US PTO accrual frequencies
US · 3 calculatorsUS PTO usually accrues each pay period rather than landing as a lump sum. Divide the annual PTO (in hours) by the number of pay periods to see how much time off you bank every cycle.
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Unlike UK holiday, US PTO isn't set by federal statute — it's a matter of employer policy — but it's typically accrued each pay period rather than granted as a lump sum. Convert the annual PTO allowance to hours, then divide by the number of pay periods: 26 for bi-weekly, 24 for semi-monthly, 12 for monthly. Fewer periods mean a larger amount banked less often; the annual total is identical.
Watch for accrual caps and carryover limits — once you hit a cap you stop banking until you use some time off. Some states restrict use-it-or-lose-it forfeiture of accrued PTO, so both your policy and your state's rules determine what happens to an unused balance at year end.