Calculate the rate, then check the policy
If a period records 2.5 hours of earned PTO for 75 eligible hours, divide 2.5 by 75. The observed factor is 0.033333… PTO hours per eligible hour. Turn the fraction around to get 75 ÷ 2.5 = 30 eligible hours per PTO hour. Another 120 eligible hours at the same factor would earn 4 PTO hours.
Use earned PTO, not the balance
An ending balance includes previous accrual, leave taken, carryover and corrections. It is not the earned amount for that period. Find the accrual transaction on the statement or reconstruct it with the PTO balance ledger before entering a rate.
Converting 160 PTO hours to days?
160 PTO hours equals 20 eight-hour days or 16 ten-hour days. That question uses a leave balance and a daily schedule, not an accrual rate. Entering a 160-hour balance as hours earned for one period would produce a misleading rate.
Use the hours-to-workdays calculator with your scheduled day length, then review the PTO hours-to-days examples. For mixed-length workdays, add the hours of the actual dates you plan to take off. The number of equivalent days does not determine whether the leave is available or approved.
What this estimate leaves out
The projection assumes one unchanged hourly rate. It does not enforce a waiting period, tenure increase, annual accrual limit, balance cap or local leave requirement. It also cannot determine whether overtime or paid leave counts as eligible time. Fixed-per-paycheck policies should be calculated with the pay-period accrual calculator.
A rounded entry gives an approximate inferred rate. If the statement shows 3.08 hours earned, the underlying amount could have been 3.076923. Do not replace a policy’s precise factor with a ratio inferred from a rounded display.
Read how to check a PTO rate from a pay stub and the accrual rate chart.
Frequently asked questions
How do I find the PTO rate from my pay stub?
Divide PTO earned during a period by the eligible hours in that same period. Use earned PTO, not the ending balance, and confirm which hours the policy includes.
What does one hour per 30 hours worked mean?
The accrual factor is 1 ÷ 30, or approximately 0.033333 PTO hours per eligible hour. At that factor, 75 eligible hours earn 2.5 PTO hours before policy limits.
Why does the calculated rate differ between paychecks?
Rounded postings, rate changes, a balance cap, ineligible hours or fixed-per-period accrual can change the apparent rate. A pay-stub ratio alone cannot identify the cause.
Can I enter zero PTO earned?
This tool requires a positive earned amount to calculate an hours-per-PTO-hour ratio. Zero earned may reflect a waiting period, cap or non-accruing policy; check the policy instead of inferring a rate.