OSHA Penalty Calculator

OSHA Maximum Penalty Amounts (2025 Levels, Unchanged for 2026)

OSHA adjusts penalty amounts annually for inflation. These maximums took effect January 15, 2025 (90 FR 1854). There was no adjustment for 2026 (91 FR 31358), so they still apply. Source: osha.gov/penalties.

How OSHA Calculates Penalties

This calculator follows OSHA's Field Operations Manual, Chapter 6 (CPL 02-00-164, updated July 2025), with the 2025 penalty amounts. A serious violation starts at its gravity-based penalty, set by the severity of the likely injury and the probability it happens: $16,550 for high gravity, $9,457 to $14,187 for moderate gravity and $7,093 for low gravity. OSHA then applies its adjustments one after another, in this order:

• Size: 70% off for 1-25 employees, 30% for 26-100, 10% for 101-250 and none above 250. Serious willful violations use a separate table: 80% off for 20 or fewer employees, then 50%, 40%, 30%, 20% and 10% up to 250.
• Good faith: 15% off for a documented and effective safety and health management system, or 25% for a written one. None for willful, repeated or high-gravity serious violations.
• History: 20% off if you had no serious citations in the last 5 years or were never inspected. 20% added if a high-gravity serious citation became a final order in that time.
• Quick-Fix: 15% off when the hazard is corrected during the inspection or within 5 days. Only for other-than-serious and low or moderate gravity serious violations.

Willful violations are reduced only for size and history and never go below the $11,823 minimum. Chapter 6 does not set a starting figure, so this calculator starts willful estimates at the $165,514 maximum. Repeated serious violations multiply the gravity-based penalty by 2 for a first repeat and 5 for a second (5 and 10 above 250 employees), and are reduced only for size.

Other-than-serious violations carry only minimal severity, and their penalty range starts at $0. OSHA usually proposes no penalty for them, which is this calculator's default. If the Area Director decides a penalty is needed for deterrence, it starts at the $16,550 maximum and the adjustments above apply. A repeated other-than-serious violation that had no initial penalty carries a fixed $472 for the first repeat, $1,182 for the second and $2,364 for the third. Posting violations follow their own rules (Chapter 6, Section X) and are not modelled here. The estimate band shown with each result is our own rule of thumb, not an OSHA figure.

How to Reduce OSHA Fines

• Informal conference: Request within 15 working days of citation. Many penalties are reduced 30-50% through negotiation.
• Quick-Fix credit: Correcting a hazard during the inspection or within 5 days takes 15% off that penalty (other-than-serious and low or moderate gravity serious violations).
• Documented safety program: Having a written safety program, regular training records, and inspection logs demonstrates good faith.
• Contest the citation: If the citation is incorrect, you have 15 working days to file a notice of contest with OSHRC.
• Payment plan: OSHA allows installment payments for smaller employers.

Per-Instance vs Per-Violation

OSHA can cite violations on a per-instance basis when the same hazard affects multiple employees or locations. For example, if 10 workers lack fall protection, OSHA could issue 10 separate serious violations at up to $16,550 each ($165,500 total) rather than a single violation. Per-instance citations are more common for willful and egregious violations.