Final paycheck laws by state
Federal law does not require an employer to give a former worker the last paycheck right away, but many states do. Here is when your final pay is due in each state.
“Next regular payday” means the payday that would have come if you were still working. Some states also set penalties when the check is late; see each state's page.
| State | If fired or laid off | If you quit | Law |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | No Alabama law sets a deadline. Federal law also does not require an immediate final paycheck; you should be paid by the next regular payday. | No Alabama law sets a deadline. Expect payment by the next regular payday. | — |
| Alaska | Within 3 working days after you are fired or laid off, for any reason. | By the next regular payday that is at least 3 days after your employer got notice that you quit. | AS 23.05.140(b) |
| Arizona | Within 7 working days or by the end of the next regular pay period, whichever comes first (A.R.S. § 23-353(A)). | By the regular payday for the pay period in which you quit; if you ask, it must be mailed to you (A.R.S. § 23-353(B)). | A.R.S. § 23-353 |
| Arkansas | Not confirmed | Not confirmed | — |
| California | Immediately, at the time you are fired or laid off, including accrued vacation (Labor Code § 201). | If you gave at least 72 hours' notice: on your last day. If you quit without 72 hours' notice: within 72 hours. You can ask for the check to be mailed (Labor Code § 202). | Cal. Labor Code §§ 201, 202 |
| Colorado | Immediately when you are fired or laid off. If the payroll office is closed, within 6 hours after it next opens (or within 24 hours if payroll is off-site, delivered to the work site, local office, or your mailing address). | On the next regular payday. | C.R.S. § 8-4-109(1) |
| Connecticut | By the next business day after you are fired (Conn. Gen. Stat. § 31-71c(b)). | By the next regular payday, through regular payment channels or by mail. If you are laid off, also by the next regular payday (Conn. Gen. Stat. § 31-71c(a), (c)). | Conn. Gen. Stat. § 31-71c |
| Delaware | By the later of (a) the next regular payday for the period you worked, or (b) 3 business days after your last day worked. You can ask for it to be mailed. | Same rule as being fired: the later of the next regular payday or 3 business days after your last day. This also applies if you are suspended or laid off. | 19 Del. C. § 1103(a) |
| District of Columbia | By the next working day after you are fired (4 days if you handled the employer's money, so accounts can be checked). | By the next regular payday or within 7 days after you quit, whichever comes first. | D.C. Code § 32-1303 |
| Florida | Florida has no law that sets a deadline for the final paycheck. | Florida has no law that sets a deadline for the final paycheck. | — |
| Georgia | Georgia has no law that sets a deadline for the final paycheck. | Georgia has no law that sets a deadline for the final paycheck. | — |
| Hawaii | In full at the time you are fired or laid off. If that is not possible, no later than the next working day. | No later than the next regular payday. If you gave at least one pay period's notice, you must be paid all wages when you leave. | Haw. Rev. Stat. § 388-3 |
| Idaho | By the next regular payday or within 10 days (not counting weekends and holidays), whichever comes first. If you ask in writing, within 48 hours of your request (not counting weekends and holidays). | Same as fired: by the next regular payday or within 10 days (weekends and holidays excluded), whichever is first; within 48 hours if you ask in writing. | Idaho Code § 45-606 |
| Illinois | In full at the time you leave if possible, and no later than the next regular payday. Final pay includes earned vacation, earned bonuses and commissions. | Same as fired: no later than the next regular payday. | 820 ILCS 115/5 |
| Indiana | By the regular payday for the pay period in which you were let go. | By the next usual and regular payday. If you left without giving your employer your address, the employer's penalty clock starts only after you ask for the wages (10 business days) or give an address. | Ind. Code § 22-2-9-2 (separation by employer); § 22-2-5-1(b) (quitting) |
| Iowa | By the next regular payday for the pay period in which the wages were earned. Commission differences are due within 30 days. | Same: by the next regular payday. | Iowa Code § 91A.4 |
| Kansas | No later than the next regular payday on which you would have been paid if still employed. You can ask to get it by mail. | Same: no later than the next regular payday. | K.S.A. 44-315(a) |
| Kentucky | By the next normal payday or within 14 days after you leave, whichever is later. | Same: by the next normal payday or 14 days after you leave, whichever is later. | KRS 337.055 |
