PTO & Leave Benchmarks
Real data from real employers
Our PTO benchmark database includes 603+ verified employer policies across 10 major industry categories. The national median for entry-level vacation is 15 days per year, increasing to 25 days for senior employees. 18% of employers now offer unlimited PTO policies. Paid parental leave averages 12 weeks for birthing parents and 6 weeks for non-birthing parents, a gap of 6 weeks.
Methodology: All benchmarks are calculated from verified employer policy data submitted through HR teams and benefits consultants. Percentiles (25th, 50th, 75th) represent the distribution across our database. Employers with unlimited PTO policies are tracked separately.
Key Findings
Unlimited PTO remains a technology phenomenon
Only 18% of employers offer unlimited or flexible PTO. In technology, that jumps to 57%, while industrial & manufacturing and public sector & utilities show virtually no adoption.
The 4-week parental leave gap
Birthing parents receive a median of 11 weeks paid leave; non-birthing parents get 7 weeks. Only 21% of employers offer equal leave regardless of parent type. Education leads in parity at 60%.
Tenure still determines your vacation
76% of employers use tenure-based vacation tiers. Entry-level employees typically start with 10–15 days, while senior employees can reach 25–30 days. The gap is widest in transportation & logistics (14-day spread) and narrowest in professional & business services (9 days).
Combined PTO banks are the new default
46% of employers now use combined PTO banks, merging vacation, sick, and personal time into a single bucket. Professional & Business Services leads this trend at 78%.
National Benchmarks
| Vacation DaysDays per year | LimitedBalancedRobust | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Entry Level | 10 15 15 | ||
| Senior / Max | 20 25 25 | ||
18% of employers offer unlimited PTO and are not included above. Research shows unlimited policies often result in fewer days taken, we track adoption rates separately.
| Parental LeaveWeeks paid | LimitedBalancedRobust | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Birthing Parent | 8 12 16 | ||
| Non-Birthing Parent | 4 6 10 | ||
Policy Trends
PTO Policy Models
Hours accrue per pay period. Clear and predictable, but comes with administrative overhead.
Vacation + sick in one bucket. Simpler administration and more employee flexibility.
No set allowance. Popular in tech, but watch for "unlimited but unused" culture.
Industry Comparison
Click any industry to see detailed benchmarks
| Industry | Employers | Vacation Range | Birthing LeaveBirth | Non-Birthing LeaveNon-Birth | % Unlimited |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Technology→ | 184 | 10–35 days | 16 wks | 12 wks | 57% |
| Consumer, Retail & Hospitality→ | 166 | 2–35 days | 8 wks | 4 wks | 12% |
| Professional & Business Services→ | 81 | 5–30 days | 12 wks | 6 wks | 5% |
| Healthcare→ | 79 | 10–37 days | 10 wks | 6 wks | 3% |
| Financial Services→ | 73 | 10–33 days | 16 wks | 8 wks | 19% |
| Industrial & Manufacturing→ | 52 | 5–30 days | 8 wks | 6 wks | 0% |
| Transportation & Logistics→ | 34 | 3–35 days | 8 wks | 4 wks | 6% |
| Public Sector & Utilities→ | 34 | 5–35 days | 6 wks | 6 wks | 0% |
| Education→ | 30 | 5–35 days | 8 wks | 6 wks | 7% |
| Construction & Real Assets→ | 16 | 10–30 days | 8 wks | 6 wks | 6% |
Additional Metrics
Carryover Maximum
Frequently Asked Questions
Explore More Benefits Data
PTO is just one piece of the benefits puzzle. Explore comprehensive benchmarks for medical, dental, vision, and other employee benefits.
Want deeper benchmarks?
This is just a sample of what's in the full Bnchmrk platform. Get detailed benchmarks by industry, size, and geography, plus contribution modeling, scoring, and white-labeled reports.
Need custom benchmarks?
Bnchmrk gives benefits advisors and HR teams instant access to compensation benchmarks, plan design data, and competitive intelligence, all in one platform.
- Filter by industry, region, company size
- Export reports for client presentations
- API access for custom integrations
Win more clients with better data
Show prospects exactly how their benefits stack up, before the RFP.
Request a DemoBenchmark your benefits internally
Get the data you need to build competitive packages and retain talent.
Contact Sales