Minnesota workers' compensation rates — the SAWW, maximum weekly benefit, minimum rate, and annual adjustment — change every October 1. The rates that apply to your case are locked in by your date of injury, not the current year. Use this tool to look up the exact rates for any date of injury from 1992 to present.
Rates verified through 2025-10-01. Reviewed by Dan Swenson, Minnesota workers' comp attorney.
Rates verified through: 2025-10-01
SAWW & Rate History Explorer
Enter a date of injury to see the exact SAWW, maximum and minimum weekly benefit rates, and annual adjustment that apply.
This calculator is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Results are estimates based on Minnesota workers' compensation law as of the rates shown. Consult a qualified attorney for advice specific to your situation.
What Is the SAWW?
The Statewide Average Weekly Wage (SAWW) is the average weekly earnings of all Minnesota workers, calculated annually by the Department of Labor and Industry (DLI). It serves as the foundation for setting workers' compensation benefit limits. The SAWW itself is not your benefit rate — it's the benchmark from which the maximum and minimum weekly comp rates are derived.
For example, since October 1, 2024, the maximum weekly compensation rate is 108% of the SAWW (previously 102% before that date). The minimum is 20% of the maximum rate (since October 1, 2021).
How Do Maximum and Minimum Rates Work?
Minnesota law caps weekly workers' comp benefits at a maximum rate and sets a minimum floor. These limits apply to TTD, TPD, and PTD benefits. Your benefit is generally two-thirds (66⅔%) of your average weekly wage (AWW), but it cannot exceed the max or fall below the min for your date of injury.
- Maximum: If ⅔ of your AWW exceeds the maximum rate, your weekly benefit is capped at the maximum. High earners will hit this cap.
- Minimum: If ⅔ of your AWW falls below the minimum rate (and your actual weekly wage exceeds it), your benefit is bumped up to the minimum. This protects lower-wage workers.
The key principle: your date of injury locks in which rate table applies. Even if rates increase later, your benefits are based on the rates in effect when you were hurt.
When Do Rates Change?
Rates change every October 1. The DLI publishes updated rates based on the new SAWW calculated from employment data. The annual adjustment percentage (listed in the table above) reflects the year-over-year change and is used for supplementary benefit calculations under Minn. Stat. § 176.645.
If you were injured on September 30, you get the prior year's rates. If you were injured on October 1, you get the new rates. This one-day difference can meaningfully affect your maximum benefit.
Key Statutory Changes Over Time
- Oct. 1, 1995: Minimum and maximum rates were set by statute rather than formula for several years (min $104/wk, max $615/wk).
- Oct. 1, 2013: Maximum changed to 102% of SAWW (Minn. Stat. § 176.101, subd. 1).
- Oct. 1, 2021: Minimum changed to 20% of the maximum compensation rate (Minn. Stat. § 176.101, subd. 1), replacing the prior $130/wk statutory floor.
- Oct. 1, 2024: Maximum changed to 108% of SAWW, significantly increasing the cap for higher-earning injured workers.