Final Paycheck Laws by State (2026)

When your last paycheck is due after you leave a job, state by state, for both quitting and being fired. The label shows the "fired" deadline.

Every state

Final paycheck deadlines, state by state

The chip shows how soon a fired employee must be paid. Tap any state for both quit and fired deadlines.

Federal Within days Alabama Next payday* Alaska Within days Arizona 1-3 days Arkansas Next payday California Immediately Colorado Immediately Connecticut 1-3 days Delaware Next payday District of Columbia 1-3 days Florida Next payday* Georgia Next payday* Guam Within days Hawaii Immediately Idaho Within days Illinois Next payday Indiana Next payday Iowa Next payday Kansas Next payday Kentucky Within days Louisiana Next payday Maine Next payday Maryland Next payday Massachusetts Immediately Michigan Next payday Minnesota 1-3 days Mississippi Next payday* Missouri Immediately Montana Immediately Nebraska Next payday Nevada Within days New Hampshire 1-3 days New Jersey Next payday New Mexico Within days New York Next payday North Carolina Next payday North Dakota Next payday Northern Mariana Islands Within days Ohio Next payday Oklahoma Next payday Oregon 1-3 days Pennsylvania Next payday Puerto Rico Within days Rhode Island Next payday South Carolina Within days South Dakota Next payday Tennessee Next payday Texas Within days Utah 1-3 days Vermont 1-3 days Virgin Islands Within days Virginia Next payday Washington Next payday West Virginia Next payday Wisconsin Next payday Wyoming Next payday

The basics

How final paycheck laws work

When you leave a job, your employer owes you every wage you earned. How fast they have to pay it is set by your state, and it usually depends on whether you quit or were let go. Fired or laid-off workers almost always have the shorter deadline.

The strictest states want the check the same day you're fired. Many states default to the next regular payday, and a handful have no specific deadline at all. Unused vacation may or may not be included, that follows separate PTO payout rules. This is general information, not legal advice.

Common questions

Final paycheck FAQ

When does an employer have to give you your final paycheck?

It depends on your state and whether you quit or were fired. Some states require immediate payment when you are fired, like California and Massachusetts. Many others use the next regular payday. Fired employees usually have a shorter deadline than those who quit.

Which states require the final paycheck immediately?

A few require same-day final pay when you are fired, including California, Colorado, Massachusetts, and Missouri. Montana and Utah are close behind with same-day or 24-hour rules.

Is there a federal final paycheck law?

The federal Fair Labor Standards Act requires final wages by the next regular payday. Most states set a shorter deadline, so your state rule usually controls.

David Scott

David Scott compiles and verifies minimum wage rates, tipped wages, and overtime rules from official state and federal labor department sources, and re-checks every page when rates change. See how the data is sourced.