How PTO accrues
Most employers use one of two methods. Some give a fixed number of days a year, spread across pay periods. Others give a small amount of time for each hour worked.
For the first method, hours per period equal days per year times hours per day, divided by pay periods in a year. A biweekly employee with 15 days of 8 hours earns about 4.6 hours a period.
Check your policy
Caps, carryover and payout when you leave vary by state and by employer. Your handbook and your state labor agency are the sources to trust. This calculator projects the balance from the numbers you give it.
Related calculators
How do I calculate PTO per pay period?
Multiply days per year by hours per day, then divide by the number of pay periods in a year. Biweekly pay has 26 periods, weekly 52, twice a month 24.
How do I calculate PTO that accrues per hour worked?
Divide the hours you work in a period by the number of hours it takes to earn one hour. Working 80 hours at 1 hour per 30 earns about 2.7 hours.
Is unused PTO paid out when I leave?
It depends on state law and company policy. The value shown here is an estimate at the hourly rate you enter.