Lost Wages Calculator

Lost wages often represent the largest economic component of a personal injury claim — encompassing not just missed workdays but lost overtime, bonuses, benefits, and future earning capacity. This estimator calculates your total lost earnings claim based on income documentation and injury duration, helping you ensure no component of your economic loss is overlooked.

Our free Lost Wages Calculator helps you estimate values based on 5 key case variables. The calculator provides 3 detailed outputs using settlement data and damage multiplier methodologies.

Enter your case details to get jurisdiction-adjusted estimates as of 2026.

What you'll learn:

• Accurate lost wages calculator estimates based on your specific inputs
• Low, average, and high cost ranges for budgeting
• How local factors impact outcomes
• How to set realistic expectations for your case

Understanding the cost breakdown helps you budget effectively for your lost wages calculator project. Here are the typical cost components:

Our lost wages calculator uses a multi-variable formula that accounts for the following inputs:

1. Hourly Rate ($) — Range: 10 to 500
2. Hours Worked per Week — Range: 1 to 80
3. Workdays Missed — Range: 1 to 365
4. Future Earning Impact — Choose from: No ongoing wage impact expected, Temporary reduction in earning capacity, Long-term or permanent reduction in earning capacity
5. Scenario Complexity — Choose from: Basic / Standard, Typical, Advanced / Complex

Based on your inputs, the calculator provides:

• Past Lost Income — Dollar amount based on current market rates
• Future Lost Earnings — Dollar amount based on current market rates
• Total Lost Wages Estimate — Dollar amount based on current market rates

All calculations incorporate location-specific cost adjustments when a ZIP code is provided, using data from industry databases updated for 2026.

Calculates lost wages claim value using pre-injury income (hourly, salary, or self-employment), days or weeks missed from work, benefits and bonuses lost, projected future earning capacity reduction for permanent injuries, and applicable wage growth rates for long-term loss-of-earnings claims.

Data Sources:

• Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics for median earnings by occupation
• National Association of Forensic Economics (NAFE) published methodology for calculating economic damages in personal injury
• Social Security Administration life and work-life expectancy tables for future earnings projections

Key Assumptions:

• Lost wages include base pay, overtime, bonuses, commissions, tips, and employer-provided benefits (health insurance, retirement contributions)
• Self-employed claimants document losses through tax returns, profit/loss statements, and year-over-year revenue comparisons
• Future earning capacity reduction is calculated using present-value discount rates (typically 2-4% above inflation) applied to projected career earnings

Learn more about our data methodology

Several factors influence your lost wages calculator estimate:

Hourly Rate ($)

A key variable in determining your lost wages calculator estimate.

Hours Worked per Week

A key variable in determining your lost wages calculator estimate.

Workdays Missed

A key variable in determining your lost wages calculator estimate.

Future Earning Impact

Ranges from "Temporary reduction in earning capacity" to "No ongoing wage impact expected." Choosing No ongoing wage impact expected can cost 6.7x more than Temporary reduction in earning capacity.

Scenario Complexity

Ranges from "Basic / Standard" to "Advanced / Complex." Choosing Advanced / Complex can cost 1.5x more than Basic / Standard.

Jurisdiction

Settlement values and damage caps vary by state and county. Some jurisdictions impose caps on non-economic damages that significantly affect outcomes.

Case Complexity

Disputed liability, multiple parties, or severe injuries increase both potential settlement value and timeline. Attorney representation significantly affects recovery amounts.

After you run the calculator, your results include interactive sections that help you make informed decisions:

Damages Breakdown

Review each component of your estimated settlement or award separately — medical expenses, lost wages, and non-economic damages each appear as their own line item. This transparency helps you understand how each factor contributes to the total estimate and gives you realistic expectations for settlement discussions.

Visual Chart

The chart provides a visual summary of your results, making it straightforward to compare components at a glance. This is helpful when sharing estimates with a spouse, business partner, or advisor — the visual format communicates the key story faster than numbers alone.

Save and Share Your Results

Download your complete results as a CSV spreadsheet or PDF report. The PDF includes all your inputs and key results — ready to share with contractors, service providers, or anyone else who needs to review the numbers. No account or signup required.