How long is federal parental leave?

FMLA gives eligible employees up to 12 weeks of unpaid, job-protected leave per 12-month period. To qualify, you must work at a company with 50+ employees within 75 miles, have been employed at least 12 months, and have worked at least 1,250 hours in that period. It covers birth, adoption, and foster placement. It does not require pay.

Which states have paid parental leave in 2026?

California, New York, New Jersey, Rhode Island, Washington, Massachusetts, Connecticut, Oregon, Colorado, Delaware, Maryland, Minnesota, and D.C. have paid family leave programs funded through payroll taxes. Benefits range from 50–90% of wages up to a weekly cap (typically $1,200–$1,700/week). Program length ranges 6–12 weeks.

Can both parents take leave at the same time?

Legally yes — FMLA gives each parent 12 weeks. Some employer policies require the second parent to stagger leave or limit simultaneous leave. Many families split: birthing parent takes weeks 1–12, non-birthing parent takes weeks 9–16 or later for a second wave of support when the birthing parent returns to work.

What about short-term disability (STD)?

Separate from parental leave, short-term disability insurance typically covers the medical recovery portion of childbirth — usually 6 weeks for vaginal delivery, 8 weeks for C-section — at 50–70% of salary. If you have STD coverage through work, this typically runs concurrent with FMLA but provides partial pay during the medically-necessary weeks.

How much should we save for leave?

Target 100% replacement of lost income during unpaid weeks, plus a 20% buffer for unexpected expenses. For a $85K earner with 12 weeks fully unpaid, that's roughly $20,000–$24,000. Use a dedicated savings bucket started 12–18 months before the due date. The parental leave calculator above gives your specific number.

Parental Leave Income Calculator | Paid vs Unpaid Impact

The dollar reality of U.S. parental leave

The U.S. remains the only high-income country without a federal paid parental leave guarantee. What you get depends on: (1) your employer's policy, (2) your state's paid family leave program (13 states and DC have one in 2026), and (3) any short-term disability insurance you carry. For most families, the leave package is a patchwork of partial benefits plus personal savings to fill the gap.

This calculator maps out the full income picture during leave: paid weeks at full salary, partial-pay weeks, state disability benefits, and unpaid weeks. It returns the total take-home across your leave, the lost income relative to working, and your effective leave pay rate. Use the number to size the savings cushion you need before baby arrives.

What each piece of the patchwork covers

FMLA (federal)

12 weeks of unpaid, job-protected leave for eligible employees. Does not cover pay. Covers birth, adoption, foster placement, and serious health conditions. Health insurance continues during FMLA leave under the same terms.

Employer paid leave

Varies wildly. Surveys show:

~27% of U.S. workers have any employer-paid parental leave.
~13% have fully paid parental leave.
Tech, finance, and pharma companies often offer 16–26 weeks fully paid.
Service industry, small employers, and hourly workers often have 0.

Short-term disability (STD)

Separate from parental leave. Typically pays 50–70% of salary for 6 weeks (vaginal delivery) or 8 weeks (C-section). May be employer-paid, optional employee-paid, or a supplemental plan purchased individually. Only covers the birthing parent.

State paid family leave programs

California: 8 weeks at 60–70% of wages, up to $1,681/week (2026).
New York: 12 weeks at 67%, capped around $1,151/week.
New Jersey: 12 weeks at 85%, capped around $1,095/week.
Washington: 12 weeks at 90%, capped around $1,542/week.
Massachusetts: 12 weeks at ~80%, capped around $1,170/week.
Oregon, Connecticut, Rhode Island, Colorado, Delaware, Maryland, Minnesota, D.C.: various similar programs.

Planning your leave financially

Get your employer's parental leave policy in writing.HR typically has an FAQ document. Confirm: weeks at full pay, weeks at partial pay, whether STD runs concurrent, whether vacation/PTO stacks on top, whether the parental leave is per-year or per-child, and what happens if you have a second child within 12 months.
Check your state's program. State PFL is separate from employer benefits. Some employers offset (reduce their own benefit by the state amount); others stack (you get both). Know which before you plan.
Decide on STD.If it's not employer-paid, voluntary STD during open enrollment usually costs $10–$30/month and pays for itself several times over if a medical recovery is needed.
Calculate the gap. Weeks you want to take, minus paid weeks, times weekly salary = savings needed.
Start a dedicated leave fund 12–18 months ahead. High-yield savings account, separate from emergency fund.

How to stretch leave without bankrupting the family

Stack vacation/PTO. Many employers let you add accrued vacation to the end of paid parental leave — essentially another 2–4 weeks paid.
Use FMLA intermittently. Some employers allow FMLA to be taken as part-time leave over several months — for example, four days a week for 16 weeks.
Stagger parents. Non-birthing parent takes leave when birthing parent returns to work, pushing paid childcare start back 2–3 months.
Negotiate before the baby is born.Extended unpaid time is much easier to negotiate when you're still valuable and present than after months of being out.

The career-cost side of the decision

Cash-lost income is only part of the picture. Parents who take longer leaves — especially mothers — face documented career-income penalties: slower promotion, reduced bonus participation, and in extreme cases lateral moves. These effects average 4–7% per year of leave in research literature. Many women and families decide the effect is worth it; others structure leave to minimize it. The right answer is personal. This calculator focuses on the near-term cash side to help the cash decision. The career side requires a longer lens.

Related tools

Baby cost first year — family income and baby cost meet in year one.
Family budget planner — model the post-leave budget.
Daycare cost — when leave ends, this begins.

Parental leave income calculator

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