Here’s what they don’t tell you in school:
You’re about to start working full-time, treating human beings with complex injuries and conditions, and… you don’t even know what a good PTO package looks like.
Most healthcare providers just accept what they’re offered without ever asking:
👉 “Is this standard? Fair? Garbage?”
So here it is—no fluff. Just facts.
🗓️ Paid Time Off (PTO): What’s Normal?
Let’s break this down by experience level:
- New Grads / First Job:
💥 2 to 3 weeks is the baseline (that’s 10–15 business days).
✅ Decent: 3 weeks PTO
🚀 Great: 4+ weeks PTO - Mid-Level / 5+ Years Experience:
You should be getting at least 3–4 weeks by now—especially if you’ve stayed loyal to one employer. - Watch for This:
Some companies combine PTO and sick time into one pool. That sounds efficient… until you get the flu and burn 5 days on being sick. Now your vacation just vanished.
😷 Sick Leave: Is It Separate or Lumped Into PTO?
This is where employers play games.
- Separate Sick Leave (Ideal):
You get 5–7 days per year on top of your vacation. No questions asked. Use it for a cold, mental health day, or to take care of a sick family member. - Combined PTO + Sick Leave (Trickier):
You get 15 total days—but if you’re sick, you pull from the same bucket. ➡️ Translation: You’ll feel guilty taking actual vacations, because every sick day shortens your time off. - No Sick Leave?
🛑 Hard pass. You’re a healthcare worker—you should not have to choose between healing yourself and getting paid.
🎉 Paid Holidays: What’s Reasonable?
The U.S. average is 6 to 10 paid holidays per year. Anything less is stingy.
Here’s the usual list:
- New Year’s Day
- Memorial Day
- Independence Day
- Labor Day
- Thanksgiving (and often the day after)
- Christmas Day
- Bonus: MLK Jr. Day, Presidents’ Day, Veterans Day
➡️ Pro Tip: Ask if your clinic stays open on holidays. Outpatient clinics often do not follow hospital schedules.
⚖️ What’s a Competitive Package Look Like?
Here’s what a solid benefits package might include:
- ✅ 2+ weeks of PTO (not including holidays)
- ✅ 3–5 separate sick days
- ✅ 8–10 paid holidays
- ✅ Paid CME days (bonus)
- ✅ Flexible scheduling or make-up hours
If you’re not seeing this—or if you’re seeing less and lower pay—your offer might not be as competitive as it seems.
