Police Officer Workers' Comp Calculator 2026
Police officers fall under class code 7720, with workers comp rates running $8 to $14 per $100 of payroll. The highest-value claims involve gunshots, vehicle pursuits, and physical assaults — but the most common claims are the ones that come from years on patrol: bad backs from cruiser seats and duty belts, blown-out knees from foot pursuits, and shoulders torn up wrestling resisting subjects. PTSD coverage for officers has expanded dramatically since 2018, with most states now treating cumulative trauma and critical-incident stress as compensable occupational disease.
Adam Noah · Workers' Comp Research Analyst
Last updated: April 2026 · Reviewed for accuracy
About the authorClass Code
7720
WC Insurance Rate
$8.00–$14.00 per $100 of payroll
Risk Level
Very High
Example annual premium for police officer with $50,000 annual payroll: $5,500 per employee. Varies by state, carrier, and experience modifier.
Calculate Your Police Officer Workers Comp Benefits
Enter your state and weekly wage to see your estimated workers comp weekly benefit and total projected payout.
Your Situation
Tell us about your state and wages to calculate your benefits.
Optional — helps calculate your waiting period start date.
Your gross wages for the 13 weeks before injury, divided by 13. Include overtime, bonuses, and tips if they were regular.
Most Common Police Officer Workplace Injuries
These are the injury patterns we see most frequently in police officer workers comp claims, ranked by frequency. Click any injury type to see the dedicated settlement calculator for that specific injury.
| Injury Type | Avg Settlement |
|---|---|
| Multiple Trauma (Gunshot, Assault, Vehicle) | $215,000 |
| Back Injury (Duty Belt, Cruiser Seat) | $105,000 |
| Knee (Foot Pursuit, Restraint) | $78,000 |
| Shoulder (Restraint, Use of Force) | $70,000 |
| Head / TBI (Assault, Crashes) | $195,000 |
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 Police Officers
- •Class code 7720 averages $8–$14 per $100 of payroll, similar to firefighters.
- •Roughly 35 states now extend PTSD presumption coverage to law enforcement officers — a major expansion since 2018.
- •Heart attacks during or shortly after physical altercations or pursuits are presumed work-related in most states with first-responder presumption laws.
- •Officers killed in the line of duty trigger federal Public Safety Officers' Benefits Program death benefit (~$440,000 in 2026) on top of state workers comp survivor benefits.
- •Duty-belt back injuries from years of carrying 15–25 pounds of equipment are recognized as cumulative trauma in nearly every state.
- •Police officer wages (often with significant overtime and shift differential) drive higher AWW calculations and higher TTD checks than most occupations.
- •Off-duty officers acting under departmental policy (responding to a crime they witness, working an approved security detail) are typically covered.
- •Critical-incident stress debriefing and ongoing therapy after officer-involved shootings is workers comp coverable in nearly every state.
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 AttorneyFrequently Asked Questions — Police Officer
Is PTSD covered for police officers under workers comp?▾
In most states now, yes. Around 35 states have enacted PTSD presumption or expanded mental-injury laws covering law enforcement since 2018. Coverage typically requires diagnosis by a qualified mental health provider and connection to either a specific qualifying event (officer-involved shooting, mass casualty, child death) or cumulative exposure.
What's the average settlement for a police officer back injury?▾
Cumulative back injuries from duty belt and cruiser use average $90,000–$120,000. Surgical cases reach $180,000+. Career-ending back injuries that disqualify an officer from patrol can produce permanent disability settlements over $400,000, particularly with pension offset considerations.
What if I'm shot in the line of duty?▾
Workers comp covers all medical care, lost wages, and permanent disability. If you're killed, your family receives state workers comp survivor benefits (varies by state) PLUS the federal Public Safety Officers' Benefits Program death benefit, currently around $440,000. Many departments also have separate line-of-duty death benefits.
Am I covered while working an off-duty security detail?▾
Usually yes, if the detail was approved through your department and you were authorized to act in your law enforcement capacity. Pure private-employer security work outside the department's scope is typically not covered under your department's policy — the security employer's policy applies instead.
Can a heart attack on duty be a workers comp claim?▾
In most states with first-responder presumption laws, yes. Heart attacks during or shortly after physical exertion (pursuit, altercation, training) are presumed work-related. Coverage typically requires qualifying years of service and absence of disqualifying pre-existing conditions.
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
Healthcare Worker
Code 8832 / 8833
Office Worker
Code 8810
Electrician
Code 5190
Delivery Driver
Code 7380
Amazon Worker
Code 7380 / varies
Firefighter
Code 7710
Teacher
Code 8868
Gig Worker (Uber, DoorDash, Instacart)
Code varies