Average Paid Vacation and Paid Sick Leave in the United States
The number of Paid Time Off (PTO) days that U.S. employees receive can vary significantly based on several factors. In this page, we will discover the average number of PTO days, particularly the paid vacation and sick leave days for workers in the United States based on their years of employment Remember, some companies may implement a single PTO policy where all types of leave (vacation, sick, personal days) are combined into a single pool of days, while others may opt to keep sick leave separate from other types of paid leave. This is to provide clear distinctions between different types of leave, ensuring that employees have dedicated time off for various needs. If you haven’t yet, feel free to refresh your knowledge about the Common PTO Plans Implemented by US Employers, where we discuss in detail the differences between Consolidated or Combined PTO and Separate PTO policies.
The comparison of Paid Time Off (PTO) across private industry and state and local government sectors provides valuable insight into the employment benefits landscape in the United States. This analysis examines the average number of paid vacation days and paid sick time granted to employees based on their years of service.
Before we present the data on the number of average paid vacation days, we want to explain that we have grouped the years of employment into 1, 5, 10, and 20 years. This grouping helps to clearly illustrate how paid vacation days accumulate over time and highlights the incentives provided by employers to encourage long-term employment and loyalty.
Here’s the average paid sick and vacation days in the US as reported by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, as of March 2024.
Average Paid Vacation Days in the United States
The following table illustrates the average number of paid vacation days for private industry workers compared to state and local government workers based on years of service.
Comparison Table: Average paid vacation days for private industry workers vs. state and local government workers
| Years of Service | Private Industry Workers | State and Local Government Workers |
|---|---|---|
| After 1 year of employment | 11 days | 13 days |
| After 5 years of employment | 15 days | 16 days |
| After 10 years of employment | 18 days | 19 days |
| After 20 years of employment | 20 days | 22 days |
source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
The average vacation days for an employee in the United States will depend on the sector, whether an individual is working for a private employer or a state/local government employee. In terms of the average paid vacation leave, it will depend on the number of years of service.
Average Paid Vacation Days for Private Industry Workers
For private industry workers, the number of paid vacation days increases with years of service. After one year of employment, they receive 11 days of paid vacation leave. After five years, this increases to 15 days. After ten years, they get 18 days, and after twenty years of employment, they receive 20 days of paid leave.
Average Paid Vacation Days for State and Local Government Workers
For state and local government workers, the number of paid vacation days also increases with years of service. After one year of employment, they receive 13 days of paid vacation leave. After five years, this increases to 16 days. After ten years, they get 19 days, and after twenty years of employment, they receive 22 days of paid leave.
Now, let’s briefly discuss that data presented above (Average vacation days in the United States for private industry workers vs. State/local government workers). The amount of Paid Time Off (PTO) that employees receive can vary based on their years of service and whether they work in the private sector or for state and local governments. Here's a breakdown of how PTO accrual differs between these two groups over time:
Comparison of Paid Vacation Days by Years of Service
- After 1 year of service, private industry workers receive an average of 11 days of PTO, while state and local government workers receive 13 days. This means government workers get about 18% more PTO in their first year.
- After 5 years of service, private industry workers receive 15 days of PTO, compared to 16 days for government workers. The difference narrows, with government workers receiving about 7% more PTO.
- After 10 years of service, private industry workers receive 18 days of PTO, while government workers receive 19 days. The disparity remains small, with government workers getting about 6% more PTO.
- After 20 years of service, private industry workers receive 20 days of PTO, whereas government workers receive 22 days. At this stage, government workers enjoy about 10% more PTO.
Overall, state and local government workers consistently receive slightly more vacation days than their private industry counterparts, with the difference being most pronounced in the early years of service.
Now, let’s get into the comparison of the average number of paid sick leave for employees in private vs. public sector.
Average Paid Sick Leave Days in the US
The following table illustrates the average number of paid sick days for private industry workers compared to state and local government workers based on years of service.
Average paid sick time for private industry workers vs. state and local government workers
| Years of Service | Private Industry Workers | State and Local Government Workers |
|---|---|---|
| After 1 year of employment | 7 days | 11 days |
| After 5 years of employment | 7 days | 12 days |
| After 10 years of employment | 7 days | 12 days |
| After 20 years of employment | 7 days | 12 days |
source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
Based on the data presented above, this comparative analysis highlights a notable disparity in PTO benefits between private industry and state and local government sectors, especially in the average number of days for the employees’ paid sick leave. The average percentage disparity in paid sick leave between private industry workers and state/local government workers is approximately 67.86%. This means that, on average, state and local government workers in the U.S. receive about 67.86% more paid sick leave compared to private industry workers across different years of service.
The amount of paid sick time that employees receive can vary based on their years of service and whether they work in the private sector or for state and local governments. Here's a breakdown of how paid sick time differs between these two groups over time:
Comparison of Paid Sick Leave Days by Years of Service
Let's visualize the same data with a chart to better understand the distribution of paid sick leave days by years of employment. This visual representation will help us more easily compare and distinguish the differences in paid sick leave between private industry and state/local government workers.
- After 1 year of service, private industry workers receive an average of 7 days of paid sick leave, while state and local government workers receive 11 days. This means government workers get about 57% more paid sick leave in their first year.
- After 5 years of service, private industry workers still receive 7 days of paid sick leave, compared to 12 days for government workers. The difference increases, with government workers receiving about 71% more paid sick leave.
- After 10 years of service, private industry workers continue to receive 7 days of paid sick leave, while government workers receive 12 days. The disparity remains, with government workers getting about 71% more paid sick leave.
- After 20 years of service, private industry workers receive 7 days of paid sick leave, whereas government workers receive 12 days. At this stage, government workers enjoy about 71% more paid sick leave.
Overall, state and local government workers consistently receive significantly more paid sick leave than their private industry counterparts, with the difference being most pronounced after the first year of service and remaining consistent thereafter. As it is clearly indicated in the comparison table above for the average paid sick time days for private industry workers, no matter the years of service with the employer, it's consistently sitting at 7 days, while the state and local government is almost double that number, especially after the first year of employment. Employers in the private sector may consider these differences when designing their PTO policies to remain competitive and attractive to potential and current employees.
For the most accurate and up-to-date information, employees and employers should refer to resources provided by the Bureau of Labor Statistics and other governmental bodies.
Conclusion
In summary, this page provides a detailed comparison of the average number of paid vacation and sick leave days for private industry and government workers in the United States. The data highlights how PTO benefits vary based on years of service and sector, offering valuable insights for both employees and employers.
This page compared the paid sick leave and paid vacation based on the number of years of service. If you want to see the number of PTO Days by employer size, please refer to AveragePtoDaysByEmployerSizeInTheUSA.md.