CALCULATE YOUR NUMBERS

Paid Time Off Value Calculator

Put a dollar value on vacation, holidays, sick days, and other paid days away from work.

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01

A simple salary-value estimate

For a five-day schedule, annual salary divided by about 260 weekdays produces an estimated salary value per weekday. Multiply that figure by vacation, holidays, expected sick leave, and other paid days. The result describes how much salary continues while work is not performed.

It is not normally an extra amount added to salary. Its purpose is comparison: two equal salaries with 15 versus 30 usable paid days are not equal time packages.

02

Usable value matters more than brochure value

Ask when leave begins accruing, whether it is front-loaded, how requests are approved, whether holidays are fixed, and whether sick time is separate. A large bank with restrictive scheduling may be less useful than a smaller flexible bank.

Also review carryover caps, expiration, payout at separation, and whether unused leave can be converted or donated. Do not count a payout unless the written policy supports it.

03

Include time when comparing offers

PTO affects the hourly value of a salary because fewer days are actually worked for the same annual pay. It can also reduce the need to take unpaid leave. For families, predictable school breaks or sick-leave flexibility may carry practical value beyond the salary math.

Show salary, PTO value, and working-day estimate separately. That keeps the comparison useful without pretending paid leave is immediately spendable cash.

WORKED EXAMPLE

Put it into practice

At $65,000, the salary value per weekday is about $250. Fifteen vacation days, 11 holidays, eight sick days, and two other paid days total 36 days with about $9,000 of salary value.

ACTION PLAN

What to do next

  1. Collect the written leave and holiday schedules.
  2. Confirm carryover and payout rules.
  3. Estimate days you can realistically use.
  4. Compare working days and salary together.

FAQ

Common questions

Are holidays PTO?

Some employers treat them separately; others use a combined bank. Count each paid day once.

Is unlimited PTO more valuable?

Not automatically. Its value depends on actual use, approval culture, workload, and whether unused time has any payout value.

SOURCES

Official references

Sources support the rules and definitions discussed. Examples and planning interpretations are produced by Earn Plan Save.

Educational information only. This guide is not financial, tax, legal, or employment advice. Verify important decisions with official documents and an appropriate qualified professional.