Why Occupational Codes Matter in California Workers' Compensation Settlements
When a worker gets injured on the job in California, their workers’ compensation “settlement” isn’t just a random number, it’s based on a percentage of permanent disability (PD). The percentage given by the doctor, gets adjusted by the person’s age and occupation. A final disability rating will fall somewhere between 1% and 100%, and the higher the rating, the greater the compensation the worker receives. But there’s a surprisingly overlooked piece of this calculation, the occupational codes.
Occupational codes are numerical designations tied to a worker’s specific job duties. These codes play a significant role in determining the PD rating, yet many attorneys gloss over them or fail to advocate for the most appropriate one. That’s a big mistake—because the right code can mean a noticeably higher settlement.
How Do Occupational Codes Affect a Claim?
The formula used to calculate a PD rating takes into account not just the injury itself, but also how the injury impacts the worker’s ability to perform their specific job. These occupational codes are pulled from California’s Permanent Disability Rating Schedule, which has been around for over 50 years. And yes, some of these codes are seriously outdated.
This is where an experienced and proactive attorney makes a difference. They know how to challenge an inappropriate or outdated occupational code and fight for one that better reflects what the worker actually does. That can significantly change the final rating—and the settlement amount.
Real-World Examples: Same Job Title, Different Rating based on that particular job duties which could result in different occupational codes
Let’s say you’re a truck driver. If your job consists mainly of sitting behind the wheel, your occupational code (and resulting PD rating) will be different than if you also load and unload heavy cargo. The job title might be the same, but the physical demands are not—and the system accounts for that, if the right code is used.
Similarly, consider teachers: a physical education (PE) teacher who actively participates in sports with students has a different occupational code—and potentially a different PD rating—than a classroom-based teacher. Even within teaching, a special education instructor may qualify for a unique code based on the physical and emotional demands of their role.
The Hollywood Twist: Tom Cruise and Dual Occupational Codes
Here’s a fun way to think about it: Imagine Tom Cruise gets injured while filming Mission: Impossible. His job title is “actor,” but let’s be honest—he does a lot of his own stunts. If he injures his back during a stunt, he could be rated under a stunt performer’s code, which could yield a higher PD rating for a physical injury. But if he suffered a facial injury that left permanent scarring, he’d likely get a higher rating if classified as an actor—since appearance is crucial to that job.
In rare cases, workers—like our action-star example—may even qualify for dual occupational codes depending on the nature of their job duties and the injury involved.
Bottom Line
Occupational codes might sound like a small detail, but they can have a huge impact on the outcome of a workers’ compensation claim. Injured workers—and the attorneys who represent them—should pay close attention to how job duties are classified in the rating process. Sometimes, a simple code change can mean thousands of extra dollars in a settlement.
If you have been injured at work, the best action is to seek a lawyer knowledgeable in California Workers’ Compensation Law, including consideration of the most accurate occupational code to maximize your recovery. The legal experts at GEK LAW are available to advise you.
