Paid Sick Leave Laws by State (2026)

Which states require paid sick leave and which leave it to employers. 22 states plus D.C. require it. Pick a state for the details.

Every state

Paid sick leave, state by state

Green means the state requires paid sick leave. Tap any for who's covered and how it accrues.

Federal FMLA only Alabama Not required Alaska Required Arizona Required Arkansas Not required California Required Colorado Required Connecticut Required Delaware Not required District of Columbia Required Florida Not required Georgia Not required Guam Not required Hawaii Not required Idaho Not required Illinois Required Indiana Not required Iowa Not required Kansas Not required Kentucky Not required Louisiana Not required Maine Required Maryland Required Massachusetts Required Michigan Required Minnesota Required Mississippi Not required Missouri Not required Montana Not required Nebraska Required Nevada Required New Hampshire Not required New Jersey Required New Mexico Required New York Required North Carolina Not required North Dakota Not required Northern Mariana Islands Not required Ohio Not required Oklahoma Not required Oregon Required Pennsylvania Not required Puerto Rico Required Rhode Island Required South Carolina Not required South Dakota Not required Tennessee Not required Texas Not required Utah Not required Vermont Required Virgin Islands Not required Virginia Not required Washington Required West Virginia Not required Wisconsin Not required Wyoming Not required

The basics

How paid sick leave works

There's no federal law making most private employers offer paid sick leave, so it comes down to your state, and sometimes your city. A growing group of states now require it, usually letting you earn about an hour of sick time for every 30 hours you work, up to a yearly cap.

Where it isn't required, many employers still offer it as a benefit. Sick leave is separate from vacation and from PTO payout, which follow their own rules. This is general information, not legal advice.

Common questions

Paid sick leave FAQ

Which states require paid sick leave?

As of 2026, 22 states plus Washington, D.C. require employers to provide paid sick leave. Most others leave it up to the employer.

Is there a federal paid sick leave law?

No general one. There is no federal law requiring most private employers to offer paid sick leave. Federal contractors are covered separately, and the FMLA provides unpaid, job-protected leave.

How does paid sick leave accrue?

In states that require it, sick leave usually accrues at about 1 hour for every 30 to 40 hours worked, with an annual cap. The exact rate and cap are set by each state law.

David Scott

David Scott compiles and verifies minimum wage rates, tipped wages, and overtime rules from official state and federal labor department sources, and re-checks every page when rates change. See how the data is sourced.