PFML status
Active PFML program
Massachusetts Paid Family and Medical Leave
2026Active PFML programMassachusetts Paid Leave
$1,230/week · 12 family weeks · 0.46% employee premium· Paid sick leave mandate.
By Sammy S. · Founder · AuthorUpdated for 2026
Massachusetts paid leave snapshot
MA PFML with up to 12 family weeks / 20 medical weeks and a competitive weekly maximum. Weekly-max rank #6 (#1 = highest among all jurisdictions); family-weeks rank #5.
Max weekly
$1,230
Min $0
Family weeks
12
Combined cap 26
Employee premium
0.46%
Shared employee / employer
Paid sick leave
Paid sick leave
Statewide earned sick leave (paid for larger employers; unpaid accrual p…
Compare Massachusetts with another state
Compare any two states
PFML weekly max, weeks, premiums, and paid sick leave mandates.
Massachusetts PFML program details
- Program
- Massachusetts Paid Family and Medical Leave
- Wage replacement
- 8%
- Medical weeks
- 20
- Combined weeks max
- 26
- Premium payer
- Shared employee / employer
- Benefits timing
- Mature PFML program; benefits available.
- Wage base / premium note
- Typically capped at the Social Security taxable wage base for the year. 2026 total contribution commonly cited at 0.88% with family/medical split.
Employers with fewer than 25 employees generally skip the employer medical-leave share.
Example employee PFML premium
On $80,000 annual wages, a 0.46% employee rate models about $368 per year before wage-base caps and employer-size exemptions. Typically capped at the Social Security taxable wage base for the year. 2026 total contribution commonly cited at 0.88% with family/medical split.
Key takeaways — Massachusetts paid leave
- Massachusetts PFML status: Active PFML program (Massachusetts Paid Family and Medical Leave).
- Modeled weekly maximum $1,230 with about 12 family/bonding weeks and up to 20 medical weeks.
- Employee premium ~0.46% (~$368/year on $80,000 before wage-base caps).
- Paid sick leave mandate. Statewide earned sick leave (paid for larger employers; unpaid accrual path for some small employers).
- Ranks #6 on weekly max and #5 on family weeks among 51 jurisdictions (#1 = highest).
- Mature PFML program; benefits available.
- 5 other active PFML programs list a higher weekly maximum than Massachusetts in this table.
Massachusetts vs neighboring states
PFML status, weekly maxima, family weeks, and sick-leave mandates for states that share a border with Massachusetts.
| State | PFML | Max weekly | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|
| Massachusetts | Active PFML program | $1,230 | This page |
 New York | Active PFML program | $1,229 | vs MA |
 Rhode Island | Active PFML program | $1,103 | vs MA |
 Connecticut | Active PFML program | $1,016 | vs MA |
 New Hampshire | Voluntary insurance only | — | vs MA |
 Vermont | Voluntary insurance only | — | vs MA |
Massachusetts PFML at the weekly maximum
Illustrative totals if every week paid the modeled maximum. Most claimants receive less; waiting periods and offsets can reduce cash paid.
4 weeks at weekly max
$4,920
$1,230 × 4 wks
8 weeks at weekly max
$9,840
$1,230 × 8 wks
12 weeks at weekly max
$14,760
$1,230 × 12 wks
How to read this page
Massachusetts paid leave overview (2026)
MA PFML with up to 12 family weeks / 20 medical weeks and a competitive weekly maximum.
Workers meeting Massachusetts program rules can claim partial wage replacement up to about $1,230 per week for qualifying family leave (roughly 8% replacement before caps). Employers with fewer than 25 employees generally skip the employer medical-leave share.
Paid sick leave is tracked separately: Statewide earned sick leave (paid for larger employers; unpaid accrual path for some small employers).
Premiums and benefits in Massachusetts
Modeled payroll shares: employee 0.46%, employer 0.42%. Typically capped at the Social Security taxable wage base for the year. 2026 total contribution commonly cited at 0.88% with family/medical split.
At the weekly maximum for 12 weeks, a full family-leave claim could approach $14,760 before taxes and offsets—only if you qualify for the maximum for every week.