| Louisiana | By the next regular payday or within 15 days after you are fired or laid off, whichever comes first. | By the next regular payday for the pay period you were working in, or within 15 days after you quit, whichever comes first. Earned, unused vacation pay counts as wages due if the employer's policy says you earned it. | La. R.S. 23:631 |
| Maine | In full by your next regular payday. | In full by your next regular payday. Unused paid vacation earned on or after January 1, 2023 must be paid out, unless the employer has 10 or fewer workers or is a public employer. | 26 M.R.S. § 626 |
| Maryland | All wages you earned, on or before the day you would have been paid if you were still working (your next regular payday). | Same: by your next regular payday. Unused accrued leave must be paid too, unless the employer has a written policy limiting payout and told you about it when you were hired. | Md. Code, Lab. & Empl. § 3-505 |
| Massachusetts | In full on your last day of work (the day you are fired or laid off). | In full on the next regular payday; if there is no regular payday, by the following Saturday. | M.G.L. c. 149, § 148 |
| Michigan | By law, immediately - as soon as the amount can be figured out with due diligence (MCL 408.475(2)). The Wage and Hour Division says you must receive your wages on the regular payday for the pay period in which you were discharged. | As soon as the amount can be figured out with due diligence (MCL 408.475(1)); the Division says by the regular payday for the period in which you quit. Hand-harvest farm workers who quit must be paid within 3 days. | MCL 408.475 |
| Minnesota | Wages are due immediately when you make a written demand; if not paid within 24 hours of your written demand, the employer owes a penalty. Without a demand, usually by the next regular payday. | By the first regular payday after your last day. If that payday is less than 5 days away, by the second payday, but never more than 20 days after your last day. Migrant workers who quit must be paid within 3 days. | Minn. Stat. §§ 181.13, 181.14 |
| Mississippi | No Mississippi law sets a deadline for the final paycheck; federal law does not either, but you must still be paid at least minimum wage and overtime for all hours worked. | No state deadline; same as above. | — |
| Missouri | Due on the day you are fired or let go. You can ask in writing (to your supervisor or timekeeper) for the money to be sent to you; if it does not arrive within 7 days of your written request, your wages keep running as a penalty until paid, for up to 60 days. | Missouri law sets no special deadline when you quit; you should be paid on the regular payday. | RSMo 290.110 |
| Montana | If you are fired for cause or laid off: immediately, unless the employer has a written personnel policy allowing payment by the next regular payday or within 15 days, whichever comes first. Any other separation: by the next regular payday for the pay period you last worked, or within 15 days, whichever comes first. | By the next regular payday for the pay period you last worked, or within 15 days, whichever comes first; by mail if you ask. | MCA 39-3-205 |
| Nebraska | Your final pay is due on the next regular payday or within two weeks of the date you leave, whichever comes first. | Same rule: the next regular payday or within two weeks, whichever comes first. Earned but unused vacation must also be paid. | Neb. Rev. Stat. § 48-1230(4); § 48-1229(6) |
| Nevada | Immediately. All earned wages are due right away when you are fired or laid off (also when you are put on temporary layoff). | By your next regular payday or 7 days after you quit, whichever comes first. | NRS 608.020, 608.030 |
| New Hampshire | Within 72 hours of being fired (RSA 275:44). | By the next regular payday; if you gave one pay period's notice, within 72 hours (RSA 275:44). | RSA 275:44 |
| New Jersey | By the next regular payday for the pay period in which you were fired or laid off. | Same: by the next regular payday for the pay period in which you quit. You can ask for it by mail. | N.J.S.A. 34:11-4.3 |
| New Mexico | Within 5 days if you are fired or laid off. If you are paid by task, piece or commission, within 10 days. Accrued, unused vacation pay is included. | By the next regular payday. | NMSA 1978 §§ 50-4-4, 50-4-5 |
| New York | By the next regular payday for the pay period in which your job ended. You can ask for it by mail. | Same rule: by the next regular payday for that pay period. | N.Y. Labor Law § 191(3) |
