What Is a Final Paycheck Calculator?
When you leave a job — whether you quit, are laid off, or are terminated — your employer typically owes you a final paycheck covering any days you worked but haven't yet been paid for, plus any payout of unused, accrued paid time off (PTO). This calculator gives you a quick, gross (pre-tax) estimate of that final amount so you can verify your employer's math.
How to Use It
Enter your annual salary and the number of work days per year your pay is based on (a common assumption is 260 working days, i.e. 52 weeks × 5 days). Then add the number of unpaid days you worked in your final pay period and the number of accrued PTO days your employer pays out. The calculator converts your salary to a daily rate and multiplies it across both balances.
The Formula Explained
First the daily rate is found: \(\text{Daily Rate} = \dfrac{\text{Annual Salary}}{\text{Work Days}}\). The final paycheck is then \((D_{unpaid} + D_{pto}) \times \text{Daily Rate}\). Each component is shown separately so you can see exactly where the total comes from.
$$\text{Final Pay} = (D_{unpaid} + D_{pto}) \times \dfrac{\text{Annual Salary}}{\text{Work Days}}$$
Worked Example
Suppose you earn $52,000 a year over 260 work days. Your daily rate is
$$\$52{,}000 \div 260 = \$200$$If you worked 5 unpaid days and have 3 accrued PTO days, your final paycheck is
$$(5 + 3) \times \$200 = \$1{,}600$$gross.
FAQ
Is this amount before or after taxes? It is a gross estimate. Your actual deposit will be lower after income tax withholding, Social Security/Medicare, and any other deductions.
Does every employer pay out unused PTO? No — PTO payout rules vary by employer policy and local law. Enter 0 accrued PTO days if your unused time is forfeited.
What work-days figure should I use? Use the same basis your employer uses for salary. 260 days (full-time, 5 days/week) is the most common default, but hourly or part-time arrangements may differ.
