Today, we received notice from the Pennsylvania Bureau of Workers’ Compensation stating that the maximum workers’ compensation rate for injuries suffered in 2025 will be $1,347.00. This number is based upon the Statewide Average Weekly Wage (SAWW). This figure is an increase from the SAWW of $1,325.00, which represented the maximum workers’ compensation rate for 2024 injuries.
Unfortunately, there is no annual increase for work injuries which have already taken place. Other benefit programs, such as Social Security Disability, contain cost of living raises annually. This is not present within the Pennsylvania Workers’ Compensation Act. The benefit rate in effect at the time of the work injury is the rate which will remain for that case permanently.
The grid to see the calculation of the workers’ compensation rate from the Average Weekly Wage (AWW) can be found on the website of the Bureau of Workers’ Compensation (though, at the time of this blog, the site is not updated for 2025). While the calculation of the rate from the AWW is purely mathematical, the calculation of the AWW itself is complicated and should always be checked by an attorney experienced in PA workers’ compensation.