Final Paycheck Laws by State
When your employer must pay your final wages depends on your state and on whether you were fired or quit. Each deadline below links to the state's own page.
Final pay deadlines by state
| State | If you are fired | If you quit | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | Not confirmed. Ask the state labor office | ||
| Alaska | Within 3 working days | Next regular payday at least 3 days after notice | AS 23.05.140(b) |
| Arizona | Within 7 working days or the end of the next pay period, whichever is sooner | Regular payday for the pay period of termination | A.R.S. 23-353 |
| Arkansas | Next regular payday | Not stated in this source | Ark. Code 11-4-405 |
| California | Immediately | At quitting with 72 hours' notice; otherwise within 72 hours | Labor Code 201, 202 |
| Colorado | Immediately; if payroll is not open, within 6 hours of its next workday (24 hours if payroll is off-site) | Next regular payday | Colo. Rev. Stat. 8-4-109 |
| Connecticut | Next business day | Next regular payday | Conn. Gen. Stat. 31-71c |
| Delaware | Later of the next regular payday or 3 business days after the last day worked | Same as fired | 19 Del. C. 1103(a)(1) |
| District of Columbia | Next working day | Next regular payday or within 7 days, whichever is earlier | D.C. Code 32-1303(1)-(2) |
| Florida | Not confirmed. Ask the state labor office | ||
| Georgia | Not confirmed. Ask the state labor office | ||
| Hawaii | At discharge or the next working day | Next regular payday; at quitting with one pay period's notice | HRS 388-3 |
| Idaho | Not confirmed. Ask the state labor office | ||
| Illinois | At separation if possible, no later than the next regular payday | Same as fired | 820 ILCS 115/5 |
| Indiana | Next regular payday | Source does not separate quits | State agency |
| Iowa | Next regular payday | Source says terminated and does not separate quits | Iowa Code 91A.4 |
| Kansas | Next regular payday | Same as fired | K.S.A. 44-315(a) |
| Kentucky | Later of the next pay period or 14 days | Same as fired | KRS 337.055 |
| Louisiana | Next regular payday or 15 days, whichever is first | Same as fired | La. R.S. 23:631(A) |
| Maine | Next regular payday | Same as fired | 26 MRSA 626 |
| Maryland | Next regular payday | Same as fired | Md. Code, Lab. & Empl. 3-505 |
| Massachusetts | Last day of work | Next regular payday | M.G.L. c. 149, 148 |
| Michigan | Regular payday for the pay period of separation | Same as fired | Public Act 390 of 1978 |
| Minnesota | Immediately on the employee's demand | First regular payday; can move to the second if the first is under 5 days away, up to 20 days | Minn. Stat. 181.13, 181.14 |
| Mississippi | Not confirmed. Ask the state labor office | ||
| Missouri | At termination | Not stated in this source | RSMo 290.110 |
| Montana | Immediately, or next payday or 15 days under a written policy | Next payday or 15 days, whichever is first | MCA 39-3-205 |
| Nebraska | Not confirmed. Ask the state labor office | ||
| Nevada | Not confirmed. Ask the state labor office | ||
| New Hampshire | Within 72 hours | Next regular payday; within 72 hours if you give one pay notice | RSA 275:44 |
| New Jersey | Next regular payday | Same as fired | State agency |
| New Mexico | Within 5 days; within 10 days for task, piece or commission pay | Next payday | NMSA 50-4-4, 50-4-5 |
| New York | Next regular payday | Same as fired | NY Labor Law 191 |
| North Carolina | Next regular payday | Same as fired | State agency |
| North Dakota | Regular payday for the period worked | Same as fired | N.D.C.C. 34-14-03 |
| Ohio | Not confirmed. Ask the state labor office | ||
| Oklahoma | Next scheduled payday | Same as fired | State agency |
| Oregon | End of the next business day | Last day with 48 hours' notice; otherwise 5 business days or next payday, whichever is first | State agency |
| Pennsylvania | Next scheduled payday | Same as fired | State agency |
| Rhode Island | Not confirmed. Ask the state labor office | ||
| South Carolina | Within 48 hours or the next regular payday, up to 30 days | Same as fired | S.C. Code 41-10-50 |
| South Dakota | Next regular payday, or when employer property is returned | Same as fired | SDCL 60-11-10, 60-11-11 |
| Tennessee | Later of the next regular payday or 21 calendar days | Same as fired | State agency |
| Texas | Within 6 calendar days | Next regular payday | Texas Labor Code 61.014 |
| Utah | Within 24 hours | Next regular payday | Utah Code 34-28-5 |
| Vermont | Within 72 hours | Last regular payday, or the following Friday if there is none | 21 V.S.A. 342(b) |
| Virginia | Next regular payday | Same as fired | Va. Code 40.1-29 |
| Washington | Next regular payday | Same as fired | State agency |
| West Virginia | Next regular payday | Same as fired | W. Va. Code 21-5-4 |
| Wisconsin | Regular pay schedule | Same as fired | State agency |
| Wyoming | Next regular payroll date, or as a union contract sets | Same as fired | W.S. 27-4-104(a) |
Read from official sources on November 5–7, 2026. Summaries cover the general rule for private employees. Union contracts, commission pay and written contracts can change it, so read your state's source.
Notes on sources
- California: Written contracts for a definite period are treated differently.
If your final pay is late
The Department of Labor says to contact its Wage and Hour Division or your state labor department if the regular payday has passed and you have not been paid. This page is general information, not legal advice.
Frequently asked questions
Does federal law say when a final paycheck is due?
No. The Department of Labor says employers are not required by federal law to give former employees their final paycheck immediately, and that some states may require immediate payment. If the regular payday has passed and you have not been paid, the department says to contact its Wage and Hour Division or your state labor department.
Which states require final pay right away if you are fired?
Several set very short deadlines. California says immediately and Missouri says at termination. Others in the table allow a day or a few days. Check your state's row and its source.
Is the deadline different if you quit?
Often, yes. In Texas it is within 6 calendar days if you are fired and the next regular payday if you quit. Many states use the same deadline for both.
Why do some states say not confirmed?
Each deadline here was read on the state's own site. For 9 jurisdictions, the official page could not be read from our network or no official page stated a rule. That does not mean the state has no rule, so ask its labor department.
Is unused vacation or PTO part of the final paycheck?
It depends on the state and your employer's policy, and this table does not cover it. California's agency says accrued vacation is part of final wages. Use the <a href="/pto-calculator/">PTO calculator</a> to work out your balance.
Is a final paycheck taxed?
Yes, as wages. Use the <a href="/paycheck-calculator/">paycheck calculator</a> for regular pay or the <a href="/severance-tax-calculator/">severance tax calculator</a> for separation pay.
Sources
Related Calculators
PTO Calculator
PTO earned per pay period, your balance in hours and days, and what it is worth
Severance Tax Calculator
Supplemental wage withholding, FICA, state tax on separation pay
Paycheck Calculator
Federal, state, FICA withholding, net take-home, W-4 alignment
Overtime Pay Calculator
FLSA time-and-a-half: overtime rate, weekly and annual pay for hours over 40/week
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