How much is a back injury worth in Colorado workers' comp?
How Colorado workers' compensation pays for a back injury, the 2026 benefit rates, and what to check before you accept a settlement.
How a back injury is paid in Colorado
Not scheduled; paid as whole-person medical impairment: rating × age factor × 400 weeks.
General rule for permanent injuries in Colorado: whole-person impairment % (AMA Guides 3rd ed. revised) × age factor (1.80 at 20 or younger to 1.00 at 60+) × 400 weeks at the TTD rate.
What is different in Colorado
Scheduled losses and whole-person impairments are paid separately, each solely on its own basis. Up to $10,000 of a whole-person award can be taken as a lump sum on written request.
Settlement value vs. the statutory award
The figures on this page are what Colorado law sets. Many claims end in a negotiated settlement instead. Insurers usually start from the statutory award for your rating, then adjust for disputed ratings, future medical care, how long wage-loss benefits could run and the risk of a hearing. Knowing the statutory number for a back injury helps you judge whether an offer is low.
Colorado vs. neighboring states
| State | How a back injury is paid | Max for total loss |
|---|---|---|
| Colorado | impairment rating (see rule) | — |
| Arizona | wage loss | — |
| Kansas | whole-person % × 415 weeks | — |
| Nebraska | wage loss | — |
| New Mexico | whole-person % × 500 weeks | — |
| Oklahoma | whole-person % × 360 weeks | — |
| Utah | whole-person % × 312 weeks | — |
| Wyoming | impairment rating (see rule) | — |
"Max for total loss" applies to body-part schedules at the top weekly rate. Compare all 50 states and D.C.
While you recover: temporary disability in Colorado
Weekly temporary benefits while you cannot work follow these rules:
| Weekly rate | 66.67% of AWW |
|---|---|
| Maximum weekly benefit | $1,448.02 (2026-07-01 to 2027-06-30) |
| Minimum weekly benefit | No statutory minimum found |
| Waiting period | 3 days |
| Waiting days paid back after | 14 days of disability |
| Time limit on temporary benefits | No fixed week limit in statute |
Estimate your weekly check
Frequently asked questions
How is a back injury paid in Colorado workers' comp?
Not scheduled; paid as whole-person medical impairment: rating × age factor × 400 weeks.
What is the maximum weekly workers' comp benefit in Colorado in 2026?
The maximum weekly temporary total disability benefit is $1,448.02 (2026-07-01 to 2027-06-30).
Is there a waiting period in Colorado?
Yes. Colorado does not pay the first 3 days of lost time, but pays them back once disability lasts more than 14 days.
Which law sets these amounts?
C.R.S. §§8-42-103, 8-42-105, 8-42-107, 8-42-107.5. The official sources are linked at the bottom of this page.
Other injuries in Colorado
Law and official sources
Includes secondary sources
Statute: C.R.S. §§8-42-103, 8-42-105, 8-42-107, 8-42-107.5; C.R.S. §8-42-107(2), (8)
- Colorado Division of Workers' Compensation (Department of Labor & Employment) (official site)
- cdle.colorado.gov/dwc/dowc-updates
- secure.ssa.gov/poms.nsf/lnx/0452150045
- colorado.public.law/statutes/crs_8-42-103
- colorado.public.law/statutes/crs_8-42-105
- law.justia.com/codes/colorado/title-8/labor-ii-workers-compensation-and-related-provisions
- colorado.public.law/statutes/crs_8-42-107
Figures checked September 30, 2026. Maximums change every year; confirm current figures with the Colorado workers' compensation agency.
Estimate only. Your real award depends on your doctor's rating, your wage records, offsets and settlement terms. This page is general information, not legal advice.