Severance Pay Calculator
Estimate your severance lump sum based on typical US policies: 1–2 weeks of pay per year of service. Add PTO payout and see how many months your severance will cover expenses (including COBRA).
Example: $85K salary, 5 years, 2 weeks/year, 10 PTO days
Severance
$16,346.15
PTO payout
$3,269.23
Total lump sum
$19,615.38
Runway
~3 months
At $85,000/year with 5 years of service and 2 weeks per year, severance is about $16,346.15. With 10 PTO days, add $3,269.23. Total: $19,615.38. At $4,500 expenses + $650 COBRA, that covers 3 months.
Source: FinCalc server-rendered example using the same formulas as the interactive calculator.
Inputs
Most US employers use 1–2 weeks per year. Check your company policy.
Estimated severance
Total lump sum
$19,615.38
Covers about 3 months of expenses (including COBRA).
Severance pay
$16,346.15
PTO payout
$3,269.23
Total lump sum
$19,615.38
Runway
~3 months
AI explains your result
FinCalc AI
Ask about this calculator
FinCalc AI
Suggested questions:
Embed this calculator
Copy and paste this HTML snippet to embed the Severance Pay Calculator on your site.
Sources
Data and assumptions align with official publications. For verification and current figures:
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics — CPI, wage data, occupational statistics
Frequently asked questions
How much severance will I get?
In the US, there is no federal law requiring severance. Most private employers offer 1–2 weeks of pay per year of service. A common formula: 2 weeks × 5 years = 10 weeks of pay. Executives often receive more (e.g., 6 months to 2 years). Check your employment contract, employee handbook, or company policy.
Is severance pay required by law?
No. US federal law does not require employers to pay severance. Exceptions: some states have rules, collective bargaining agreements may require it, and the WARN Act requires 60 days notice or pay for mass layoffs at covered employers. Most severance is voluntary company policy.
Do I get my PTO paid out when I am laid off?
It depends on state law and company policy. States like California, Colorado, and Illinois require payout of accrued vacation. Others do not. Sick leave is often not paid out. Use your accrued PTO days and daily rate to estimate — the calculator shows PTO payout separately from severance.
How long will my severance last?
Divide your total lump sum (severance + PTO) by your monthly expenses including COBRA. For example, $16,000 severance + $3,000 PTO = $19,000. At $5,000/month (expenses + COBRA), that covers about 3.8 months. Our calculator shows runway to help you plan your job search.
What's Next?
Advertisement
What to calculate next
View all calculators →Salary After Tax Calculator (2026)
Free salary after tax calculator. Find take-home pay for USA (all 50 states), UK, Germany, Canada, France, Australia, Japan, Poland. Federal and state tax.
Paycheck Calculator — Take Home Pay by State (2026)
Free paycheck calculator for all 50 US states. Estimate your take-home pay after federal, state tax, and FICA. Salary or hourly, weekly, biweekly, monthly.
Hourly to Salary
Convert hourly wage to annual salary, monthly, biweekly, weekly, and daily income. Includes quick reference rates.
Salary Benchmark Calculator
Am I underpaid? Compare your salary to BLS median by job, experience, state. Get negotiation targets and percentile.
Pay Raise Calculator After Taxes (2026)
Free raise calculator with taxes. See your real paycheck increase after federal and state tax. Inflation-adjusted raise by state and filing status.
Job Offer Comparison Calculator
Compare job offers using salary, bonus, equity, 401k match, commute, health costs, PTO, and state tax differences.