Firefighter Workers' Comp Calculator 2026

Class code 7710 runs $8 to $15 per $100 of payroll depending on state. Most fire departments are publicly self-insured or run pooled coverage rather than buying market policies, so the underlying rate is more about budget allocation than premium.

Presumption laws shift the burden of proof. Instead of you having to prove your cancer or heart attack came from firefighting, the law presumes it did — and the employer has to prove it didn't. For listed cancers and cardiac events with qualifying tenure, this is enormously favorable and turns difficult cases into routine ones.

In a growing majority of states, yes. Roughly 25 states have added behavioral health and PTSD presumptions for firefighters and first responders since 2019. Some require a diagnosed qualifying event; others cover cumulative exposure. Document symptoms with a licensed mental health professional and keep a record of incidents.

Yes, in nearly every state. Volunteers are covered by the municipality or fire district's policy. Because they don't have a real wage, states use a 'deemed wage' (often the average state wage) to calculate benefits, so volunteers can still receive meaningful TTD checks.

Firefighter cancer settlements with presumption coverage commonly run $300,000–$600,000 for non-fatal cases, factoring in medical treatment, lost wages, and permanent partial disability. Fatal cases trigger survivor benefits paid weekly (often for life of surviving spouse) plus burial allowance — total economic value frequently exceeds $1 million.