For an average software engineer, paid time off is usually around 3 weeks, or about 15 to 18 days a year. In some tech surveys, the most common package is three weeks of PTO, while many U.S. companies still start engineers closer to 10–15 days and add more with tenure.

Typical range

  • Entry level: often 10–15 days, plus holidays.
  • Mid-career: commonly 15–20 days.
  • More senior roles: can reach 20–25 days or more, depending on company policy.

What usually changes it

  • Company policy: startups, big tech, and older established firms can differ a lot.
  • Country: outside the U.S., software engineers often get more statutory vacation time.
  • Tenure: many employers increase PTO after a few years.

Practical takeaway

If you want a single number, 15 days is a decent baseline , and 3 weeks is a very common “average” tech package once you include many modern employers. That said, “unlimited PTO” exists too, but the real amount people take can be less than it sounds.

TL;DR: most software engineers get about 15–18 paid days off , with 3 weeks being a common benchmark.