How to use the prorated PTO accrual calculator
Start a job halfway through the PTO plan year and you almost never get the full annual allowance in year one. Enter your hire date, the month your employer plan year starts and the full year allowance to see how many days you actually accrue before the plan year closes.
Legal basis - there is no federal right to paid vacation. The Fair Labor Standards Act, 29 U.S.C. ยง201 and following, requires payment for hours worked but does not require any paid time off, so your accrual comes from the employer policy or contract. State law matters for what happens to unused days: California treats earned vacation as wages under Labor Code ยง227.3, and Montana and Nebraska take the same approach, so use-it-or-lose-it forfeiture is not permitted there. Figures are current as of September 2026, and your state may differ, so check your state statute.
Korea handles this very differently, with a statutory 15 day annual leave entitlement under its Labour Standards Act plus monthly leave in the first year, so a Korean style legal minimum has no United States equivalent. This calculator is for reference only and is not legal advice. Consult a licensed attorney about your specific situation.
Frequently asked questions
It depends on the state and the written policy. Several states treat accrued vacation as earned wages that must be paid at separation, while others enforce a clear forfeiture policy. Read the handbook language and check your state labour department guidance.
No. Many employers accrue per pay period or per month worked instead of by day, which can produce a slightly different number. Use this calculator as a sanity check against the figure your payroll system shows.