How Many Vacation Days Do Federal Employees Get?

By Robert Palmer

If you’re considering a career in the federal government, one of the perks you might be wondering about is vacation time. As a federal employee, you’ll be entitled to a certain number of vacation days each year. Let’s take a closer look at how many vacation days federal employees get.

Basic Leave Entitlement

The amount of vacation time you’ll get as a federal employee depends on your length of service. Here’s how it breaks down:

  • Less than 3 years of service: 13 days per year
  • Between 3 and 15 years of service: Between 13 and 26 days per year, depending on length of service
  • More than 15 years of service: 26 days per year

Sick Leave and Holidays

In addition to your vacation time, you’ll also receive sick leave and paid holidays. Federal employees are entitled to:

  • Up to 12 sick days per year
  • 10 paid holidays per year (New Year’s Day, Martin Luther King Jr.’s Birthday, Washington’s Birthday, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Columbus Day, Veterans Day, Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day)

Career Tenure

It’s important to note that your vacation time accrues based on your career tenure. For example, if you’re a new federal employee with less than three years of service, you won’t have the full amount of vacation time available to take right away. Instead, your leave will accrue over time as you work for the government.

Using Your Vacation Time

As a federal employee, it’s up to you and your supervisor to determine when and how you’ll use your vacation time. You’ll need to request time off in advance and work with your supervisor to ensure that your absence won’t negatively impact the work of your team or agency.

Conclusion

Overall, federal employees receive a generous amount of vacation time, sick leave, and paid holidays. Depending on your length of service, you could have up to 26 days of vacation time per year. However, it’s important to remember that this leave accrues over time and must be approved by your supervisor before you can take it.