How North Carolina Workers’ Comp Caps Fail High Earners, and What You Can Do About It

Workers’ compensation in North Carolina is designed to help injured employees by covering medical bills and replacing part of lost wages. While the system offers vital support, it does not always treat high earners fairly.

Charlotte professionals, executives, and skilled workers who earn six-figure incomes often face steep financial challenges after an injury because of the state’s cap on weekly benefits. Understanding how these caps work and what options you may have to recover additional compensation is critical.

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What is the Weekly Benefits Cap?

In North Carolina, injured workers are entitled to two-thirds of their average weekly wage as wage replacement benefits, which is based on their gross earnings for the 52 weeks before the injury. However, the law sets a maximum weekly benefit amount that applies no matter how much you earn. For 2025, that maximum is $1,380.00 per week.

On paper, two-thirds of a high salary should provide significant wage replacement. For example, someone making $150,000 per year earns about $2,884 per week. Two-thirds of that would equal roughly $1,923. But because of the cap, the most they can receive is $1,380. That is more than $500 less every week than the two-thirds formula promises. Over months of recovery, the shortfall becomes tens of thousands of dollars.

Why the Cap Hurts High Earners Most

For many families, losing that much income creates severe financial strain. Mortgage payments, tuition, childcare, and other expenses do not decrease simply because benefits are capped. Professionals in Charlotte who are used to earning well above average wages may find themselves suddenly struggling to cover everyday living costs.

The cap also punishes workers in careers that require years of training and education. Doctors, engineers, business executives, and skilled tradespeople face the same maximum as workers earning much less, even though their financial obligations are often greater. The result is a system that leaves high earners disproportionately underprotected.

Strategies to Maximize Recovery

Although you cannot change the statutory cap, there are steps you can take to fill the financial gap created by it.

These include:

• Third-Party Claims: Workers injured because of third-party negligence, whether from a traffic collision or defective equipment, may be entitled to seek full damages through a personal injury claim.
• Long-Term Disability Coverage: Some employers offer group disability insurance, and many professionals purchase their own private policies. These benefits can supplement workers’ compensation payments.
• Short-Term Disability and Employer Benefits: Review whether your employer provides additional wage replacement or paid leave that can help bridge the income gap.
• Accurate Calculations: Even within the cap, it is crucial to ensure your average weekly wage is calculated correctly. An error in the calculation could cost you significant money.
• Negotiated Settlements: In some cases, a structured or lump-sum settlement may provide more flexibility in managing financial needs than weekly benefits alone.

How Ramsay Law Firm Can Help

At Ramsay Law Firm, we understand the frustration high earners feel when North Carolina’s workers’ comp system fails to reflect their actual lost income. Our Charlotte workers’ compensation attorneys work to make sure every benefit is maximized, while also pursuing third-party claims and exploring other avenues of recovery when possible.

If you are a high-income worker struggling with workers’ comp caps after an injury, contact our Mecklenburg County workers’ compensation attorneys today at (704) 376-1616 or online for a free consultation. We can help you evaluate your options and fight for the financial stability you deserve.

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