PTO accrual rates by years of service
These ranges reflect common U.S. private-sector planning benchmarks for full-time employees. Your employer may use a different schedule.
| Years of service | Annual PTO | Weekly | Biweekly | Semi-monthly | Monthly |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Under 1 year | 56 hrs (7 days) | 1.08 hrs | 2.15 hrs | 2.33 hrs | 4.67 hrs |
| 1 year | 80 hrs (10 days) | 1.54 hrs | 3.08 hrs | 3.33 hrs | 6.67 hrs |
| 2 years | 80 hrs (10 days) | 1.54 hrs | 3.08 hrs | 3.33 hrs | 6.67 hrs |
| 3 years | 96 hrs (12 days) | 1.85 hrs | 3.69 hrs | 4 hrs | 8 hrs |
| 5 years | 120 hrs (15 days) | 2.31 hrs | 4.62 hrs | 5 hrs | 10 hrs |
| 7 years | 128 hrs (16 days) | 2.46 hrs | 4.92 hrs | 5.33 hrs | 10.67 hrs |
| 10 years | 136 hrs (17 days) | 2.62 hrs | 5.23 hrs | 5.67 hrs | 11.33 hrs |
| 15 years | 160 hrs (20 days) | 3.08 hrs | 6.15 hrs | 6.67 hrs | 13.33 hrs |
| 20 years | 184 hrs (23 days) | 3.54 hrs | 7.08 hrs | 7.67 hrs | 15.33 hrs |
| 25+ years | 200 hrs (25 days) | 3.85 hrs | 7.69 hrs | 8.33 hrs | 16.67 hrs |
PTO accrual rates by industry
Paid time off varies by sector. Knowledge and regulated industries often offer more generous banks than high-turnover service roles.
| Industry | Year 1 | Year 5 | Year 10 | Biweekly rate (yr 5) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Technology | 15–20 days | 20–25 days | 25–30 days | 6.15–7.69 hrs |
| Finance & insurance | 12–15 days | 18–22 days | 22–25 days | 5.54–6.77 hrs |
| Healthcare | 10–15 days | 15–20 days | 20–25 days | 4.62–6.15 hrs |
| Public sector | 13 days | 20 days | 26 days | 6.15 hrs |
| Education | 10–12 days | 15–18 days | 18–22 days | 4.62–5.54 hrs |
| Manufacturing | 10 days | 15 days | 20 days | 4.62 hrs |
| Retail & hospitality | 5–10 days | 10–15 days | 15–18 days | 3.08–4.62 hrs |
| Food service | 5–7 days | 7–10 days | 10–15 days | 2.15–3.08 hrs |
| Construction | 5–10 days | 10–15 days | 15–20 days | 3.08–4.62 hrs |
| Nonprofits | 10–15 days | 15–20 days | 20–25 days | 4.62–6.15 hrs |
PTO accrual rates by company size
Larger organizations often publish clearer accrual tiers and may offer higher year-one allotments to compete for talent.
| Company size | Avg. year 1 | Avg. year 5 | Biweekly rate (yr 1) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1–49 employees | 8 days (64 hrs) | 12 days (96 hrs) | 2.46 hrs |
| 50–99 employees | 9 days (72 hrs) | 14 days (112 hrs) | 2.77 hrs |
| 100–499 employees | 10 days (80 hrs) | 15 days (120 hrs) | 3.08 hrs |
| 500–999 employees | 12 days (96 hrs) | 17 days (136 hrs) | 3.69 hrs |
| 1,000–4,999 employees | 13 days (104 hrs) | 18 days (144 hrs) | 4 hrs |
| 5,000+ employees | 15 days (120 hrs) | 20 days (160 hrs) | 4.62 hrs |
Per-hour-worked accrual rates
Hourly employees often earn PTO from hours worked. This method naturally prorates for part-time schedules.
| Accrual ratio | Full-time (2,080 hrs) | Half-time (1,040 hrs) | Equivalent days (FT) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 hr per 20 hrs worked | 104 hours | 52 hours | 13 days |
| 1 hr per 26 hrs worked | 80 hours | 40 hours | 10 days |
| 1 hr per 30 hrs worked | 69 hours | 35 hours | 8.6 days |
| 1 hr per 35 hrs worked | 59 hours | 30 hours | 7.4 days |
| 1 hr per 40 hrs worked | 52 hours | 26 hours | 6.5 days |
| 1 hr per 52 hrs worked | 40 hours | 20 hours | 5 days |
PTO hours to days conversion chart
Quick reference using an 8-hour workday. Adjust if your employer uses a different standard day length.
| PTO hours | Work days (8-hr) | Work weeks |
|---|---|---|
| 24 hours | 3 days | 0.6 weeks |
| 40 hours | 5 days | 1 weeks |
| 56 hours | 7 days | 1.4 weeks |
| 80 hours | 10 days | 2 weeks |
| 96 hours | 12 days | 2.4 weeks |
| 120 hours | 15 days | 3 weeks |
| 160 hours | 20 days | 4 weeks |
| 200 hours | 25 days | 5 weeks |
| 240 hours | 30 days | 6 weeks |
PTO Hours to Days Calculator →
Common PTO accrual cap limits
Many employers cap balances to limit payout liability. Accrual may pause when you reach the cap.
| Annual PTO | 1.25× cap | 1.5× cap | 2× cap |
|---|---|---|---|
| 80 hrs (10 days) | 100 hrs | 120 hrs | 160 hrs |
| 96 hrs (12 days) | 120 hrs | 144 hrs | 192 hrs |
| 120 hrs (15 days) | 150 hrs | 180 hrs | 240 hrs |
| 160 hrs (20 days) | 200 hrs | 240 hrs | 320 hrs |
| 200 hrs (25 days) | 250 hrs | 300 hrs | 400 hrs |
How to read this chart
- Find your tenure in the first table to see a typical annual allotment.
- Match your pay frequency — weekly, biweekly, semi-monthly, or monthly column.
- Compare your industry to see if your policy is above or below common ranges.
- Verify on your pay stub — earned PTO this period should align with handbook math.
If your rate is far below typical ranges for your tenure and industry, use these figures as context for HR conversations or offer comparisons — not as legal advice.
Federal employee PTO accrual reference
U.S. federal civilian employees follow standardized annual-leave tiers (sick leave accrues separately):
| Years of service | Per biweekly period | Annual total |
|---|---|---|
| 0–3 years | 4 hours | 104 hrs (13 days) |
| 3–15 years | 6 hours | 160 hrs (20 days) |
| 15+ years | 8 hours | 208 hrs (26 days) |