PTO & Leave Benchmarks
Real data from real employers
Our PTO benchmark database includes 411+ 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. 7% of employers now offer unlimited PTO policies. Paid parental leave averages 8 weeks for birthing parents and 6 weeks for non-birthing parents—a gap of 2 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 7% of employers offer unlimited or flexible PTO. In technology, that jumps to 32%, while healthcare and industrial & manufacturing 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 22% of employers offer equal leave regardless of parent type. Education leads in parity at 56%.
Tenure still determines your vacation
85% 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
45% of employers now use combined PTO banks, merging vacation, sick, and personal time into a single bucket. Professional & Business Services leads this trend at 69%.
National Benchmarks
| Vacation DaysDays per year | LimitedBalancedRobust | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Entry Level | 10 15 15 | ||
| Senior / Max | 21 25 25 | ||
| Parental LeaveWeeks paid | LimitedBalancedRobust | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Birthing Parent | 7 8 12 | ||
| Non-Birthing Parent | 4 6 8 | ||
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Consumer, Retail & Hospitality→ | 121 | 5–35 days | 8 wks | 4 wks | 9% |
| Technology→ | 74 | 10–35 days | 12 wks | 8 wks | 32% |
| Financial Services→ | 56 | 10–33 days | 12 wks | 7 wks | 7% |
| Professional & Business Services→ | 52 | 5–30 days | 12 wks | 6 wks | 6% |
| Industrial & Manufacturing→ | 52 | 5–30 days | 8 wks | 6 wks | 0% |
| Healthcare→ | 48 | 10–37 days | 8 wks | 6 wks | 0% |
| Public Sector & Utilities→ | 34 | 5–35 days | 6 wks | 5 wks | 0% |
| Transportation & Logistics→ | 32 | 3–35 days | 8 wks | 4 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
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