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Central Missouri Workers' Compensation Attorney

Workers' Comp Rates
in Missouri — 2025

Missouri workers' compensation rates determine exactly how much money you receive after a workplace injury. Insurance companies frequently undercalculate your average weekly wage — lowering every benefit payment you receive. Chris Miller served as a government attorney in the Missouri Department of Labor and administered the Division of Workers' Compensation before founding Bur Oak Injury Law. He knows how rate calculations work and how to fight when they're wrong.

The difference between a correctly calculated rate and an insurer's lowball estimate can add up to thousands of dollars over the life of a claim. One attorney handles your case from the first call through resolution — no handoffs to associates or paralegals.

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● No fee unless we win
● Free case evaluation — no obligation
● Former Dept. of Labor attorney — administered the DWC
● Licensed in Missouri since 2012
$1,280.84
Max TTD/PTD weekly rate
July 2025 — June 2026
$670.92
Max PPD weekly rate
July 2025 — June 2026
66.67%
Compensation formula
of average weekly wage
$502,000
Largest WC result
See case results →
2025–26 benefit maximums

Missouri Workers' Compensation Benefit Rates — July 2025

Missouri adjusts workers' compensation benefit maximums annually based on the state average weekly wage (SAWW). These rates apply statewide — the same maximums govern claims in Columbia, Jefferson City, Kansas City, and everywhere else in Missouri. The compensation rate for any individual injured worker is two-thirds (66.67%) of their average weekly wage, subject to these caps. Source: Missouri Division of Workers' Compensation.

Benefit Type Maximum Weekly Rate (July 2025) Calculation Basis
Temporary Total Disability (TTD) $1,280.84 / week 66.67% of AWW, capped at 105% of SAWW
Permanent Total Disability (PTD) $1,280.84 / week 66.67% of AWW, same cap as TTD — paid for life
Death Benefits $1,280.84 / week 66.23% of deceased worker's AWW
Permanent Partial Disability (PPD) $670.92 / week 66.67% of AWW × statutory weeks for body part
Medical Mileage Reimbursement $0.725 / mile Travel to injury-related medical appointments
Funeral / Burial Expenses Up to $5,000 Paid by employer/insurer in fatal injury claims
Former Missouri government attorney — administered the DWC
Before founding Bur Oak Injury Law, Chris Miller served as a government attorney in the Missouri Department of Labor and administered the Division of Workers' Compensation. He has reviewed hundreds of benefit calculations — and knows exactly where insurers manipulate the numbers. Average weekly wage disputes, excluded overtime, and misclassified disability types are the most common sources of underpayment. A free review can identify errors worth thousands of dollars.
Benefit types explained

The 4 Types of Workers' Compensation Benefits and How Rates Apply

Missouri workers' compensation provides different types of benefits depending on the nature and severity of your injury. Each benefit type uses a different calculation, and the applicable rate can change as your condition progresses. Understanding which benefit applies — and at what rate — is the first step in ensuring you're paid correctly.

While You Can't Work
Temporary Total Disability (TTD)
$1,280.84 max
Paid when you are completely unable to work due to your injury. TTD continues until you reach Maximum Medical Improvement (MMI) or return to work — whichever comes first. The rate equals 66.67% of your average weekly wage, up to the statutory maximum. Missouri law does not limit how long TTD can be paid while you remain medically unable to work.
Lasting Impairment
Permanent Partial Disability (PPD)
$670.92 max
Paid when you have a permanent impairment but can still perform some work. The PPD amount is calculated by multiplying your weekly compensation rate by the number of statutory weeks assigned to your injured body part under Missouri RSMo § 287.190, then multiplied by your disability rating percentage.
Unable to Work at All
Permanent Total Disability (PTD)
$1,280.84 max
Paid for life when your injury permanently prevents you from performing any work. PTD uses the same rate as TTD — 66.67% of your average weekly wage, subject to the $1,280.84 weekly maximum. Missouri's Second Injury Fund may also provide additional compensation when a prior disability combines with a new injury to create total disability.
Partial Work Restrictions
Temporary Partial Disability (TPD)
Variable
Paid when you can return to work with restrictions but are earning less than before your injury. TPD equals 66.67% of the difference between your pre-injury average weekly wage and your current reduced earnings. TPD is often disputed by insurers and requires careful documentation of your actual wages before and after the injury.
How your rate is set

How Average Weekly Wage (AWW) Is Calculated in Missouri Workers' Comp Cases

Your average weekly wage is the foundation of every Missouri workers' compensation benefit. Because your compensation rate is a percentage of your AWW, an error in this calculation affects every benefit payment you receive — for the entire duration of your claim. Missouri law requires a specific calculation method governed by Division of Workers' Compensation regulations.

