Healthcare Worker Workers Comp Benefits & Calculator

Healthcare workers — patient care techs, aides, therapists, pharmacy staff, imaging techs — have injury rates that rival construction. Patient handling, needlesticks, infectious disease exposure, and workplace violence produce a high volume of workers comp claims. If you work in a hospital, nursing home, clinic, or home-care setting and got hurt on the job, you're covered under workers comp.

Adam Noah · Workers' Comp Research Analyst

Last updated: April 2026 · Reviewed for accuracy

About the author

Class Code

8832 / 8833

WC Insurance Rate

$1.60 per $100 of payroll

Risk Level

Medium-High

Example annual premium for healthcare worker with $50,000 annual payroll: $800 per employee. Varies by state, carrier, and experience modifier.

Calculate Your Healthcare Worker Workers Comp Benefits

Enter your state and weekly wage to see your estimated workers comp weekly benefit and total projected payout.

Step 1 of 2Your Situation

Your Situation

Tell us about your state and wages to calculate your benefits.

What state did the injury occur in? *

When did the injury occur?

Optional — helps calculate your waiting period start date.

What is your average weekly wage? *

$/week

Your gross wages for the 13 weeks before injury, divided by 13. Include overtime, bonuses, and tips if they were regular.

Most Common Healthcare Worker Workplace Injuries

These are the injury patterns we see most frequently in healthcare worker workers comp claims, ranked by frequency. Click any injury type to see the dedicated settlement calculator for that specific injury.

Injury Type	Frequency	Avg Settlement
Back (Patient Handling)	Very common	$91,844
Shoulder (Patient Transfers)	Very common	$55,000
Needle Stick	Common	$28,000
Assault Injuries	Increasing	$75,000
Infectious Disease Exposure	Variable	$45,000
Slip & Fall	Common	$42,000

Settlement averages from National Safety Council and state workers comp board data. Your specific settlement depends on severity, state, wage, and case specifics.

Key Facts for Healthcare Workers

•Patient-handling injuries are the #1 workers comp claim in healthcare.
•Most states have presumption laws covering workplace infectious disease exposure for healthcare workers.
•Workplace violence in healthcare has doubled since 2020.
•PTSD from traumatic workplace incidents is compensable in all 50 states for healthcare workers.
•Travel nurses have workers comp coverage in the state where they're assigned, not the state of the staffing agency.

Injured On the Job? Get a Free Case Review

A workers' comp attorney can review your claim, negotiate a higher settlement, and protect your job. Most work on contingency — no fee unless you win.

Find a Workers' Comp Attorney

Frequently Asked Questions — Healthcare Worker

Can healthcare workers claim workers comp for infectious diseases?▾

Yes. Most states have presumption laws for healthcare workers covering HIV, HBV, HCV, TB, and COVID. This means the disease is presumed to be work-related if you contracted it during a period of patient exposure, shifting the burden to the employer to prove otherwise.

What if I'm a travel nurse — which state covers me?▾

The state where you're assigned typically covers you, not the staffing agency's home state. File your claim there. Some contracts specify otherwise — read yours carefully. Travel nurses often have higher AWW than permanent staff, which means bigger benefits.

Can I get workers comp for PTSD from the job?▾

Yes, all 50 states now recognize PTSD from traumatic workplace events as compensable for healthcare workers. Mass casualties, patient deaths, assaults, and exposure incidents all qualify. Document symptoms with a mental health provider.

What's the typical healthcare worker settlement?▾

Healthcare worker settlements average $50,000-$90,000 across all injury types. Patient handling back injuries average $91,844. Surgical cases reach $80,000-$180,000. Career-ending injuries that prevent return to patient care can exceed $250,000.

Workers Comp for Other Occupations

Construction Worker

Code 5403

Nurse (RN, LPN, CNA)

Code 8829

Warehouse Worker

Code 8292

Truck Driver

Code 7228 / 7229

Restaurant Worker

Code 9082 / 9083

Roofer

Code 5551

Manufacturing Worker

Code 2710 / 3632 / various

Retail Worker

Code 8017 / 8018

Office Worker

Code 8810

Electrician

Code 5190

Delivery Driver

Code 7380

Amazon Worker

Code 7380 / varies

Firefighter

Code 7710

Police Officer

Code 7720

Teacher

Code 8868

Gig Worker (Uber, DoorDash, Instacart)

Code varies

Disclaimer: Workers comp insurance rates are approximate national averages and vary significantly by state, insurer, and employer experience modifier. Settlement ranges are estimates based on NSC and state data. This is not legal advice. Consult a licensed workers' compensation attorney for your specific situation. Last updated: April 2026.