How many work days are there in 2024 for the average employee in the United States? With a new year starting, companies and workers need to know the expected number of working days for scheduling and planning.
The US does not have a national regulation defining the standard work week or minimum paid time off. Employment terms like work days, paid holidays, and vacation depend on employer policies.
This article will break down typical practices in the US to estimate:
- The number of weekdays in 2024
- Paid public holidays
- Average vacation time
- Total work days per year after paid leave
Understanding these standard conventions allows both employers and employees to set expectations and make the most of 2024.
Table of Contents
What is the Standard US Work Week?
Most full-time jobs in the US adhere to a Monday to Friday, 40 hour work week model:
- 5 work days
- 8 working hours per day
- 2 weekend days off
This totals 40 working hours over 5 days, generally between Monday and Friday.
However, some positions require working weekends as well:
- Retail, restaurants – weekends are peak business
- Healthcare – hospitals operate 7 days a week
- Critical services like police, fire, utilities – 24/7 operation
But for the purposes of determining annual working days, the Monday-Friday model applies to most office and professional services roles across the US.
How Many Weekdays are in 2024?
With the standard 5 day US work week defined, the next step is calculating the number of weekdays in 2024.
Since 2024 is not a leap year, there are:
- 365 total days
- 104 weekend days (52 Saturdays + 52 Sundays)
- 261 weekdays (365 – 104 = 261)
Breaking down the 261 weekdays:
| Weekday | # Days in 2024 |
|---|---|
| Monday | 52 |
| Tuesday | 52 |
| Wednesday | 52 |
| Thursday | 52 |
| Friday | 52 |
| Total Weekdays | 261 |
For a full-time job, 261 weekdays x 8 working hours per day = 2,088 total weekday hours in 2024.
This does not account for paid holidays and vacation days. Next we’ll factor in typical US paid time off policies.
How Many Paid Holidays Do US Employees Receive?
Paid public holidays are days off with compensation that companies provide annually. Most US employers offer a standard package of 8 paid holidays:
- New Year’s Day
- Memorial Day
- Independence Day
- Labor Day
- Thanksgiving Day
- Day After Thanksgiving
- Christmas Day
- Day Before/After Christmas
Government jobs and unionized positions often have more paid holidays. For example, the federal government provides 10 paid holidays each year.
But the 8 standard public holidays above are what most private sector US employers provide.
What is Average Paid Vacation Time in the US?
In addition to holidays, paid vacation time is a typical benefit companies offer employees. However, US law does not require private employers to provide any vacation time.
Paid vacation policies vary widely between companies. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the average private sector employee with 5+ years of tenure receives 14 days (2 weeks) paid vacation.
Other sources put the average closer to 15 paid vacation days for employees with 5-10 years experience.
For our analysis, we will use 15 paid vacation days as a reasonable estimate for the typical US worker with several years on the job.
How Many Paid Leave Days Do US Employees Get?
Now we can calculate total paid time off for the average US worker in 2024:
- 8 paid public holidays
- 15 paid vacation days
- = 23 paid days off
So in addition to the 261 total weekdays next year, a typical employee will have 23 leave days – reducing the number of work days.
How Many Work Days are in a Year?
accounting for paid holidays and vacation, the number of work days in 2024 for a typical US employee is:
- 261 total weekdays
- 8 paid public holidays
- 15 paid vacation days
- = 238 work days
So after paid time off, an average American worker will have 238 work days in 2024.
Across a standard 40 hour work week, 238 work days per year equals:
- 238 work days
- x 8 hours per day
- = 1,904 working hours
So for most full-time workers in the US private sector, the typical 2024 work year includes:
- 238 work days
- 1,904 working hours
- 23 paid days off
However, this can vary based on company policy, tenure, and industry. Next we’ll look at how work days fluctuate.
US Work Days by Company and Industry
While 238 work days is a reasonable baseline, actual US working schedules differ in several ways:
- Employer paid leave policies – some companies offer more generous vacation time and holidays
- Tenure – entry level employees often start with 2 weeks paid vacation or less
- Industry – healthcare, retail, utilities require weekend staffing
This table compares estimated 2024 work days across different examples:
| Example | Paid Leave | Work Days |
|---|---|---|
| Federal employee | 13 holidays + 20 vacation days = 33 days | 228 days |
| Tech company unlimited vacation | 15 holidays + 25 vacation days = 40 days | 221 days |
| Retail employee | 8 holidays + 10 vacation days = 18 days | 243 days |
| New entrant professional | 8 holidays + 10 vacation days = 18 days | 243 days |
Technology and government jobs tend to provide more generous paid time off. Retail and new entrants have fewer leave days, and may also work weekends.
