Paid time off (PTO) value calculator
Paid time off is part of your compensation, and it has a cash value. This works out what your entitlement is worth, which is useful when comparing offers with different holiday allowances.
Nothing is uploaded. This page does the arithmetic in your browser using JavaScript. The numbers you enter never leave your device.
How this is calculated
Daily rate = annual salary ÷ working days per year. At 260 working days, a $52,000 salary is $200 a day.
The value of your PTO is that daily rate multiplied by your paid days off. Fifteen days at $200 a day is $3,000.
The final figure shows PTO as a percentage of salary, which is the number worth comparing between offers. An extra five days off is roughly 2% of a standard salary.
Worked example: $52,000 across 260 working days = $200 a day. Fifteen paid days off = 15 × $200 = $3,000, which is about 5.8% of salary.
Common questions
Should I count public holidays?
Count any paid day you do not work. If your employer gives 15 days plus 8 public holidays, enter 23 — that is what you are actually being paid for.
Is unlimited PTO worth more?
It has no fixed cash value, which is exactly the difficulty. Research consistently shows people take less leave under unlimited policies, so it is not automatically better than a fixed allowance.
Does this help compare two offers?
Yes, and it is the best use of it. Add the PTO value from each offer into the offer comparison calculator so you are comparing total compensation rather than base salary alone.
What this does not do: This values PTO against your gross salary. It does not account for tax, and it does not judge how much leave is reasonable or whether your employer actually lets you take it.
Applying anywhere with this? The free resume checker compares your resume against a job advert and shows which keywords you're missing — all in your browser, nothing uploaded.