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Common questions

How much sick leave have I earned?

Paid Sick Leave Calculator

Work out how much paid sick leave you have built up and whether your state requires it to be paid out when you leave.

  • Data updated
  • All 50 states + DC
  • Free, no signup
  • Runs in your browser

State rules vary, so we use your work state for this result.

Your sick leave balance

Choose your state and enter your hours to see your sick leave balance.

Your answer will show

  1. The answer in plain English
  2. How we calculated it, step by step
  3. The rule that applies where you work
  4. The official source and when we last checked it

Your calculation runs in your browser. No account needed.

Informational estimate, not legal, tax, or financial advice. Why?

This calculator uses the information you enter and publicly available government data. Real situations can involve employment contracts, company policy, collective bargaining agreements, and exceptions we can't see.

For advice about your specific situation, talk to a licensed employment attorney or your state labor department.

The short answer

There is no federal paid-sick-leave law. 20 states plus Washington, DC require employers to provide it. The most common accrual rate, used in 14 of them, is 1 hour of paid sick leave per 30 hours worked (others use 1 hour per 35, 37, 40, or 52 hours).

Example: at 1 hour per 30, working 1,200 hours earns 1,200 ÷ 30 = 40 sick-leave hours.

Unlike PTO or vacation, most states do not require unused sick leave to be paid out when you leave a job, unless your employer bundles it into a single PTO bank.

Common questions

Do I get paid for unused sick leave when I quit?
In almost all US states, no. Unlike accrued vacation pay (which California, Colorado, and several other states treat as earned wages), sick leave is almost universally NOT required to be paid out at termination. The major exception: if your employer bundles sick leave and vacation into a single "PTO" bank, the entire balance may be subject to your state's PTO payout rules.
What is the difference between accrual and frontloaded sick leave?
Accrual means you earn sick leave gradually as you work — typically 1 hour for every 30 or 40 hours worked. Frontloading means your employer gives you the full year's sick leave balance at the start of the year. Frontloaded leave generally does NOT carry over to the next year. Accrued leave typically does carry over, up to the state's carryover cap.
Which states require employers to provide paid sick leave?
As of September 26, 2026, 20 states plus Washington, DC require employers to provide paid sick leave: Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Illinois, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Nebraska, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont, Washington. Missouri's law was repealed effective August 28, 2025, so Missouri employers are no longer required to provide it. Coverage rules, such as minimum employer size, vary by state. Many major cities (NYC, Chicago, Seattle) have additional local ordinances on top of state law.
Can my employer deny my sick leave request?
Generally no — if you are eligible and have accrued hours, your employer cannot deny sick leave for covered reasons (illness, medical appointments, caring for a family member). However, employers can require reasonable notice for foreseeable absences and may request documentation for absences over 3 consecutive days in most states. Retaliation for using sick leave is illegal in all states with mandatory sick leave laws.

Related calculators and rules

Read the guide behind this calculator