US Federal Holidays Overview - Official Paid Holidays
Complete guide to US federal holidays, including the list of recognized holidays, how they interact with PTO, and what employers are required to provide.
US Federal Holidays
The United States recognizes 11 official federal holidays. While federal employees receive paid time off for these holidays, private employers are not required to provide paid holidays. However, most private employers offer at least some paid holidays as a benefit.
List of Federal Holidays
New Year's Day (January 1), Martin Luther King Jr. Day (3rd Monday of January), Presidents' Day (3rd Monday of February), Memorial Day (Last Monday of May), Juneteenth (June 19), Independence Day (July 4), Labor Day (1st Monday of September), Columbus Day (2nd Monday of October), Veterans Day (November 11), Thanksgiving Day (4th Thursday of November), Christmas Day (December 25).
Holidays and PTO
Federal holidays are typically separate from your PTO allowance. Some employers include holidays in a PTO bank, while others provide them as additional paid days off. If a holiday falls on a weekend, it's usually observed on the nearest weekday.
Working on Holidays
No federal law requires private employers to pay premium rates for holiday work. However, many employers offer time-and-a-half or double-time pay for employees who work on holidays, or provide a compensatory day off.