Paid Leave in the US Isn't a Federal Right — It's a State One
Unlike many countries, the US has no federal law requiring paid maternity or family leave. The federal FMLA guarantees up to 12 weeks of unpaid, job-protected leave, but only a handful of states have stepped in with their own paid programs. California's State Disability Insurance (SDI) and Paid Family Leave (PFL) programs are among the oldest and most generous, replacing roughly 60-70% of wages during pregnancy disability and bonding leave, up to an annual maximum weekly benefit. This calculator uses California's structure as a representative example, since program design, wage replacement rates, and maximum benefits vary enormously by state, and most states offer nothing at all.
How It's Calculated
| Step | Item | Rule |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Replacement Rate | 70% for lower wages, 60% for higher wages |
| 2 | Weekly Benefit | Weekly wage × rate, capped at the max weekly benefit |
| 3 | Total Benefit | Weekly benefit × leave weeks |
Frequently Asked Questions
No — there's no federal paid leave program. Only a handful of states, including California, New York, and New Jersey, run their own, and many states have none.
California uses a sliding scale favoring lower earners with a higher replacement rate, up to an annual maximum weekly benefit. This tool uses a simplified two-tier estimate.
※ Simplified reference estimate based on California's program. Actual rates, caps, and eligibility depend on your specific earnings history and state.