EEOC Discrimination Settlement
EEOC settlement: back pay, front pay, emotional distress (Title VII cap $50K-$300K), punitive (same caps), attorney fees. Median ~$50K-$150K.
| Annual salary | — |
| Monthly | — |
| Back pay | — |
| Front pay (discounted) | — |
| Title VII cap | — |
| Emotional + punitive | — |
| Total estimated settlement | — |
| Attorney fees (40%) | — |
| Net to you | — |
EEOC discrimination settlements combine back pay (lost wages), front pay (future lost earnings), emotional distress damages, and punitive damages. Title VII caps non-economic damages based on employer size: $50K (15-100 employees) to $300K (500+).
Title VII Damage Caps 2027
15-100 employees: $50,000 cap on emotional + punitive combined. 101-200: $100,000. 201-500: $200,000. 501+: $300,000. Back pay and front pay UNCAPPED. Major reason claims against large companies settle for more.
Damage Components
Back pay: lost wages from termination to judgment, minus mitigation. Front pay: future lost earnings (often 1-3 years, discounted). Emotional distress: humiliation, anxiety, depression caused by discrimination. Punitive damages: malicious intent (less common; high bar).
Settlement vs Trial
~75% of EEOC charges settle. Median settlement: $30K-$70K. Litigated cases reaching trial average higher BUT highly variable. Strong evidence + sympathetic facts + large employer = higher recovery. Weak evidence = often dismissed at MSJ.
Last updated May 2026. Sources: EEOC Discrimination Statistics.