Job protection is not guaranteed by a cash benefit alone. Confirm whether FMLA, a state family-leave statute, or PFML restoration rules apply to your employer size and tenure.
Planning leave while working in Massachusetts
Map the reason for leave (bonding, family care, own serious health condition, safe leave) to the right program—PFML, disability, sick leave, or unpaid FMLA.
Ask payroll whether PFML premiums already appear on your pay stub and whether the employer uses a private plan.
If you live near a border, compare Massachusetts with New York, Rhode Island, Connecticut—PFML and sick-leave rules can change by work location.
Who this Massachusetts paid leave page helps
Useful if…
- •Employees in Massachusetts estimating bonding or caregiving wage replacement.
- •Managers budgeting backfill while someone is on PFML or sick leave.
- •Candidates weighing a Massachusetts offer against a neighboring state’s leave laws.
- •Workers checking whether a sick-leave mandate applies even without PFML.
Use official tools if…
- •You need an approved claim, private-plan exemption, or exact waiting period.
- •Your hours or employer size fall below statutory thresholds.
- •A city ordinance (not just statewide rules) governs your worksite.
- •You are self-employed and need opt-in PFML rules rather than employee coverage.
Massachusetts paid leave checklist
Quick steps before treating rankings as a claim or relocation decision.
- 1Confirm Massachusetts PFML status (Active PFML program) and benefit start timing.
- 2Estimate weekly pay using ~8% replacement capped at $1,230.
- 3Review sick/any-reason leave accrual: Paid sick leave mandate.
- 4Check pay stubs for PFML/SDI-style deductions and annual wage-base caps.
- 5Document FMLA eligibility separately if you need job protection.
- 6Compare Massachusetts with a peer state before relocating for leave benefits alone.
Related states for paid leave
New YorkActive PFML program · $1,229/wk · 12 wks
Compare Massachusetts vs New York →Active PFML program · $1,190/wk · 12 wks
Compare Massachusetts vs District of Columbia →
New JerseyActive PFML program · $1,119/wk · 12 wks
Compare Massachusetts vs New Jersey →
ColoradoActive PFML program · $1,381/wk · 12 wks
Compare Massachusetts vs Colorado →Massachusetts paid leave FAQs
Active PFML program. Program: Massachusetts Paid Family and Medical Leave. Mature PFML program; benefits available.
This guide models $1,230/week (minimum $0 where published) at roughly 8% wage replacement before caps.
About 12 family/bonding weeks in a benefit year, with up to 20 medical weeks where the program covers own serious health conditions (combined caps near 26 weeks).
About 0.46% of covered wages ($368/year on a $80,000 example before wage-base caps). Typically capped at the Social Security taxable wage base for the year. 2026 total contribution commonly cited at 0.88% with family/medical split.
Paid sick leave mandate. Statewide earned sick leave (paid for larger employers; unpaid accrual path for some small employers).
No. FMLA is unpaid. Massachusetts PFML benefits may replace a portion of wages during qualifying leave when you meet program rules.
Weekly-max rank #6 and family-weeks rank #5 in this 51-jurisdiction table (#1 = highest weeks/benefit). Employee-premium rank #8 (#1 = lower employee rate among programs).
Use the state labor/PFML agency for claims, premiums, and notices. This page is an educational comparison using 2026 chart values updated 2026-07-31.
At the modeled weekly maximum, 12 weeks would total about $14,760 before taxes and offsets. Most claimants earn less than the maximum.
Usually only for short absences tied to illness, appointments, or safe leave—not full bonding leave. Statewide earned sick leave (paid for larger employers; unpaid accrual path for some small employers). Use PFML (where active) or unpaid FMLA for multi-week bonding.
Nearby combined snapshots: New York (Active PFML program, $1,229/wk); Rhode Island (Active PFML program, $1,103/wk); Connecticut (Active PFML program, $1,016/wk); New Hampshire (Voluntary insurance only); Vermont (Voluntary insurance only). Open a compare page for side-by-side premiums and weeks.
Often yes under FMLA or state restoration rules if you remain eligible, but you may still owe your share of premiums. PFML cash benefits do not automatically equal benefit continuation—confirm with HR.
Not legal advice. Agency rules control claims, premiums, and job protection.