Average Weekly Wage

What is Average Weekly Wage?
Average Weekly Wage (“AWW”) is a term used in Missouri Workers’ Compensation law to figure out a compensation rate. The statutory section on point is 287.250, RSMO:

“1. Except as otherwise provided for in this chapter, the method of computing an injured employee’s average weekly earnings which will serve as the basis for compensation provided for in this chapter shall be as follows:
(1) If the wages are fixed by the week, the amount so fixed shall be the average weekly wage;
(2) If the wages are fixed by the month, the average weekly wage shall be the monthly wage so fixed multiplied by twelve and divided by fifty-two;
(3) If the wages are fixed by the year, the average weekly wage shall be the yearly wage fixed divided by fifty-two;
(4) If the wages were fixed by the day, hour, or by the output of the employee, the average weekly wage shall be computed by dividing by thirteen the wages earned while actually employed by the employer in each of the last thirteen calendar weeks immediately preceding the week in which the employee was injured or if actually employed by the employer for less than thirteen weeks, by the number of calendar weeks, or any portion of a week, during which the employee was actually employed by the employer. For purposes of computing the average weekly wage pursuant to this subdivision, absence of five regular or scheduled work days, even if not in the same calendar week, shall be considered as absence for a calendar week. If the employee commenced employment on a day other than the beginning of a calendar week, such calendar week and the wages earned during such week shall be excluded in computing the average weekly wage pursuant to this subdivision;
(5) If the employee has been employed less than two calendar weeks immediately preceding the injury, the employee’s weekly wage shall be considered to be equivalent to the average weekly wage prevailing in the same or similar employment at the time of the injury, except if the employer has agreed to a certain hourly wage, then the hourly wage agreed upon multiplied by the number of weekly hours scheduled shall be the employee’s average weekly wage;
(6) If the hourly wage has not been fixed or cannot be ascertained, or the employee earned no wage, the wage for the purpose of calculating compensation shall be taken to be the usual wage for similar services where such services are rendered by paid employees of the employer or any other employer;
(7) In computing the average weekly wage pursuant to subdivisions (1) to (6) of this subsection, an employee shall be considered to have been actually employed for only those weeks in which labor is actually performed by the employee for the employer and wages are actually paid by the employer as compensation for such labor.”

AWW is tGalleryhe primary barometer used for the actual compensation (i.e., money amounts). The compensation rendered is designed to pay for reasonable medical expenses and costs, medical treatment related to the injury, a percentage of your AWW, provide compensation for time missed (and, if applicable, permanent disability).

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