There is no federal law requiring most private employers to provide paid sick leave. Federal contractors are covered under a separate executive order, and the Family and Medical Leave Act gives eligible workers unpaid, job-protected leave.
Paid sick leave in the U.S.
Required by state law
No
Typical accrual
Set by the employer, if offered
The rule
No general federal paid sick leave law covers private-sector workers (federal contractors are an exception).
Good to know
Paid sick leave and paid vacation are different things. This page covers sick leave. For whether unused vacation must be paid when you leave a job, see PTO payout rules. This is general information, not legal advice.