Final pay · Checked October 25, 2026
Final paycheck laws by state: when the last check is due
How fast an employer must pay final wages, depending on whether the employee was let go or quit. In 8 states the deadline for a fired employee is the same day.
All rules Minimum wage by state 2027 increases Tipped wage Final paycheck laws Overtime
| State | Fired or laid off | Quit | Law |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | No state law | No state law | None |
| Alaska | Within 3 working days | Next regular payday at least 3 days after notice | Alaska Stat. 23.05.140 |
| Arizona | Within 7 working days or the next payday, whichever is sooner | Next payday | Ariz. Rev. Stat. 23-353 |
| Arkansas | Next regular payday | Next regular payday | None |
| California | Immediately | Within 72 hours, or immediately with 72 hours notice | Cal. Lab. Code 201, 202 |
| Colorado | Immediately (6 or 24 hours if payroll is closed or offsite) | Next scheduled payday | Colo. Rev. Stat. 8-4-109 |
| Connecticut | Next business day | Next scheduled payday | Conn. Gen. Stat. 31-71c |
| Delaware | Next scheduled payday | Next scheduled payday | Del. Code tit. 19, 1103 |
| District of Columbia | Next business day | Next scheduled payday or within 7 days, whichever is sooner | D.C. Code 32-1303 |
| Florida | No state law | No state law | None |
| Georgia | No state law | No state law | None |
| Hawaii | Immediately, or the next business day | Next scheduled payday, or immediately with one pay period of notice | Haw. Rev. Stat. 388-3 |
| Idaho | Next payday or within 10 days (not counting weekends and holidays), whichever is sooner; 48 hours after a written request | Same as if fired | Idaho Code 45-606, 45-617 |
| Illinois | At separation if possible, and no later than the next payday | Same as if fired | 820 ILCS 115/5 |
| Indiana | Next scheduled payday | Next scheduled payday | Ind. Code 22-2-9-1, 22-2-5-1 |
| Iowa | Next scheduled payday | Next scheduled payday | Iowa Code 91A.4 |
| Kansas | Next scheduled payday | Next scheduled payday | Kan. Stat. 44-315 |
| Kentucky | Next scheduled payday or within 14 days, whichever is later | Same as if fired | Ky. Rev. Stat. 337.055 |
| Louisiana | Next payday or within 15 days, whichever is earlier | Same as if fired | La. Rev. Stat. 23:631 |
| Maine | Next scheduled payday or within 2 weeks of a demand, whichever is earlier | Same as if fired | Me. Rev. Stat. tit. 26, 626 |
| Maryland | Next scheduled payday | Next scheduled payday | Md. Lab. & Empl. 3-505 |
| Massachusetts | Day of discharge | Next payday (or the following Saturday if there is none) | Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 149, 148 |
| Michigan | Next payday | Next payday | Mich. Comp. Laws 408.475 |
| Minnesota | Immediately when the employee asks | Next payday (or 20 days after the last day if the payday is under 5 days away) | Minn. Stat. 181.13, 181.14 |
| Mississippi | No state law | No state law | None |
| Missouri | Day of discharge | No rule set | Mo. Rev. Stat. 290.110 |
| Montana | Immediately if fired for cause or laid off, unless a written policy allows the next payday or 15 days | Next payday or within 15 days, whichever is earlier | Mont. Code 39-3-205 |
| Nebraska | Next scheduled payday or within 2 weeks, whichever is earlier | Same as if fired | Neb. Rev. Stat. 48-1230 |
| Nevada | Immediately | Next scheduled payday or within 7 days, whichever is earlier | Nev. Rev. Stat. 608.020, 608.030 |
| New Hampshire | Within 72 hours (laid off: the next payday) | Next scheduled payday, or within 72 hours with one pay period of notice | N.H. Rev. Stat. 275:44 |
| New Jersey | Next scheduled payday | Next scheduled payday | N.J. Stat. 34:11-4.3 |
| New Mexico | Within 5 days | Next payday | N.M. Stat. 50-4-4, 50-4-5 |
| New York | Next scheduled payday | Next scheduled payday | N.Y. Lab. Law 191 |
| North Carolina | Next scheduled payday | Next scheduled payday | N.C. Gen. Stat. 95-25.7 |
| North Dakota | Next payday | Next payday | N.D. Cent. Code 34-14-03 |
| Ohio | Next scheduled payday | Next scheduled payday | Ohio Rev. Code 4113.15 |
| Oklahoma | Next scheduled payday | Next scheduled payday | Okla. Stat. tit. 40, 165.3 |
| Oregon | End of the first business day after termination | Immediately with 48 hours notice; otherwise within 5 days or the next payday, whichever is first | Or. Rev. Stat. 652.140 |
| Pennsylvania | Next scheduled payday | Next scheduled payday | 43 P.S. 260.5 |
| Rhode Island | Next scheduled payday (24 hours if due to a merger, relocation or closing) | Next scheduled payday | R.I. Gen. Laws 28-14-4 |
| South Carolina | Within 48 hours or the next scheduled payday, within 30 days | Same as if fired | S.C. Code 41-10-50 |
| South Dakota | Next payday, or when company property is returned | Same as if fired | S.D. Codified Laws 60-11-10, 60-11-14 |
| Tennessee | Next scheduled payday or within 21 days, whichever is later | Same as if fired | Tenn. Code 50-2-103 |
| Texas | Within 6 days | Next payday | Tex. Lab. Code 61.014 |
| Utah | Within 24 hours | Next scheduled payday | Utah Code 34-28-5 |
| Vermont | Within 72 hours | Next scheduled payday (or the next Friday if there is none) | Vt. Stat. tit. 21, 342 |
| Virginia | Next scheduled payday | Next scheduled payday | Va. Code 40.1-29 |
| Washington | End of the next pay period | End of the next pay period | Wash. Rev. Code 49.48.010 |
| West Virginia | Next scheduled payday | Next scheduled payday | W. Va. Code 21-5-4 |
| Wisconsin | Next payday or within one month, whichever is earlier (24 hours if due to a merger, relocation or closing) | Next payday | Wis. Stat. 109.03 |
| Wyoming | Next payday | Next payday | Wyo. Stat. 27-4-104 |
Where a state has no law, final pay is usually due on the next regular payday, and the federal law only requires that minimum wage and overtime were paid. Rules about paying out unused vacation differ by state and by company policy.
Source: Nolo, Final Paycheck Laws by State (statute citations listed per state). Check the statute named on the row for the exact wording.
Frequently asked questions
Which states require a final paycheck immediately?
For an employee who is fired: California, Colorado, Hawaii, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, Nevada.
Can an employer hold a final paycheck until equipment is returned?
Generally no. South Dakota is one of the few states that ties the deadline to returning company property.
These are summaries of state law for general information, not legal advice. Cities and counties can set higher minimums, and special rules cover minors, trainees, farm work and some industries. Check with the state labor department before you make a pay decision.