| North Carolina | By the next regular payday, through normal pay channels, or by trackable mail if you ask in writing. Bonuses and commissions are due on the first payday after the amount can be calculated. | Same rule: by the next regular payday. | N.C.G.S. § 95-25.7 |
| North Dakota | By the next regular payday for the period you worked. Your employer must send it by certified mail to the address you give, unless you agree otherwise. | By the next regular payday for the period you worked. | N.D.C.C. § 34-14-03 |
| Ohio | Ohio has no special final-paycheck deadline. Your last wages are due on the normal semi-monthly schedule: wages for the 1st-15th by the 1st of the next month, and wages for the rest of the month by the 15th of the next month (unless a shorter pay schedule applies). | Same as when fired: no special rule; final wages are due on the regular schedule set by Ohio Rev. Code § 4113.15. | Ohio Rev. Code § 4113.15(A) |
| Oklahoma | By the next regular payday for the pay period in which you did the work (or by certified mail postmarked by then, if you ask). | Same: by the next regular payday, whether you quit or are fired. | Okla. Stat. tit. 40, § 165.3(A) |
| Oregon | By the end of the next business day after you are fired or laid off (same if you and the employer agree to end the job). | If you gave at least 48 hours' notice (not counting weekends and holidays): on your last day. If you gave less notice: within 5 business days or on the next regular payday, whichever comes first. | ORS 652.140 |
| Pennsylvania | By the next regular payday on which the wages would otherwise be due (by certified mail if you ask). | Same: by the next regular payday, whether you quit, resign, or are laid off. | 43 P.S. § 260.5(a) (Wage Payment and Collection Law § 5) |
| Rhode Island | By the next regular payday. If you worked at least 1 year, earned vacation pay must also be paid then. If the employer is closing, merging, selling, or moving the business out of state, all wages are due within 24 hours (plus vacation, holiday pay and certain benefits if you worked at least 1 year). | By the next regular payday. If you worked at least 1 year, earned vacation pay must also be paid then. | R.I. Gen. Laws § 28-14-4 |
| South Carolina | Within 48 hours of separation or by the next regular payday, which may not be more than 30 days later. | Same rule: within 48 hours or by the next regular payday, not more than 30 days later. | S.C. Code § 41-10-50 |
| South Dakota | By the next regular payday for those hours, or as soon after that as you return all company property. | Same: by the next regular payday, or as soon after that as you return all company property. | SDCL 60-11-10 (separation by employer); SDCL 60-11-11 (quitting) |
| Tennessee | By the next regular payday after you are fired, or 21 days after, whichever is later. | Same: by the next regular payday after you quit, or 21 days after, whichever is later. | Tenn. Code Ann. § 50-2-103(g) |
| Texas | Within 6 calendar days after you are fired or laid off. | By the next regularly scheduled payday after you quit, with or without notice. | Tex. Lab. Code § 61.014 |
| Utah | Within 24 hours after you are fired or laid off (mailed with a postmark no later than one day after, direct deposit started, or handed to you within 24 hours). | On the next regular payday, if you had no written contract for a set period. | Utah Code § 34-28-5 |
| Vermont | Within 72 hours after you are fired. | On the next regular payday, or if there is no regular payday, on the following Friday. | 21 V.S.A. § 342(b) |
| Virginia | By the next regular payday (the day you would have been paid for that work). | By the next regular payday (the day you would have been paid for that work). | Va. Code § 40.1-29(B) |
| Washington | At the end of the established pay period (your next regular payday). | At the end of the established pay period (your next regular payday). | RCW 49.48.010(2) |
| West Virginia | On or before the next regular payday. | On or before the next regular payday. | W. Va. Code § 21-5-4(b) |
| Wisconsin | On the employer's regular pay schedule (your next regular payday). | On the employer's regular pay schedule (your next regular payday). If your employer has a notice-of-quitting policy you knew about and did not follow, DWD says it may be able to reduce your final paycheck or vacation/PTO payout. | Wis. Stat. § 109.03 (statute not reachable; rule as stated by DWD) |
| Wyoming | No later than the employer's next regularly scheduled payday. | No later than the employer's next regularly scheduled payday. | W.S. 27-4-104(a) |
When was your final paycheck due?
Enter how your job ended and your last day of work. We show your state’s rule and, when the rule is a simple number of days or your next payday, the date.
Still waiting for your last check?
What to doFederal rule: US DOL: Last Paycheck.