SmartOvertime
All 50 States & DC

PTO Laws by State

PTO and vacation payout rules vary by state. Select your state below to see the rules that apply and use the state-specific PTO calculator.

KNOW BEFORE YOU CALCULATE

PTO and Vacation Laws Overview

Paid time off (PTO) and vacation payout rules vary by state. Some states require employers to pay out all earned, unused PTO when employment ends; others leave it to company policy or have no specific rule. Use-it-or-lose-it policies (forfeiting unused PTO at year-end) are prohibited in a few states and allowed under conditions in others. This page links to a PTO calculator and law summary for each state.

Use the list above to open a state's PTO calculator (with state pre-selected) and a short summary of payout requirements, use-it-or-lose-it rules, and accrual caps. For exact legal language, check your state labor agency or an attorney.