Maternity Leave by State
2026 guide to paid family leave benefits across all 50 states & DC
States with Paid Family Leave
Best States for Maternity Leave
Paid Leave Comparison
Average max weekly benefit: $1,229/wk · Range: $837 – $1,681/wk
| # | State | Program | Max Weekly | Wage % | Max Weeks |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | California | SDI + PFL | $1,681 | 70% | 20 |
| 2 | Oregon | Paid Leave Oregon | $1,637 | 100% | 14 |
| 3 | Washington | WA PFML | $1,542 | 80% | 18 |
| 4 | Minnesota | MN PFML | $1,423 | 90% | 20 |
| 5 | Colorado | FAMLI | $1,381 | 90% | 16 |
| 6 | New York | DBL + PFL | $1,177 | 67% | 24 |
| 7 | Massachusetts | MA PFML | $1,171 | 80% | 26 |
| 8 | District of Columbia | DC Universal Paid Leave | $1,153 | 90% | 14 |
| 9 | Maine | ME PFML | $1,145 | 90% | 12 |
| 10 | Rhode Island | TDI + TCI | $1,103 | 60% | 15 |
| 11 | New Jersey | TDI + FLI | $1,081 | 85% | 24 |
| 12 | Connecticut | CT Paid Leave | $981 | 95% | 14 |
| 13 | Delaware | DE PFML | $900 | 80% | 12 |
| 14 | Hawaii | TDI | $837 | 58% | 8 |
All States
Plan Your Maternity Leave
Use our calculator to build a personalized week-by-week leave timeline with income estimates based on your state benefits, FMLA, short-term disability, and PTO.
Plan My Leave →Understanding US Maternity Leave
The United States has no national paid maternity leave program. Instead, leave is a patchwork of federal law (FMLA), state programs, and employer-provided benefits.
Federal FMLA provides 12 weeks of unpaid, job-protected leave for employees at companies with 50+ workers. It guarantees your job will be held, but doesn't provide any income.
State paid leave programs exist in 13 states & DC, offering partial wage replacement during medical recovery and bonding. Benefits typically range from 50-90% of your salary, with weekly caps varying by state.
Short-term disability insurance (STD), when offered by employers, covers the medical recovery period (6-8 weeks) at 50-70% of your salary.
Most new mothers combine multiple sources - state benefits, STD, PTO, and FMLA protection - to build their total leave plan.
How does the US compare globally? The US is the only OECD country with no federal paid leave. See how 40 countries compare →
Plan Your Maternity Leave
Use our calculator to build a personalized week-by-week leave timeline with income estimates based on your state benefits, FMLA, short-term disability, and PTO.
How Does the US Compare?
The US is the only OECD country with no federal paid leave. See how 40+ countries compare on maternity and paternity leave.
This information is for educational purposes only and does not constitute legal or financial advice. Benefit amounts and eligibility requirements change periodically. Always verify current details with your state's official program and your employer's HR department.