How Many PTO Days Per Year Is Normal? (2026 Data)

You got a job offer with 10 PTO days. Your friend gets 20. Your cousin in Germany gets 30. So what is actually normal in the US?

Short answer: the average American worker receives 10 to 15 PTO days per year depending on how long they have been at their company. But that number varies widely by industry, company size, and whether your employer uses a combined PTO bank or separates vacation from sick leave.

Average PTO days by years of service

Data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics shows a clear pattern: you earn more time off the longer you stay.

Years at Company	Average PTO Days	PTO Hours	Verdict
Less than 1 year	7 to 8 days	56 to 64 hours	Below average
1 year	10 days	80 hours	Standard entry
3 years	12 days	96 hours	Average
5 years	15 days	120 hours	Good
10 years	17 days	136 hours	Above average
15 years	20 days	160 hours	Very good
20+ years	23 to 25 days	184 to 200 hours	Excellent

Want to know exactly how much PTO you earn each paycheck? Enter your numbers in our PTO calculator to see per period accrual.

PTO by industry

Where you work matters as much as how long you have been there. Knowledge workers get significantly more time off than service industry workers.

Industry	Starting PTO	After 5 Years	Notes
Technology	15 to 20 days	20 to 25 days	Many offer unlimited PTO
Finance	12 to 15 days	18 to 22 days	Banks tend to be generous
Healthcare	10 to 15 days	15 to 20 days	Often separate sick bank
Government	13 days	20 days	Fixed schedule by law
Education	10 to 12 days	15 to 18 days	Plus summer break for teachers
Manufacturing	10 days	15 days	Union contracts may differ
Retail	5 to 8 days	10 to 12 days	Often part time prorated
Food service	5 to 7 days	7 to 10 days	High turnover limits accrual

For a complete breakdown with accrual rates per pay period, see our PTO accrual rate chart.

Is your PTO below average?

Compare your current PTO days to the table above based on your tenure. If you fall below, you have options:

You are getting less than the market rate for your experience level
You can use the data above as evidence when asking for more (see our guide on how to negotiate more PTO)
Factor PTO into total compensation when comparing job offers

PTO by company size

Larger companies generally offer more PTO because of bigger budgets and more competition for talent.

Company Size	Average Starting PTO	After 5 Years
Under 50 employees	8 days	12 days
50 to 99 employees	9 days	14 days
100 to 499 employees	10 days	15 days
500 to 999 employees	12 days	17 days
1000+ employees	13 to 15 days	18 to 20 days

Combined PTO vs separate vacation and sick leave

About 63% of US employers now use a combined PTO system where vacation, sick days, and personal days come from one pool. The rest keep them separate. This matters because:

Combined PTO (15 days total): You need to budget for sick days too. If you get sick 3 times, you really only have 12 vacation days.
Separate (10 vacation + 5 sick): Same 15 days total, but your vacation days are protected from illness.

When comparing offers, always ask whether the PTO number includes sick leave or not.

What about unlimited PTO?

About 8% of US companies now offer unlimited PTO, mostly in tech. Sounds amazing, but research shows employees with unlimited policies actually take fewer days on average:

Unlimited PTO employees take an average of 10 to 12 days per year
Defined PTO employees take an average of 12 to 15 days per year
The guilt factor and unclear expectations lead people to take less

If you are offered unlimited PTO, ask the hiring manager what people on the team actually take. That will tell you the real number.

US vs the rest of the world

The US is the only developed country with no legally mandated PTO. Every other wealthy nation guarantees workers paid time off by law:

Country	Minimum Mandated Days	Typical Actual Days
United States	0 (none required)	10 to 15
United Kingdom	28 days	28 to 33
Germany	20 days	25 to 30
France	25 days	30 to 35
Australia	20 days	20 to 25
Canada	10 days	15 to 20
Japan	10 days	10 to 18

How to convert your PTO hours to days

Most US employers track PTO in hours, not days. Quick conversion for an 8 hour workday:

80 hours = 10 days
120 hours = 15 days
160 hours = 20 days
200 hours = 25 days

For non standard shift lengths, use our PTO hours to days calculator.

What to do if your PTO is low

Benchmark it: Use the tables above and our accrual rate chart to see where you stand
Negotiate: Read our PTO negotiation guide for scripts that work
Track it: Use the vacation days calculator so you never lose days to rollover caps
Know your rights: Check if your state mandates sick leave via our sick leave calculator
Factor it into job decisions: 5 extra PTO days at $80K salary is worth $1,538 per year

FAQ

How many PTO days per year is normal?: The average US worker gets 10 PTO days after 1 year, 15 days after 5 years, and 20 days after 15 years. These are combined vacation, sick, and personal days. For separate vacation only policies, the average is 11 days per year across all tenures.
Is 10 days of PTO good?: 10 days is the entry level standard for US private sector jobs. It is normal for your first 1 to 2 years at a company. If you have 3 or more years of experience and only get 10 days, you are likely below market. Most mid career workers should expect 15 days.
Is 15 days of PTO good?: 15 days is solid and matches the national average for workers with 5 years of tenure. It gives you 3 full weeks off per year. In competitive industries like tech and finance, 15 days is the starting point for new hires regardless of experience.
Is 20 days of PTO good?: 20 days is above average and typical for senior employees with 10 to 15 years of tenure. It equals 4 full weeks of time off. If you are getting 20 days in your first few years, your employer is generous compared to national averages.
How many PTO days do most jobs give?: Most US private sector jobs give 10 to 15 days for the first 5 years. Government jobs start at 13 days. Tech companies often start at 15 to 20 days. Retail and food service may start as low as 5 to 7 days. There is no federal requirement for any paid time off.
How does US PTO compare to other countries?: The US has no legal PTO minimum. Most European countries mandate 20 to 30 days minimum by law. The UK requires 28 days. France mandates 25 days. Australia requires 20 days. The US is the only developed nation with zero mandated PTO.