Pay, Time Off & Work Hour Calculators
This guide focuses on carryover, use-it-or-lose-it terms, and accrual caps for selected states. It does not cover all 50 states, and rollover should not be confused with payout at separation.
Last updated: July 2026
PTO rollover laws by state are not always direct yes-or-no rules. Some states focus on earned vacation forfeiture or payout, while employer policy often controls whether unused time carries into a new year.
Use this page to identify what to check next: the state, the leave type, the employer policy, and whether the balance is earned vacation, general PTO, sick leave, or another paid benefit.
Your PTO may reset every year if the employer policy uses a use-it-or-lose-it rule, annual cap, or benefit-year expiration. In other workplaces, unused time may carry over fully or up to a limit.
Before assuming a reset is valid, check whether your state restricts forfeiture of earned vacation and whether the policy distinguishes vacation from sick leave.
Rollover and pay are different questions. A state or policy might let unused PTO roll over without requiring cash payment, while another policy may pay certain earned vacation balances when employment ends.
If the real question is whether unused time must be paid, use which states require PTO payout and then estimate the amount with the PTO payout calculator.
Yes. PTO rollover and unused vacation carryover rules can vary by state, but employer policy is often just as important. Federal law generally does not require vacation, sick leave, or holiday pay for time not worked.
Paid leave is often created by employer policy, employment agreement, collective bargaining agreement, or state and local rules. Sick leave and vacation/PTO may be treated differently.
PTO rollover means unused paid time off carries from one year or benefit period into the next. Some policies allow all unused time to roll over, some allow only a limited amount, and some stop accrual after a cap.
A rollover rule is not always the same as a payout rule. A policy might allow carryover but not payout, or it might pay earned vacation at separation while limiting annual carryover.
PTO rollover is about keeping unused time for future use. PTO payout is about converting unused time into wages, often at separation from employment.
If your main question is whether unused time must be paid when you leave, use the which states require PTO payout guide and then estimate value with the PTO payout calculator.
A use-it-or-lose-it policy limits what happens to unused time at the end of a benefit year. Whether that type of policy is allowed can depend on the state, the type of leave, and whether the time is considered earned vacation.
Some states may restrict forfeiture of earned vacation. Other states may allow policy-based forfeiture more readily. Do not assume the answer without checking official state guidance.
Vacation and sick leave are not always treated the same. Sick leave may be governed by separate state or local paid sick leave rules, while vacation may be treated as an employer-provided benefit or earned wage depending on the state.
If your employer uses one combined PTO bank, read whether the policy explains how sick leave requirements, vacation-like PTO, carryover, caps, and payout are handled.
This table is a general overview for selected states already covered by TechTride. It is not a definitive legal list. Verify the current rule with official state guidance and your employer policy.
| State | Rollover/carryover overview | Employer policy importance | Related page | Official source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| California | Earned vacation generally cannot be forfeited, although reasonable accrual caps may stop additional earning. Paid sick leave follows separate rules. | Policy details still matter for accrual timing, reasonable caps, and whether a combined PTO bank functions like vacation rather than sick leave. | California PTO Calculator | California: Vacation FAQ |
| Texas | Texas does not impose a general vacation benefit, so written policy should state whether unused leave rolls over, expires, or is paid. | Very high. Written policy or agreement language usually determines earning, forfeiture, rollover, and payout conditions. | Texas PTO Calculator | Texas: Vacation and Sick Leave |
| Florida | No Florida-specific general private-sector vacation or PTO rollover rule was verified in this review. Confirm the employer policy and do not apply state-employee leave materials to private employment. | Very high. Review payout, forfeiture, leave classification, and separation language in the handbook, contract, or another written promise. | Florida PTO Calculator | Florida: Wages (federal baseline) |