Canadian Statutory Holidays
Canadians receive between 5-12 statutory holidays depending on the province. On average, you can expect around 9 statutory days off across the country.
Common statutory holidays include:
- New Year’s Day
- Family Day
- Good Friday
- Victoria Day
- Canada Day
- Labour Day
- Thanksgiving
- Remembrance Day
- Christmas Day
Accounting for paid leave and statutory holidays, the typical Canadian work year looks like:
| Factor | Days |
|---|---|
| Weekdays (260) | 260 |
| Less: Paid Time Off (20) | -20 |
| Less: Statutory Holidays (9) | -9 |
| Total Est. Canada Work Days | 231 |
So the average for most Canadian corporate jobs falls around 231 days worked annually. Those numbers can fluctuate slightly by province.
Work Days in the UK
Work weeks in the United Kingdom also follow the typical Monday to Friday schedule.
With 52 weeks per year, that equals 260 potential work days before factoring in time off.
UK Annual Leave
Employees in the UK receive 5.6 weeks of paid annual leave on average. With most working 5 day weeks, that comes out to 28 days of paid time off per year.
UK Bank and Public Holidays
Employees also get approximately 8 bank and public holidays:
- New Year’s Day
- Good Friday
- Easter Monday
- Early May Bank Holiday
- Spring Bank Holiday
- Summer Bank Holiday
- Christmas Day
- Boxing Day
Adding it together gives us:
| Factor | Days |
|---|---|
| Weekdays (260) | 260 |
| Less: Paid Leave (28) | -28 |
| Less: Public Holidays (8) | -8 |
| Total Est. UK Work Days | 224 |
So if you work a Monday to Friday job in the UK, you can expect around 224 work days in a typical year once you factor in paid and public holidays.
Work Days in Australia
Australia maintains a standard Monday to Friday work week for most corporate roles.
With 52 weeks annually, that amounts to 260 potential workdays. We then adjust for vacation time and public holidays.
Annual Leave in Australia
Full-time employees in Australia receive around 20 days (4 weeks) of paid annual leave per year on average.
Australian Public Holidays
Employees also receive 10-13 paid public holidays depending on the state:
- New Year’s Day
- Australia Day
- Good Friday
- Easter Monday
- Anzac Day
- Queen’s Birthday
- Labour Day
- Christmas Day
- Boxing Day
With additional state-based holidays in certain regions.
Factoring in leave and public holidays gives us:
| Factor | Days |
|---|---|
| Weekdays (260) | 260 |
| Less: Annual Leave (20) | -20 |
| Less: Public Holidays (10) | -10 |
| Total Est. Australia Work Days | 230 |
So Australian employees can expect approximately 230 paid work days in a typical year.
Work Days in Singapore
Singapore has a standard Monday to Friday working week for office jobs. That equals 260 potential workdays annually.
We then adjust for paid leave and public holidays:
Annual Leave in Singapore
Employees in Singapore receive between 7-14 days of paid annual leave on average, depending on years of service. We’ll use 14 days as a baseline.
Singapore Public Holidays
In addition, there are 11 official public holidays:
- New Year’s Day
- Chinese New Year
- Good Friday
- Labour Day
- Vesak Day
- Hari Raya Puasa
- National Day
- Deepavali
- Hari Raya Haji
- Christmas Day
Factoring paid leave and holidays gives us:
| Factor | Days |
|---|---|
| Weekdays (260) | 260 |
| Less: Annual Leave (14) | -14 |
| Less: Public Holidays (11) | -11 |
| Total Est. Singapore Work Days | 235 |
So Singaporeans can expect around 235 paid work days in a typical year.
Conclusion
In 2024, a standard Monday-Friday US work week provides 261 total weekdays. After accounting for an average of 23 paid leave days, the typical US employee works 238 days.
Across a regular 40 hour week, 238 work days equals 1,904 working hours per year. But paid time off varies widely by employer and tenure. Some jobs also require weekend staffing.
Understanding typical conventions allows companies to plan for labor availability and expenses. Likewise, workers can better manage expectations around time off and income.
While 238 work days is a reasonable estimate, calculating your organization’s precise working days and hours ensures proper scheduling for a successful 2024.