US Severance Pay Calculator
Getting laid off is stressful. This free calculator gives you an instant estimate based on your salary, tenure, and state — so you walk into any negotiation knowing your number.
YOUR SEVERANCE ESTIMATE
Minimum (Industry Standard — 1 wk/year)
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Maximum (Negotiation Ceiling — 4 wks/year)
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⚠️ Estimate only. Not legal advice. Consider consulting an employment lawyer.
How it works
The industry standard is 1 week of pay per year of service. With strong negotiation leverage (senior role, long tenure, or signing a non-compete), employees often receive 2–4 weeks per year. Under the federal WARN Act, qualifying mass layoffs entitle employees to 60 days of pay regardless of tenure.
Frequently Asked Questions
No. The US has no federal severance law. The WARN Act covers qualifying mass layoffs only — employees are entitled to 60 days of pay when an employer with 100+ workers lays off 500+ people or 33% of the workforce.
The industry standard is 1 week of pay per year of service. Senior employees or those asked to sign non-compete agreements may negotiate 2–4 weeks per year.
Yes. Severance is taxed as regular income — federal income tax, state income tax, and FICA (Social Security and Medicare) all apply. Your employer will withhold taxes.
Yes — and most employment lawyers recommend it. Factors that help: long tenure, senior role, restructuring vs. performance termination, and any non-compete clause you are being asked to sign.
For employees under 40, the employer sets the deadline (usually 5–21 days). For employees 40+, the Older Workers Benefit Protection Act (OWBPA) guarantees 21 days to consider and 7 days to revoke after signing.