New York Paid Family Leave Contribution Rates 2026
New York runs Paid Family Leave (NY PFL), funded by a payroll contribution of 0.432% of wages.
2026 rate card
- Total contribution rate
- 0.432%
- Employer share
- 0%
- No employer contribution
- Employee share
- 100%
- 0.432% of wages
- Wage cap
- $95,349
- Per employee, per year
- Maximum employee contribution
- $411.91
- Per employee, per year
- Small-employer relief
- None
- Every employer pays the full rate
Last verified August 18, 2026Source: NYS Workers’ Compensation Board
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Estimates only. Confirm current rates with your state agency before filing or budgeting.
Who must contribute
- Entirely employee-funded. Employees contribute 0.432% of gross wages per pay period.
- The maximum annual employee contribution for 2026 is $411.91. Once an employee reaches it, withholding stops for the year.
- The cap derives from the New York State Average Weekly Wage of $1,833.63 — annualised to $95,348.76 of subject wages.
- Employees earning less than the NYSAWW contribute proportionally less than the annual cap.
- This record covers Paid Family Leave only. New York also runs a separate statutory Disability Benefits Law (DBL) program, funded by an employee deduction of 0.5% of wages capped at $0.60 per week, with the employer funding any remaining cost. DBL is not included in the figures here.
- Coverage is normally purchased through a rider on the employer’s DBL policy; self-insurance is permitted.
What employees receive
- Maximum weekly benefit
- $1,228.53
- Maximum weeks
- 12 weeks
- Per benefit year, combined where programs stack
- Wage replacement
- 67% of wages
Benefit amounts are what an employee on leave receives. They are set separately from the contribution rate and are usually re-published each year against the state average weekly wage — often on a different cycle to the premium.
Private plan option
New York permits an employer to substitute an approved private or voluntary plan for the state plan. The plan must be at least as generous as the statutory one and must be approved by NYS Workers’ Compensation Board before it takes effect. If you run an approved private plan, the state premiums above do not apply — your carrier sets the cost instead. How to decide between the two.
Key dates
- 1 January
- New rates take effect. Update payroll before the first pay run of the year.
- Quarterly
- Wage reports and premium payments are due to NYS Workers’ Compensation Board, generally by the last day of the month following each quarter.
- Autumn
- Next year’s rate is announced. This page is re-checked against the agency in November and updated in December.
Common questions
What is the New York paid family leave rate for 2026?
The New York Paid Family Leave contribution is 0.432% of wages for 2026. The employer pays 0% of that and the employee pays 100%.
How much does an employer pay for paid family leave in New York?
Nothing. New York funds its program entirely through employee payroll deductions. The employer's obligation is to withhold the contribution correctly and remit it on time, not to fund it.
Is there a wage cap on New York paid leave contributions?
Yes. Only the first $95,349 of each employee's annual wages is subject to the premium in 2026. The cap applies per employee, so a high earner stops contributing partway through the year while everyone else keeps going. That works out to a maximum of $411.91 per employee per year.
Are small employers exempt from New York paid family leave?
No. New York has no small-employer exemption or reduced rate — an employer with one covered employee pays the same 0.432% as one with ten thousand.
What is the maximum New York paid leave benefit?
Up to $1,228.53 a week, for up to 12 weeks in a benefit year. Wage replacement is 67% of wages, so lower earners replace a larger proportion of their pay than higher earners.
Can we use a private plan instead of the New York state plan?
Yes. NYS Workers’ Compensation Board can approve a private or voluntary plan that is at least as generous as the state program. Once approved, you stop paying the state premium and pay your carrier instead. Approval is not automatic and it is not retroactive, so the state rate applies until the plan is in force.
Estimates only. Confirm current rates with your state agency before filing or budgeting.
Last verified August 18, 2026Source: NYS Workers’ Compensation Board
Maintained by Treesera Technologies, Payroll and compliance calculators. How these rates are sourced.
Employing in more than one state?
New York is one of 14 jurisdictions with a paid leave premium, and no two use the same rate, split or cap. Calculate the combined cost in one place.
Calculate the combined cost