How Much Does Workers’ Comp Pay in Gastonia, NC?

If you’ve been injured on the job in Gastonia, you’re likely wondering, “How much does workers’ comp pay in Gastonia, North Carolina?” Answering that question involves knowing the state and federal rules that apply. These include North Carolina’s weekly maximums and the two-thirds rule for wage replacement, which applies in most cases. The exact figures can vary by your paychecks and your disability rating.

Understanding the maximum rates, as well as the federal benchmark, can enable you to estimate your potential benefits for recovery.

Hire a Workers’ Comp Lawyer

At Roberts Law Firm, P.A., our team of workers’ compensation attorneys has more than 60 years of combined experience in representing injured workers throughout North Carolina.We closely follow state and federal workers’ compensation guidelines, including annual updates to maximum benefit rates, so our clients receive accurate and timely advice.

Recognized for our ethical advocacy and thorough preparation, we can explain how workers’ compensation pay is calculated. Our firm can also make sure employees in Gastonia obtain the benefits to which they are entitled in their workers’ comp cases.

How Workers’ Compensation Pay Is Calculated

Workers’ comp benefits in Gastonia are generally two-thirds of an injured worker’s average weekly wage (AWW). Your AWW is typically determined by adding up your gross wages for the 52 weeks prior to your injury and dividing by the number of weeks actually worked, multiplied by two-thirds.

2025 Maximum and Minimum Workers’ Comp Rates

In 2025, North Carolina’s maximum weekly workers’ compensation benefit is set at $1,380. Even if two-thirds of your average weekly wage exceeds that figure, your benefit will be capped at this amount.

North Carolina law requires that the minimum benefit stand at $30 per week unless the worker’s average weekly wage falls below $30. In that case, the benefit will equal the worker’s total wage. These minimum and maximum benefits are adjusted annually by the North Carolina Industrial Commission.

Factors That Influence Payment Amounts

The amount of money you can receive depends on a number of factors, including the wage you earn. If you have a temporary total disability, TTD benefits can provide for you while you are completely unable to work. Temporary partial disability, or TPD, covers you when you have limitations that are less than total.

A permanent partial or total disability rating, assigned after your doctor’s medical evaluation, determines the payout you can get for long-term injuries. The actual AWW and how long your disability lasts can impact your benefits, and reaching “maximum medical improvement” can change your status. It is important to keep all your medical records to get the correct benefit amount.

Special Considerations for Gastonia Workers

Gastonia also has manufacturing, healthcare, retail, and logistics sectors. With each industry having its own unique risks and pay grades, work-related injuries may range from repetitive strain for assembly line workers to heavy lifting injuries in warehousing to slip-and-fall injuries in caregiving settings. Diverse industries result in major differences between average weekly wages and the length of time workers collect compensation benefits.

In addition, high-traffic construction zones and factories around Gastonia may have more frequent no-delay claims due to complicated shift patterns or market conditions. Knowing how your workplace and job role specifically affect your average earnings can let you make an accurate estimate for workers’ comp pay.

FAQs

Do Workers’ Comp Benefits Cover Medical Expenses in Gastonia?

Workers’ compensation benefits in Gastonia pay for all reasonable and necessary medical treatment resulting from a workplace injury. This can include visits to the doctor, hospital stays, medications, and physical therapy.

Workers may even be reimbursed for mileage if they travel for medical treatment. Injured employees should be sure their treatment is authorized through their employer’s insurance. Otherwise, they may end up being ineligible for the workers’ compensation system.

Can I Work Another Job While Collecting Workers’ Comp in North Carolina?

In North Carolina, it may be possible to work another job while collecting workers’ comp, but it depends on your medical restrictions and the type of benefit you are receiving. Your benefits may be affected if your doctor has cleared you for light duty, and you take on a different position. If you fail to report the secondary income, you could put your eligibility at risk.

How Long Can I Receive Workers’ Comp Benefits in North Carolina?

In North Carolina, workers’ compensation benefits are not paid for a lifetime, but they may continue for up to 500 weeks, depending on the severity of the injury and your status as a “disabled” or “partially disabled” person. Benefits can continue past 500 weeks for cases involving permanent total disabilities or catastrophic injuries when judges in the Gaston County Courthouse and the Industrial Commission identify “good cause.”

What Happens If My Gastonia Workers’ Comp Claim Is Denied?

If your Gastonia workers’ comp claim gets denied, you can appeal to the North Carolina Industrial Commission. Common reasons for denials include lost paperwork, disagreements about the injury being work-related, and missed deadlines. With assistance from a workers’ comp attorney, you can file appeals. Your attorney can also present evidence and argue your case for benefits.

Contact a North Carolina Workers’ Compensation Lawyer

To know how much your Gastonia workers’ comp pays, you must understand the factors that determine benefits, the current state maximum and minimums, and the special circumstances that will determine the value of each injured worker’s claim. Although workers’ comp should fully replace lost wages and pay for medical care, it is not unusual to experience delays and disputes when filing a claim.

An experienced advocate who can fight for your rights and pursue the full range of benefits you are entitled to is just one of the many reasons you need an attorney. At Roberts Law Firm, P.A., our lawyers have decades of experience in helping injured workers obtain the compensation they deserve under the Gastonia workers’ comp laws.

Contact us to schedule your consultation and get more information about your options. Hire a North Carolina workers’ compensation lawyer to assert your rights today.