| New York | General vacation carryover and forfeiture questions often turn on the employer's disclosed policy. Paid sick leave has separate state rules. | Very high. Written or posted policy terms, and in some cases a confirmable past practice, can be central to the answer. | New York PTO Calculator | New York: Wages and Hours Frequently Asked Questions |
| Illinois | Vacation use-it-or-lose-it policies have specific conditions. Illinois statutory paid leave has separate carryover and payout rules from vacation. | High. The policy defines the benefit and how it is earned, while earned vacation generally cannot be forfeited at separation. | Illinois PTO Calculator | Illinois: Vacation FAQ |
| Colorado | Reasonable accrual caps may stop additional earning, but Colorado guidance distinguishes a cap from forfeiting already earned vacation. | High. Policy terms help determine whether leave functions as vacation, general PTO, sick leave, or another category. | Colorado PTO Calculator | Colorado: INFO #3E: Payment of Earned Vacation upon Separation of Employment |
| Massachusetts | Official Massachusetts guidance distinguishes lawful prospective accrual or carryover limits from forfeiture of vacation that has already been earned. | High. The policy or agreement defines the vacation benefit, accrual, caps, and whether another leave category is separate. | Massachusetts PTO Calculator | Massachusetts: Massachusetts Law About Vacation Leave |
| Washington | Vacation or PTO carryover generally depends on policy or agreement. Statutory paid sick leave has separate minimum carryover requirements. | Very high. Written benefit terms and any collective bargaining agreement should be reviewed separately from statutory paid sick leave. | Washington PTO Calculator | Washington: Holiday, Vacation and Bereavement Leave |
| Oregon | Vacation carryover generally follows the established policy or agreement. Oregon sick time has separate statutory rules and should not be treated as vacation. | Very high. The policy or agreement determines whether a worker qualifies for vacation payout and how the benefit is classified. | Oregon PTO Calculator | Oregon: Benefits, Holiday and Vacation Pay |
| Arizona | No specific general Arizona vacation or PTO rollover source was verified in this review. Employer policy should be checked separately from earned paid sick time rules. | Very high. Review the policy, agreement, established practice, and documents showing whether the vacation or PTO amount was earned and promised. | Arizona PTO Calculator | Official source review required |
| North Carolina | Vacation or PTO carryover and forfeiture generally depend on the promised benefit policy. Sick leave is treated separately in North Carolina guidance. | Very high. Review the written benefit policy, established practice, earning terms, and any forfeiture clause applicable to the separation. | North Carolina PTO Calculator | North Carolina: Promised Wages Including Wage Benefits |
| Nevada | Nevada's statutory accrued paid leave may carry over, subject to a 40-hour employer limit. A separate vacation or PTO plan may use different written terms. | High. Distinguish statutory paid leave from a separate vacation, sick leave, PTO, or cash-out policy before applying payout terms. | Nevada PTO Calculator | Nevada: NRS Chapter 608, including NRS 608.0197 |
Use the topic-specific government source for the selected state. A federal source establishes only a federal baseline, and state paid sick leave rules may be separate from vacation or PTO carryover rules.
No. Rollover often depends on employer policy, and some states focus more on earned vacation payout or forfeiture than annual carryover.
No. Rollover means unused time carries into a future period. Payout means unused time is paid as wages, often when employment ends.
Sometimes. The answer depends on state law, the type of leave, and whether the time is treated as earned vacation. Verify current state guidance.
Not necessarily. Sick leave may have separate state or local rules and may not be treated like vacation or general PTO.
Check rollover limits, accrual caps, forfeiture language, state addenda, leave categories, and whether unused time is paid at separation.
States such as California, Illinois, Massachusetts, and Colorado may have stronger rules around earned vacation, but details and current guidance should be verified.
Use the PTO accrual calculator to estimate earned time and the PTO payout calculator to estimate dollar value if payout may apply.
Estimate only: This calculator or guide provides an estimate or general information only and is not legal, tax, payroll, or financial advice. PTO, vacation, sick leave, rollover, payout, and final paycheck rules can depend on state law, employer policy, employment agreement, local rules, and individual facts. Before relying on this estimate, check your employer handbook, pay stub, written PTO policy, final paycheck statement, and official state labor guidance where relevant. Verify with official sources, your employer, or a qualified professional.