Average Paid Vacation And Sick Leave Days in the United States
The number of Paid Time Off (PTO) days that U.S. employees receive can vary significantly based on several factors as mentioned above. 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.
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.
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 |
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:
- 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 |
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:
- 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. 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.