How PTO accrual works
Most employers grant paid time off gradually. The three common designs are an annual allowance divided evenly across pay periods, a fixed number of hours each period, and a rate per hour worked (common for hourly and part-time staff, where the rate is the annual hours divided by 2,080). This calculator handles all three and projects a balance forward, honouring a cap if your plan has one.
Worked example (pre-filled). A plan of 120 hours a year (15 days) paid biweekly accrues 4.62 hours each of 26 pay periods, or 0.0577 hours for every hour of an 80-hour period. Starting from a balance of 24 hours, ten more pay periods brings the balance to 70.15 hours, about 8.77 days. Reaching an 80-hour balance takes 13 pay periods.
Neither federal law nor Georgia law requires private employers to provide paid vacation; the Georgia Department of Labor notes that such benefits are a matter of agreement between employer and employee (Georgia DOL). Whether unused PTO is paid out when you leave, whether it carries over, and how caps work all depend on your employer's written policy, so read that policy alongside these numbers.
PTO hours are paid at your regular rate and withheld like any other wages; the paycheck calculator treats them as ordinary hours.
Formula and assumptions
per-hour method: per period = rate × hours worked per period
balance after n periods = min(cap, current + per period × n)
periods to target = ceil((target − current) ÷ per period)
- Accrual is assumed to post at the end of each period and to be unaffected by leave taken. Enter planned leave by lowering the current balance.
- A cap of 0 means no cap. Days use the hours-per-day you enter (8 by default).
Frequently asked questions
How do I calculate PTO accrual per pay period?
Divide the annual PTO hours by the number of pay periods. 80 hours a year on a biweekly schedule is 80 ÷ 26 = 3.08 hours per period.
What is the PTO accrual rate per hour worked?
Annual PTO hours divided by 2,080. For 80 hours a year it is 0.0385 hours of PTO per hour worked; for 120 hours it is 0.0577.
Does Georgia require employers to pay out unused PTO?
Georgia has no statute requiring paid vacation or its payout. Payout on separation depends on the employer’s policy or contract.
What is a PTO accrual cap?
A maximum balance. Once you reach it, you stop accruing until you use some time. The calculator applies the cap you enter to the projected balance.
Related calculators
- All time & hours calculators
- Work hours in a year: Annual hours from your weekly schedule, minus vacation and holidays
- Biweekly hours calculator: Hours and pay for a two-week pay period, overtime checked each week
- Hours to decimal converter: Convert hours and minutes to decimal hours for payroll, and back
- Georgia paycheck calculator: take-home pay after federal, FICA and Georgia tax
- Salary to hourly conversion
- How Georgia withholding works
Sources
- Georgia Department of Labor, Individuals FAQs: Fair Labor Standards Act
- Georgia Department of Labor, Obtain Information About an Employment Issue
This calculator gives general estimates from the figures you enter. It is not tax, legal, payroll or financial advice. See our disclaimer.