a worker’s entire pre-injury earnings when determining compensation. However, adjustments are made for workers with fluctuating or irregular earnings to ensure they are not disadvantaged. If a worker’s earnings are disputed or if records are incomplete, providing accurate documentation is essential to avoid underpayment. Workers have the right to appeal incorrect AWW calculations and seek adjustments if needed.
Once your AWW is locked in, Pennsylvania pays wage-loss benefits equal to about two-thirds of that figure. No check can be higher than the statewide cap, set at $1,347 a week for 2025. The state reviews that ceiling every year and bumps it up when average wages rise.
Hold on to your pay stubs and tax records. If the insurance carrier low-balls your AWW, you can challenge the number and ask for a corrected calculation. A simple appeal may put real dollars back in your pocket.
Western Pennsylvania workers’ compensation lawyers at Luxenberg Garbett Kelly & George P.C. can help navigate this process, ensuring a fair and equitable outcome during the worker’s recovery period. Contact us today at (724) 658-8535 for a free consultation.
Western Pennsylvania Workers’ Compensation Lawyers
Lawrence M. Kelly
Larry Kelly’s deep-rooted connection to Western Pennsylvania and his decades of legal experience make him a trusted advocate for injured workers. A cum laude graduate of the University of Akron School of Law, Larry has combined legal excellence with a heartfelt commitment to the people of his community, where he’s not just a lawyer, but a neighbor, coach, and friend.
- Bar Admissions: Pennsylvania (1983), U.S. District Court Western District of PA, U.S. Court of Appeals 3rd Circuit
- Areas of Focus: Workers’ Compensation, Personal Injury
- Leadership: President, PA Association for Justice (2024); Past President, Western PA Trial Lawyers Association
- Awards: AV Preeminent, Super Lawyers 2006–2024, Top 1% NADC, Top 50 Pittsburgh Super Lawyers
Joseph A. George
Joe George brings nearly three decades of courtroom experience and an unshakeable commitment to preparation. His philosophy, “always be the most prepared attorney in the courtroom,” guides his work on behalf of injured workers and accident victims across the region.
- Bar Admissions: Pennsylvania (1996), Ohio (1997), U.S. District Court Western District of PA
- Areas of Focus: Workers’ Compensation, Personal Injury, Motor Vehicle Accidents, Medical Malpractice
- Honors: Pennsylvania Super Lawyers (2018–2024), AV Rated (2018), AV Preeminent (2020)
- Associations: Member, PA Bar Association, PA Trial Lawyers Association, American Association for Justice
Common AWW Calculation Errors (and How to Fix Them)
Your Average Weekly Wage (AWW) drives every dollar of your Pennsylvania workers’ comp check. When the insurer’s math is off, you lose money every week. Here are the costly slip-ups we see all the time and simple fixes.
- Missing weeks: Adjusters sometimes average only the most recent weeks instead of the full 52 or the statutory 13-week blocks set out in Section 309 of the Workers’ Compensation Act. Ask for the “Statement of Wages” and make sure every pay period before the injury date is listed.
- Hourly base only: Overtime, shift differentials, tips, and bonuses earned during the 52-week look-back must be counted. Ask payroll for a gross earnings report and add every line.
- Keeping zero-pay weeks: Section 309 of the Pennsylvania Workers’ Compensation Act lets you drop weeks with no wages so the average is not dragged down. Tell the adjuster to rerun the math without those weeks.
- Forgetting a second job: Adjusters often forget concurrent employment. If you had a side gig with payroll taxes withheld, supply records so checks are reflected.
- Wrong statewide chart: Each January, the Pennsylvania Department of Labor & Industry releases a new statewide average that sets benefit caps. Compare your AWW to the chart for the injury year; the wrong bracket can knock you from two-thirds of your wage to only 90 percent.
- Clerical typos: Copy-paste errors happen. A misplaced decimal can cost hundreds. Double-check every number and run the numbers yourself on a calculator.
Correcting these mistakes usually starts with a short demand letter backed by clear documents. A workers’ compensation attorney can audit the file, push the carrier for amended payments, and file a Petition to Review Compensation Rate or a Penalty Petition when delays drag on so you receive every dollar you earned.
| Common Error | Explanation | How to Fix It |
|---|---|---|
| Missing weeks | Adjusters average only recent weeks rather than the required full 52 or statutory 13-week periods. | Request the “Statement of Wages” to verify all weeks. |
| Hourly base only | Overtime, shift differentials, tips, and bonuses are omitted from the 52-week calculation. | Get a gross earnings report from payroll and verify totals. |
| Keeping zero-pay weeks | Weeks with no earnings mistakenly included, lowering average wage. | Instruct the adjuster to recalculate excluding these weeks. |
| Forgetting a second job | Concurrent employment is overlooked, reducing total AWW calculation. | Provide payroll records from any additional jobs. |
| Wrong statewide chart | Incorrect yearly statewide average wage chart used, impacting benefit amount. | Cross-check your AWW with the correct annual state chart. |
| Clerical typos | Simple typing errors or misplaced decimals leading to significant underpayment. | Carefully review calculations and verify numbers yourself. |
Securing Your Benefits with Luxenberg Garbett Kelly & George P.C.
Weekly Payouts for Workers’ Compensation in Pennsylvania keep your household moving forward when a job-related injury has stopped your paycheck. When those payments stall or arrive short, stress climbs fast.
You do not have to face the insurance company on your own. A skilled Western Pennsylvania workers’ compensation lawyer from Luxenberg Garbett Kelly & George P.C. can step in, press for full weekly benefits, and push back against delay tactics. We can deal directly with adjusters, build a clear medical record, and present the facts in plain language so your right to steady income stands strong.
Take the next step now. Contact Luxenberg Garbett Kelly & George P.C. at (724) 658-8535 and let’s talk about keeping your weekly payouts on track. Your peace of mind starts with one conversation.
