How to Use the Reduced-Hours Parenting Pay Calculator
There is no federal paid family leave program in the U.S., but a growing number of states — including California, New York, New Jersey, and others — run their own Paid Family Leave (PFL) programs that can partially replace wages for parents who reduce their schedule to care for a new child, using partial or intermittent leave provisions.
This calculator uses California's PFL structure as a representative example: benefits generally replace around 60-70% of wages (this tool uses 70%), applied only to the hours you reduce, up to a weekly cap that is pro-rated by how many hours you cut from your normal schedule.
Because PFL is state-run, availability, wage replacement rates, and caps differ significantly across the country — some states have no such program at all. Treat these numbers as an illustrative estimate and confirm your own state's program details before making plans.
Frequently Asked Questions
No, the United States has no federal paid family leave program. Only some states — such as California, New York, and New Jersey — run their own Paid Family Leave (PFL) programs, and rules for partial or intermittent leave vary by state.
Many state PFL programs, including California's, replace roughly 60-70% of wages (with a higher rate for lower earners), up to a weekly cap. This calculator uses 70% and a representative cap as an illustrative example — your state's actual rate may differ.