Vacation Payout Calculator
Reviewed by Hamza Gujjar, Algorithm Architect & Software Developer
Last updated: July 27, 2026Turning accrued PTO hours into a dollar figure
Many states and employer policies treat unused, accrued paid time off as earned wages that must be paid out in cash when employment ends, rather than a benefit that simply gets forfeited.
Worked example
For 40 accrued PTO hours at a $30 hourly rate:
Payout = 40 x 30 = 1,200.0
This requirement varies significantly by state and company policy - some jurisdictions legally mandate PTO payout at termination while others leave it entirely to employer policy, so check your specific state's labor laws and your employer's written PTO policy for the rules that actually apply to your situation.