  1. 1
    Add Up Wages From the 13 Weeks Before Your Injury Missouri law requires calculating your total gross wages from the 13 full weeks immediately preceding your injury date. This includes your base pay, overtime pay, bonuses, commissions, and the value of any regular benefits like housing or vehicle allowances. Weeks where you did not work due to vacation, illness, or leave may be excluded and replaced with the nearest prior weeks where you did work.
  2. 2
    Include All Sources of Employment Income If you worked a second job and your primary employer knew about it, wages from that second job must also be included in your AWW calculation. This is one of the most common areas where injured workers lose money — insurers routinely exclude secondary employment income. An attorney can document all income sources and compel their inclusion in the calculation.
  3. 3
    Divide by 13 to Get the Weekly Average Once all wages are totaled, the sum is divided by 13 to arrive at your average weekly wage. Your weekly compensation rate is then 66.67% of that amount, subject to the applicable statutory maximum. For PPD claims, the disability rating percentage and the statutory weeks for your body part are additional multipliers applied to your weekly compensation rate.
  4. 4
    Verify the Insurer's Calculation Is Correct Insurers are required to provide you with their AWW calculation, but they are not required to be generous in their interpretation. Common errors include excluding overtime that was regular (not sporadic), ignoring bonus income, using an incorrect time period, or applying the wrong benefit type. If you believe your rate is wrong, you have the right to dispute it with the Missouri DWC. Reviewing the calculation before accepting any benefit payments can prevent thousands of dollars in losses.
Common questions

Frequently Asked Questions About Missouri Workers' Comp Rates

Missouri workers' compensation rates are calculated using a standardized formula: your compensation rate equals two-thirds (66.67%) of your average weekly wage (AWW), subject to statutory maximums. The AWW is calculated by averaging your total wages from the 13 full weeks immediately before your injury. This includes regular wages, overtime, bonuses, and earnings from a second job if your employer knew about it. Different injury types affect the final calculation — temporary total disability and permanent total disability use the same formula, while permanent partial disability also incorporates statutory weeks assigned to the injured body part.
For the period July 1, 2025 through June 30, 2026, Missouri sets the maximum weekly benefit at $1,280.84 for temporary total disability (TTD), permanent total disability (PTD), and death benefits. Permanent partial disability (PPD) benefits are capped at a lower maximum of $670.92 per week. These maximums are tied to Missouri's state average weekly wage (SAWW) and are updated annually. The same rates apply statewide — there is no difference between Columbia and other Missouri cities.
If your employer or insurer is paying you less than the correct rate — whether by using an incorrect average weekly wage, excluding overtime or bonuses, or misclassifying your disability type — you have the right to dispute the calculation with the Missouri Division of Workers' Compensation. An attorney can review your payroll records, identify any underpayment, and file the appropriate claims. Rate disputes are common and worth fighting: even a modest underpayment of $100 per week compounds to over $5,000 per year.
Yes. Missouri workers' compensation provides full medical coverage with no monetary limits for treatment that is reasonable and necessary to treat your work-related injury. Your employer's insurer must pay all covered medical bills — hospital stays, surgery, physical therapy, prescription medications, and specialist visits. Missouri also provides mileage reimbursement at $0.725 per mile (effective January 2026) for travel to medical appointments. The insurer selects the treating physician, but you have legal rights to challenge their choice and seek independent medical evaluations.
Related practice areas

Related Workers' Compensation Resources

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Permanent Disability Benefits

How PPD and PTD benefit amounts are calculated and what affects your final settlement.
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Medical Mileage Reimbursement

Missouri's $0.725/mile reimbursement rate for travel to injury-related medical appointments.
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How to File a Claim

Step-by-step guide to filing a workers' compensation claim in Missouri — deadlines, forms, and what to expect.
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Workers' Comp Overview

All workers' compensation practice areas — injuries, disputes, benefits, and appeals.

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