Three Calculations Every Developer Should Run Before Submitting Their Resignation

Developers frequently switch jobs without verifying the accuracy of their final paycheck, potentially missing out on significant owed wages. A partial pay period is calculated using a daily rate derived from annual salary divided by 260 working days, and the resulting amount can sometimes exceed a standard full paycheck depending on how workdays fall. Unused PTO is converted to cash by dividing annual salary by 2,080 hours, then multiplying by remaining accrued hours — though whether that payout is legally required depends entirely on the state. States like California, Colorado, and Illinois treat accrued vacation as earned wages that must be paid, while others allow employers to forfeit unused balances under use-it-or-lose-it policies. Final paycheck deadlines also vary by state, ranging from the last day of employment in California to the next regular payday in states like Texas, making it critical to know local labor laws before resigning.