How to use the PTO accrual calculator
- 1 Enter your PTO days a year and hours in a workday.
- 2 Choose your pay frequency.
- 3 Enter your current balance, planned use and pay periods left.
- 4 Enter any accrual cap and your hourly pay, then read your accrual and balance.
Worked example
15 PTO days of 8 hours, paid every two weeks, with 24 hours banked, 40 hours planned, 10 pay periods left, a 160-hour cap and $30 an hour. You earn 4.62 hours a pay period (120 hours a year, 0.0577 per hour worked). By year-end you earn 46.2 more hours, so after taking 40 hours your balance is 30.2 hours (3.8 days), worth $904.62.
Using your PTO well
- Watch the cap so you do not stop earning.
- Plan time off early in the year.
- Check your state's payout rules before you leave.
- Track your balance on every pay stub.
Check a final paycheck with the Prorated Salary Calculator, track hours with the Time Card Calculator, and value your pay with the Hourly to Salary Calculator.
Features
Every accrual rate
Per pay period, per month and per hour worked.
Cap check
Shows hours lost to the cap and when you hit it.
PTO value
What your balance is worth at your hourly pay.
When to use it
Planning time off
Make sure you have the hours before you book.
Leaving a job
Check your final pay with the Prorated Salary Calculator.
Hourly workers
Track hours with the Time Card Calculator.
Comparing offers
Value PTO alongside salary with the Hourly to Salary Calculator.
Related Pay and Salary tasks
Frequently asked questions
How is PTO accrual calculated?
Divide your yearly PTO hours by the number of pay periods. 15 days of 8 hours is 120 hours; paid every two weeks (26 periods), that is 4.62 hours a pay period.
What is PTO accrual per hour worked?
Yearly PTO hours divided by 2,080 hours. 120 hours a year is about 0.0577 hours of PTO for each hour worked, about 2.3 hours per 40-hour week.
What is an accrual cap?
A maximum balance. Once you reach it, you stop earning PTO until you use some. Caps are often 1.5 to 2 times the yearly amount.
Is PTO paid out when I leave?
It depends on the state and your employer's policy. California, Colorado, Massachusetts and some other states require unused vacation to be paid out; many states leave it to the policy.
Can my employer take away earned PTO?
In states that treat vacation as earned wages, such as California, 'use it or lose it' policies are not allowed; caps are. Elsewhere, policies that expire unused PTO are generally legal if clearly stated.
How much PTO is typical in the US?
Private employers commonly offer about 10 to 15 days a year at first, rising with years of service, plus paid holidays. The US has no federal requirement for paid vacation.
Do part-time workers earn PTO?
Often, prorated by hours worked. Accrual per hour worked makes this simple.
Is sick leave the same as PTO?
Some employers combine vacation and sick time into one PTO bank. Many states and cities require paid sick leave, often 1 hour for every 30 hours worked.
Do I accrue PTO during leave?
Usually not during unpaid leave. During paid leave, it depends on the policy.
Is PTO payout taxed?
Yes. A PTO payout is wages, usually withheld as supplemental wages at 22% federal plus FICA.
Results are estimates based on the official rates linked above. Confirm important figures with the issuing authority or a qualified adviser before you act on them.
Built and reviewed by Hamza Farooq, founder and lead developer
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