How to use the unpaid leave deduction calculator
- Choose whether your pay is yearly or monthly, then enter the amount.
- Enter the working days in that period. The 260 and 22 shown are examples, so use the count your employer uses.
- Enter the days of unpaid leave. Half days such as 1.5 are fine.
- Read the pay for one day, the deduction, and the pay that is left for the period.
Formula
pay for one day = pay for the period / working days in the period
deduction = pay for one day x days of unpaid leave
pay left = pay for the period - deduction
The deduction is calculated from the unrounded daily pay and rounded to the cent once, so rounding does not build up across several days.
Three days without pay
A $60,000 salary split over 260 working days is $230.7692 a day, shown as $230.77. Three days of unpaid leave cost 3 x $230.7692 = $692.31, and the pay left for the year is $59,307.69.
For a monthly salary of $5,000 over 22 working days, one day is $227.27. A day and a half of leave is 1.5 x $227.2727 = $340.91, which leaves $4,659.09 for the month.
Choosing the number of days
Employers split pay into days in different ways. Some divide a yearly salary by the working days in the year, some by the working days in the actual month, and some by a fixed number such as 30 calendar days. Each method gives a different daily amount, and the difference grows with the number of leave days. This page lets you enter the count, so you can try each one and compare it with what your employer states.
If you are paid hourly, the same idea works with hours. Multiply the hours missed by your hourly rate. The Hourly to Salary Calculator converts between the two.
What this page leaves out
The deduction is gross pay. Tax, benefits and any rule about partial pay during leave are not modeled, and they differ by employer and place. For paid time you have earned, see the PTO Accrual Calculator, and for unused time paid at the end of a job, the Vacation Payout Calculator.
Assumptions and limits
- The number of working days is whatever you enter. The page does not count holidays or weekends for you.
- One day of leave removes one day of the pay for that period, with no partial pay.
- The amounts are gross, before taxes and deductions.
- Nothing here reflects a contract or a legal rule about leave. Check your own terms.
Frequently asked questions
How do I calculate a salary deduction for unpaid leave?
Divide the pay for the period by the working days in it to get the pay for one day, then multiply by the days of leave. A $60,000 salary over 260 days is $230.77 a day, so 3 days is $692.31.
Should I divide by 260 days or by the days in the month?
It depends on your employer. Dividing a yearly salary by the working days in the year gives a steady daily rate, while dividing by the days in a given month changes it from month to month. Use the method in your own policy.
Can I enter half a day of unpaid leave?
Yes. Enter 0.5 for a half day or 1.5 for a day and a half. The deduction is the daily pay times that number, rounded to the cent.
Does this show my take-home pay after the leave?
No. It shows gross pay before taxes and deductions. Your take-home amount also depends on withholding and benefits, which this page does not model.