How Much Does Minnesota Workers’ Compensation Pay for Hearing Loss?

Hearing loss from years of workplace noise exposure rarely announces itself. Instead of a sudden change, you may notice muffled conversations, coworkers who seem to mumble, or ringing that lingers in your ears. If your job caused hearing damage, Minnesota workers’ compensation can cover your treatment and pay for the permanent loss.

How Does Work-Related Hearing Loss Develop?

Most occupational hearing loss stems from repeated exposure to loud noise, which gradually damages the inner ear’s delicate structures. A single intense sound, such as an explosion or gunfire, can also cause sudden, lasting harm. Because the damage often develops slowly, many workers do not connect their symptoms to their job until years later.

Some of the highest-risk occupations for hearing loss include:

• Construction and demolition work involving heavy equipment and power tools
• Manufacturing, metal fabrication, and machine operation
• Mining, logging, and agriculture
• Airport, railroad, and trucking jobs
• Law enforcement and firefighting

How Minnesota Workers’ Comp Rates Permanent Hearing Loss

Minnesota’s workers’ compensation system provides two types of disability benefits for injured employees: temporary and permanent. Temporary benefits replace part of your wages while you recover and are unable to work or can work only at reduced pay. Permanent benefits apply once your doctor determines you have reached maximum medical improvement, meaning further treatment is unlikely to improve your condition. Because hearing loss is usually irreversible, these claims typically include permanent benefits.

Permanent benefits are divided into two categories:

• Permanent total disability (PTD) applies when an injury leaves you unable to secure anything more than sporadic, low-paying work.
• Permanent partial disability (PPD) compensates you for a lasting loss of bodily function, whether or not you can still work.

Since most people with hearing loss can continue working in some capacity, their claims generally fall under PPD.

To establish your PPD rating, a doctor will examine your ears, review your noise-exposure history, and conduct audiometric testing that measures how well each ear detects sound. Under Minnesota Rules, part 5223.0340, at least three months must pass between the noise injury and the final evaluation. Your results are then converted into a whole-body impairment rating, with a maximum of 35 percent for complete hearing loss in both ears.

Calculating Your Permanent Partial Disability Payment

Your PPD award will be equal to your impairment rating multiplied by a dollar amount established by Minnesota Statutes § 176.101. This dollar amount increases with higher ratings and varies based on your date of injury. You may choose to receive PPD in a lump sum or in regular installments.

For injuries occurring on or after October 1, 2026, the value of a PPD award looks like this:

• A 10 percent rating multiplied by $146,297 equals about $14,630
• A 20 percent rating multiplied by $164,584 equals about $32,917
• A 35 percent rating multiplied by $180,348 equals about $63,122

Talk With a Minnesota Workers’ Compensation Lawyer About Your Hearing Loss

Because a hearing loss award depends on precise testing, a small error in your rating can cost you thousands of dollars. Insurers may also blame outside factors, such as aging, military service, or hobbies, to reduce or deny your payment. A Minnesota workers’ comp lawyer can challenge a low rating and fight for every dollar you deserve. If your hearing has declined after years of workplace noise, contact a workers’ compensation attorney today to learn what your claim may be worth.