Vacation payout calculator.
See the value of your unused accrued vacation after federal, state, and FICA tax \u2014 salaried or hourly, all 50 states.
Enter your details
How are you paid?
Your full pay before taxes are taken out
Most full-time jobs are 40
How many PTO hours you have left. Check your latest pay stub.
This changes the legal advice below, not the dollar amount.
Enter your pay and unused PTO hours to download the report.
What you'll be paid
Payout before taxes
$0.00
Enter your pay and unused PTO hours to see what you'll get paid and how much goes to taxes.
Estimates only. Tax withholding may differ based on your full-year income, filing status, and deductions. Consult a tax professional for exact figures.
Disclaimer: Calculations are based on the 2026 IRS Supplemental Wage Rate (22% flat federal withholding) and current state labor department guidelines. Always consult an employment attorney for binding legal disputes.
Estimates only. PTO payout rights and tax withholding vary by state, employer policy, and individual circumstances. This is not legal, tax, or financial advice. Consult your state labor department or a qualified professional. See our methodology.
How to calculate vacation payout for salaried employees
Your vacation payout equals your accrued unused vacation hours multiplied by your hourly rate. If you are salaried, convert first by dividing your annual salary by 2,080 (40 hours × 52 weeks). The gross is then taxed as a supplemental wage — 22% federal, your state rate, and 7.65% FICA — so your take-home is lower than the gross.
Which states require vacation payout upon termination?
Vacation payout laws by state vary significantly. Many state wage statutes specifically classify accrued vacation as earned wages: in California, Colorado, Illinois, Massachusetts, and others, unused vacation must be paid at separation and use-it-or-lose-it forfeiture of earned vacation is not allowed. In states with no payout statute, your employer’s written vacation policy or contract decides. Check the rule where you work in the 50-state payout guide.
Vacation pay vs. PTO vs. sick leave
“Vacation payout” and “PTO payout” use the same gross-to-net math, but the label can matter legally: statutes and policies usually treat vacation and combined PTO as payout-eligible earned time, while standalone sick leave is typically not paid out at separation. If your employer keeps a single PTO bank, the whole balance is generally treated as vacation for payout purposes. For a full gross-to-net breakdown with a downloadable PDF, run your numbers in the PTO payout calculator.
Frequently asked questions
How is vacation payout calculated?
Multiply your accrued unused vacation hours by your hourly rate for the gross payout. Salaried? Divide your annual salary by 2,080 first. The payout is then taxed as a supplemental wage.
Does my employer have to pay out unused vacation?
It depends on your state. More than 20 states — including California, Colorado, Illinois, and Massachusetts — treat accrued vacation as earned wages that must be paid at separation and cannot be forfeited. In other states, payout follows your employer’s written policy.
Is unused vacation paid out like unused sick leave?
Usually not. Accrued vacation is often payable at separation, while unused sick leave generally is not — unless your employer combines them into a single PTO bank or local law requires sick-leave payout.
How much vacation do US employees usually get?
A common starting point is about 10 paid vacation days after one year, rising to roughly 15 days at five years and 20 at ten or more. This calculator works for any accrued balance you enter.