How much is a neck injury worth in Tennessee workers' comp?
Tennessee does not use a fixed number of weeks for a neck injury. Your doctor gives a whole-person impairment rating and the award follows the state formula (whole-person % × 450 weeks).
How a neck injury is paid in Tennessee
Rated as a whole-body impairment × 450 weeks.
Each week is paid at 66.67% of your average weekly wage, up to $1,353 a week, with a minimum of $202.95 a week (or your full wage if it is lower).
What is different in Tennessee
Tennessee has no body-part schedule: every PPD award is the impairment rating × 450 weeks. If the worker has not returned to work at pre-injury wages when the initial period ends, increased benefits apply (×1.35, with further multipliers for no high school diploma, age over 40 and high county unemployment).
Worked examples
| Rating | $800 weekly wage | $1,200 weekly wage | $1,600 weekly wage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5% whole-person rating | $12,001 | $18,001 | $24,001 |
| 10% whole-person rating | $24,001 | $36,002 | $48,002 |
| 15% whole-person rating | $36,002 | $54,003 | $72,004 |
| 25% whole-person rating | $60,003 | $90,004 | $120,006 |
Calculate your neck award
Settlement value vs. the statutory award
The figures on this page are what Tennessee 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 neck injury helps you judge whether an offer is low.
Tennessee vs. neighboring states
| State | How a neck injury is paid | Max for total loss |
|---|---|---|
| Tennessee | whole-person % × 450 weeks | — |
| Alabama | wage loss | — |
| Arkansas | whole-person % × 450 weeks | — |
| Georgia | whole-person % × 300 weeks | — |
| Kentucky | impairment rating (see rule) | — |
| Mississippi | wage loss | — |
| Missouri | whole-person % × 400 weeks | — |
| North Carolina | depends on how it is rated | — |
| Virginia | 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 Tennessee
Weekly temporary benefits while you cannot work follow these rules:
| Weekly rate | 66.67% of AWW |
|---|---|
| Maximum weekly benefit | $1,488.30 (2026-07-01 to 2027-06-30) |
| Minimum weekly benefit | $202.95/week (FY 2026-27) |
| Waiting period | 7 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 much is a neck injury worth in Tennessee workers' comp?
It depends on your whole-person impairment rating. Tennessee pays whole-person % × 450 weeks; a 10% rating is worth up to $60,885.
What is the average workers' comp settlement for a neck injury in Tennessee?
Tennessee does not publish an official average. The best benchmark is the statutory award for your rating: for example, a 10% whole-person rating at a $1,200 weekly wage works out to about $36,002. Settlements move up or down from there.
What is the maximum weekly workers' comp benefit in Tennessee in 2026?
The maximum weekly temporary total disability benefit is $1,488.30 (2026-07-01 to 2027-06-30).
Is there a waiting period in Tennessee?
Yes. Tennessee does not pay the first 7 days of lost time, but pays them back once disability lasts more than 14 days.
Which law sets these amounts?
Tenn. Code Ann. §§ 50-6-205, 50-6-207, 50-6-102. The official sources are linked at the bottom of this page.
Other injuries in Tennessee
Law and official sources
Official sources
Statute: Tenn. Code Ann. §§ 50-6-205, 50-6-207, 50-6-102; Tenn. Code Ann. § 50-6-207(3)
- Tennessee Bureau of Workers' Compensation (official site)
- tn.gov/workforce/injuries-at-work/injured-workers/injured-workers/benefits/wage-replacemen
- tn.gov/workforce/injuries-at-work/bwc-newsroom/2026/7/10/2026-workers-compensation-legisla
- codes.findlaw.com/tn/title-50-employer-and-employee/tn-code-sect-50-6-205/
- codes.findlaw.com/tn/title-50-employer-and-employee/tn-code-sect-50-6-207/
- law.justia.com/codes/tennessee/2010/title-50/chapter-6/part-2/50-6-207
Figures checked September 30, 2026. Maximums change every year; confirm current figures with the Tennessee 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.