Free Online Calculators for PTO, Pay, Salary, Overtime & More

What Is PTO?

Paid Time Off (PTO) is a benefit provided by employers that allows employees to take time away from work while still receiving their regular pay. PTO typically encompasses vacation days, personal days, and sometimes sick leave, all combined into a single bank of time that employees can use at their discretion.

Understanding how your PTO accrues and what it's worth is essential for planning your time off and making informed decisions about your employment. Most employers calculate PTO accrual based on hours worked. For example, you might earn 0.0385 hours of PTO for every hour worked, which translates to about 80 hours (10 days) per year for a full-time employee working 2,080 hours annually.

How Pay & Salary Calculations Work

Understanding the difference between gross pay and net pay is crucial for financial planning. Your gross pay is your total earnings before any deductions, while your net pay (take-home pay) is what you receive after taxes, insurance premiums, retirement contributions, and other deductions are subtracted.

Paycheck calculations can be complex, involving federal income tax (which uses progressive tax brackets), state income tax (which varies by state), FICA taxes (Social Security at 6.2% and Medicare at 1.45%), and various deductions. Our paycheck calculator helps you estimate your take-home pay by accounting for these factors.

Converting between salary and hourly pay is also important for comparing job offers and understanding your compensation structure. The standard calculation divides annual salary by total hours worked per year (typically 2,080 hours for full-time employees) to get an hourly rate, or multiplies hourly rate by hours worked to get annual salary.

Overtime & Working Hours Rules

Under the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA), most non-exempt employees in the United States are entitled to overtime pay at 1.5 times their regular hourly rate for hours worked over 40 in a workweek. Some states have additional overtime rules, such as daily overtime requirements for hours worked over 8 or 12 per day.

Overtime rules vary significantly by country and industry. While the standard workweek is typically 40 hours in the US, other countries may have different standards (e.g., 35-38 hours per week in many European countries). Understanding overtime regulations helps ensure you're being paid correctly and can help you maximize your earnings.

Why Employment Laws Vary by State & Country

Employment laws, including PTO policies, pay rules, and overtime regulations, differ significantly by state and country. In the United States, there are no federal laws requiring employers to provide paid vacation time, but many states have their own regulations regarding PTO payout upon termination, accrual caps, and use-it-or-lose-it policies.

Similarly, tax structures, minimum wage requirements, overtime rules, and leave entitlements vary by jurisdiction. These differences reflect local labor market conditions, cultural norms, and legislative priorities. Understanding these variations is crucial for protecting your rights as an employee and making informed decisions about your employment.