How many hours is a PTO day?

In standard US employment, one PTO day equals 8 hours, based on a standard 40-hour work week. This is the assumption used in this calculator. Some employers use 7.5-hour days (common in healthcare) or 7-hour days. If your employer uses a different daily hours standard, divide your total PTO hours by that number instead of 8 to get your equivalent days.

What is a good amount of PTO?

The average US private-sector employee receives about 10 days of PTO after one year of service and 14–15 days after five years, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Government employees typically receive 13–26 days depending on years of service. Employees in professional services, tech, and finance often receive 15–20 days plus holidays. Unlimited PTO policies are increasingly common, though studies show employees often take fewer days under unlimited plans than with fixed accruals.

Do employers have to pay out unused PTO when you leave?

This varies by state. In California, Colorado, Illinois, and several others, earned PTO is considered wages and must be paid out at separation — employers cannot "use it or lose it." In most other states, employers can set their own policies, including forfeiture of unused PTO. Check your state's labor laws and your employee handbook. If your state requires payout, this calculator's current balance value shows exactly what you're owed.

How much PTO do I earn per pay period?

With 15 PTO days (120 hours) per year and bi-weekly pay, you earn 120 / 26 = 4.62 hours per pay period. With weekly pay, you earn 120 / 52 = 2.31 hours per week. Many pay stubs show this accrual rate. Tracking it helps you plan vacations without going into the negative — most payroll systems will flag any time-off request that exceeds your current balance.

What is the difference between PTO and vacation days?

Vacation days are specifically for leisure and travel. PTO (Paid Time Off) is a combined bank that covers vacation, sick days, and personal days — so you don't need to categorize why you're taking time off. Most employers have moved to PTO banks because they simplify administration and give employees more flexibility. Some companies still offer separate vacation and sick accrual, in which case you should enter only vacation days in this calculator unless you want to value your total combined PTO.

PTO Calculator — Hours, Days & Dollar Value

Calculates annual PTO hours, days, dollar value, and current balance value based on your salary and accrual method.

How to Use This PTO Calculator

This PTO calculator converts your paid time off into dollar terms so you can see exactly what your benefits are worth. Select your PTO accrual method, enter your annual PTO days, your annual salary, your pay frequency, and your current PTO balance in hours (find this on your pay stub or in your HR portal). The calculator instantly shows the dollar value of your annual PTO, how many hours you earn per pay period, your effective hourly rate, and the cash value of your current balance.

This is especially useful when comparing job offers — a higher salary with fewer PTO days may be worth less total compensation than a lower salary with generous PTO. Use our salary increase calculator to model total compensation changes including PTO value.

How PTO Dollar Value Is Calculated

Your hourly rate is your annual salary divided by 2,080 — the standard number of working hours in a year (52 weeks × 40 hours/week). Your annual PTO value is then that hourly rate multiplied by your PTO hours (days × 8 hours/day). For example:

Annual salary: $70,000
Hourly rate: $70,000 ÷ 2,080 = $33.65/hour
Annual PTO: 15 days × 8 hours = 120 hours
PTO value: $33.65 × 120 = $4,038.46/year

Your current balance value uses the same hourly rate applied to the hours currently accrued — which is what you're owed if you leave and your state requires PTO payout.

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PTO as Part of Total Compensation

PTO is one of the most undervalued components of a compensation package. A worker earning $70,000 with 15 days of PTO receives $4,038 in PTO value annually — effectively a 5.8% bonus on top of base salary. Comparing two jobs at the same salary, 20 days versus 10 days of PTO represents a $5,384 annual difference in compensation for a $70,000 salary.

Other benefits to factor in when comparing offers include employer 401(k) match, health insurance premiums (average employer contribution: ~$7,000/year for individual coverage, ~$20,000 for family), tuition reimbursement, and flexible scheduling. Use our paycheck calculator to understand your net take-home pay across different salary levels.

PTO Accrual Methods Explained

Employers use several different accrual methods:

Days per year (lump sum): You receive all your PTO at the start of the year (or on your anniversary date). Simple — you know exactly what you have on day one.
Hours per pay period: You earn a fixed number of hours each paycheck. Most common for hourly and bi-weekly salaried workers. The rate is annualPTOHours ÷ pay periods.
Percentage of hours worked: You earn PTO as a percentage of hours worked — common for part-time workers. At 6% of hours worked, a 40-hour week earns 2.4 hours of PTO.
Unlimited PTO: No formal accrual — employees take time as needed with manager approval. Research shows employees average fewer days off under unlimited plans than with fixed accruals.

State Laws on PTO Payout

Whether your employer must pay out unused PTO when you leave depends on your state. States that require PTO payout as wages include California, Colorado, Illinois, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Montana, Nebraska, New York, North Dakota, and Rhode Island — among others. In these states, accrued PTO is a vested wage and cannot be forfeited under "use it or lose it" policies.

In most other states, employers can set their own policy. Some allow forfeiture of unused PTO; others require payout only if stated in the employment contract or employee handbook. Always check your state labor board website and your employee handbook before leaving a job with accrued PTO.

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PTO and Severance

When you leave a job — whether voluntarily or via layoff — understanding your PTO balance matters. In states with mandatory payout laws, unused PTO is paid at your regular rate of pay. If you're being laid off, also check whether your severance package includes PTO payout or whether it is paid separately. Use our severance pay calculator to estimate your full separation package including PTO.

How to Negotiate More PTO

PTO is often more negotiable than salary — especially for experienced hires. Employers have more flexibility to offer an extra week of PTO (cost: ~$1,300/year for a $70,000 role) than to increase salary by the same dollar amount (which affects payroll taxes and future salary benchmarks). Strategies that work: request PTO at the same time as your salary negotiation, frame it as matching your current employer's policy, and ask for specific days rather than an open-ended increase.

Financial Disclaimer

This calculator is for planning and educational purposes only and is not financial or legal advice. PTO policies, accrual methods, and payout requirements vary by employer and state. Consult your HR department and a qualified employment attorney or financial advisor for guidance specific to your situation.

PTO Calculator