Lost Wages and Income Loss Calculator
Estimate your total lost wages and income loss due to injury, illness, or accident. This calculator covers past lost wages, future income loss, lost benefits, and self-employment income loss.
Past Lost Wages
Future Income Loss
Lost Benefits
Formulas Used
Daily Rate (Salaried/Self-Employed):
Daily Rate = Annual Income ÷ 260 working days
Daily Rate (Hourly):
Daily Rate = Hourly Wage × Hours Per Week ÷ 5
Past Full-Day Loss:
Past Loss = Days Missed × Daily Rate
Partial-Day Loss:
Partial Loss = Partial Days × Daily Rate × (1 − Productivity%)
Future Loss — Present Value (Annuity Formula):
PV = Monthly Loss × [1 − (1 + r/12)−n] ÷ (r/12)
where r = annual discount rate, n = number of future months
If discount rate = 0, PV = Monthly Loss × n (no discounting)
Lost Benefits:
Lost Health = Monthly Health Value × Total Months Affected
Lost Retirement = Annual Income × Employer Contribution% × (Months ÷ 12)
Lost Other = Annual Other Benefits × (Months ÷ 12)
Grand Total:
Total = Past Lost Wages + PV of Future Loss + Lost Benefits
Assumptions & References
- A standard work year of 260 working days (52 weeks × 5 days) is assumed for salaried and self-employed workers.
- PTO and sick days used are included as compensable losses — the claimant lost the benefit of those accrued days (see Restatement (Second) of Torts § 924).
- Self-employed claimants may also recover fixed business overhead costs that continued during their absence (Dobbs, Law of Remedies § 8.1).
- Future losses are discounted to present value using a standard annuity formula, consistent with Jones & Laughlin Steel Corp. v. Pfeifer, 462 U.S. 523 (1983).
- Typical discount rates range from 2% to 5% annually, often based on U.S. Treasury yields or expert economic testimony.
- Lost benefits (health insurance, retirement, bonuses) are recoverable as part of total compensation loss per most jurisdictions.
- This calculator does not account for income taxes, inflation adjustments to future wages, or jurisdiction-specific caps on damages.
- Results are estimates only. Consult a licensed attorney or forensic economist for litigation purposes.