Arizona Paid Sick Time Accrual Calculator

Estimate earned paid sick time accrual under Proposition 206: one hour for every 30 hours worked, with an annual cap that varies by employer size.

Arizona's earned paid sick time law (A.R.S. § 23-372, effective July 1, 2017) accrues at one hour for every 30 hours worked, capped at 40 hours per year for employers with 15 or more employees (24 hours for smaller employers). — Industrial Commission of Arizona — Earned Paid Sick Time

Scope: This calculator models the statewide accrual method under A.R.S. § 23-372. Frontloading arrangements, local ordinances, and collective-bargaining provisions may produce different results.

Enter your hours and employer size

Arizona Earned Paid Sick Time accrual rule

Under A.R.S. § 23-372, covered employees accrue one hour of paid sick time for every 30 hours worked. Accrual begins on the first day of employment and continues throughout the accrual year.

Basic formula

raw accrual = hours worked / 30 accrual counted = min(raw accrual, annual cap) estimated balance = prior balance + accrual counted - leave used

Employer-size caps

The annual accrual cap depends on employer size. Employers with 15 or more employees allow up to 40 hours of paid sick leave per year. Employers with fewer than 15 employees cap accrual at 24 hours per year. A more generous policy, contract, or ordinance may allow a higher balance.

When can leave be used?

Accrued leave may first be used on the 90th calendar day of employment. Hours continue accruing during the waiting period; the balance shown here may not yet be legally available to take.

Carryover and year-end balance

Unused accrued paid sick time carries forward to the next year. The employer may cap the carry-forward at the applicable annual limit — 40 hours for employers with 15 or more employees, 24 hours for smaller employers. Employers using a compliant frontloading arrangement handle carryover under different rules.

Leave payout at separation

A.R.S. § 23-372 does not require payout of unused paid sick time at separation. Unused leave does not become wages due at termination under state law alone, though a written employer policy promising payout may create an independent obligation.

What this calculator does not determine

Whether a particular worker or employer is covered under A.R.S. § 23-372.
Whether a compliant frontloading arrangement is in place instead of per-hour accrual.
Whether a specific absence qualifies as an authorized use of earned paid sick time.
Whether a local ordinance applies additional protections beyond the state minimum.
How fractional hours are rounded or tracked on payroll records by a specific employer.

Worked examples

Example 1: employer with 15 or more employees, 1,200 hours in a year

hours worked = 1,200 raw accrual = 1,200 / 30 = 40.000 hours annual cap = 40 hours counted accrual = 40.0 hours

Example 2: employer with under 15 employees, 720 hours in a year

hours worked = 720 raw accrual = 720 / 30 = 24.000 hours annual cap = 24 hours counted accrual = 24.0 hours

Sources and verification

The accrual ratio, employer-size caps, 90-day waiting period, and no-payout rule are sourced from A.R.S. § 23-372 and the Industrial Commission of Arizona Earned Paid Sick Time guidance, verified August 2026. See the site's methodology for how rules become tested calculator logic.

Common questions

When can a new Arizona employee start using paid sick time?

Employees begin accruing on day one but cannot use sick time until their 90th calendar day of employment. After that date, leave may be taken as it accrues.

Does Arizona paid sick time carry over year to year?

Yes. Unused accrued hours carry forward to the next year, capped at the annual limit — 40 hours for employers with 15 or more employees, 24 hours for smaller employers. Frontloading employers may handle carryover differently.

Is unused Arizona sick time paid out at termination?

No. A.R.S. § 23-372 does not require a payout of unused paid sick time when employment ends. A written employer policy promising payout would be a separate obligation.

Do overtime hours count toward Arizona sick time accrual?

Yes. Accrual is based on all hours actually worked, including overtime. The ratio stays at one hour per 30 hours regardless of overtime pay rates.

What can Arizona earned paid sick time be used for?

Leave covers the employee's own illness or preventive care, care for a family member, and absences related to domestic violence, sexual violence, abuse, or stalking. This calculator estimates accrued hours only — it does not determine whether a specific absence qualifies.