Final paycheck laws by state
Deadlines when the employer ends the job, when the worker quits, and what happens when the check is late.
| State | Fired | Quit | Penalty | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | No state deadline. Next regular payday under the federal baseline | No state deadline. Next regular payday | No state penalty. Federal wage complaints can recover unpaid wages plus an equal amount in an extra penalty payment. | Federal wage lawchecked October 29, 2026 |
| Alaska | Within 3 working days of being fired | Next regular payday that is at least 3 working days after the last day | Wages continue at your true hourly rate for up to 90 working days if final pay is late. | AS 23.05.140checked October 29, 2026 |
| Arizona | Within 7 working days or the next regular payday, whichever comes first | Next regular payday | Three times the unpaid amount for wages withheld in bad faith. | A.R.S. 23-353, 23-355checked October 29, 2026 |
| Arkansas | Next regular payday. Double wages if not paid within 7 days of that payday after a demand | Next regular payday | Double the wages owed if not paid within 7 days of the next regular payday after you ask for it in writing. | Ark. Code 11-4-405checked October 29, 2026 |
| California | Immediately on the day you are fired | Within 72 hours of quitting. At the time of quitting if at least 72 hours' notice was given | Waiting-time penalty: one day of wages for each day final pay is late, up to 30 days (Labor Code 203). Not applied where there is a genuine disagreement. | Labor Code 201, 202, 203, 227.3checked October 29, 2026 |
| Colorado | Immediately. Within 6 hours of the start of the next work day if the payroll office is closed, or within 24 hours if payroll is off-site | Next regular payday | If not paid within 14 days of you asking in writing: the greater of 2x the unpaid amount or $1,000. 3x or $3,000 if deliberate. | C.R.S. 8-4-109checked October 29, 2026 |
| Connecticut | Next business day if fired. Next regular payday if laid off | Next regular payday | Twice the unpaid amount plus fees for wages withheld in bad faith. | Conn. Gen. Stat. 31-71c, 31-72checked October 29, 2026 |
| Delaware | Next regular payday or 3 days after the last day, whichever is later | Next regular payday or 3 days after the last day, whichever is later | An extra penalty payment of 10% of unpaid wages per day, up to the amount owed. | 19 Del. C. 1103, 1113checked October 29, 2026 |
| District of Columbia | Next business day if fired. Next regular payday if laid off | Next regular payday or within 7 days, whichever is earlier | An extra penalty payment of 10% of unpaid wages per day, up to 4x the wages owed. | D.C. Code 32-1303checked October 29, 2026 |
| Florida | No state deadline. Next regular payday under the federal baseline | No state deadline. Next regular payday | No state penalty. Federal wage complaints can recover unpaid wages plus an equal amount in an extra penalty payment. | Federal wage lawchecked October 29, 2026 |
| Georgia | No state deadline. Next regular payday under the federal baseline | No state deadline. Next regular payday | No state penalty. Federal wage complaints can recover unpaid wages plus an equal amount in an extra penalty payment. | Federal wage lawchecked October 29, 2026 |
| Hawaii | Immediately, or by the next working day | Next regular payday. Immediately if at least one pay period's notice was given | Wage complaints can recover unpaid wages plus an equal amount as an extra penalty payment. | HRS 388-3, 388-10checked October 29, 2026 |
| Idaho | Next regular payday or within 10 business days, whichever is earlier (within 48 hours of a written request) | Next regular payday or within 10 business days, whichever is earlier | Up to three times the unpaid amount if you file a wage complaint. Wages may be requested in writing within 48 hours. | Idaho Code 45-606, 45-615checked October 29, 2026 |
| Illinois | At the time of separation if possible, and no later than the next regular payday | At the time of separation if possible, and no later than the next regular payday | Wage Payment and Collection Act: 5% of the underpayment per month plus fees if you file a wage complaint. | 820 ILCS 115/5checked October 29, 2026 |
| Indiana | Next regular payday | Next regular payday | Wage Payment Statute: an extra penalty payment up to double the unpaid wages if the failure was not in good faith. | Ind. Code 22-2-5-2checked October 29, 2026 |
| Iowa | Next regular payday | Next regular payday | Wage Payment Collection Law: an extra penalty payment of 5% a day up to the amount owed, plus fees, if you file a wage complaint. | Iowa Code 91A.4, 91A.8checked October 29, 2026 |
| Kansas | Next regular payday | Next regular payday | Deliberate nonpayment: 1% of unpaid wages per day, up to the amount owed. | K.S.A. 44-315, 44-315(b)checked October 29, 2026 |
| Kentucky | Next regular payday or 14 days after the last day, whichever is later | Next regular payday or 14 days after the last day, whichever is later | An extra penalty payment equal to the unpaid wages plus fees if you file a wage complaint. | KRS 337.055, 337.385checked October 29, 2026 |
| Louisiana | Next regular payday or within 15 days, whichever is earlier | Next regular payday or within 15 days, whichever is earlier | After you ask for it in writing, up to 90 days of wages as a penalty plus attorney fees if the employer fails to pay. | La. R.S. 23:631, 23:632checked October 29, 2026 |
| Maine | Next regular payday | Next regular payday | Unpaid wages plus an equal amount as an extra penalty payment and fees if you file a wage complaint. | 26 M.R.S. 626, 626-Achecked October 29, 2026 |
| Maryland | Next regular payday | Next regular payday | Wage Payment and Collection Law: up to three times the unpaid amount if wages are withheld without a genuine disagreement. | Md. Code, Lab. & Empl. 3-505, 3-507.2checked October 29, 2026 |
| Massachusetts | Immediately, on the day you are fired | Next regular payday | Three times the unpaid amount (3x) for late or unpaid wages under the Wage Act. | M.G.L. c. 149, s. 148, 150checked October 29, 2026 |
| Michigan | Next regular payday | Next regular payday | None automatic. Claims under the Payment of Wages and Fringe Benefits Act. | MCL 408.475checked October 29, 2026 |
| Minnesota | Within 24 hours of asking for your pay in writing | Next payday. Up to 20 days if the payday falls within 5 days of the last day | If not paid within 24 hours of demand, average daily wages continue as a penalty for up to 15 days. | Minn. Stat. 181.13, 181.14checked October 29, 2026 |
| Mississippi | No state deadline. Next regular payday under the federal baseline | No state deadline. Next regular payday | No state penalty. Federal wage complaints can recover unpaid wages plus an equal amount in an extra penalty payment. | Federal wage lawchecked October 29, 2026 |
| Missouri | Immediately on the day you are fired | No state deadline. Next regular payday | If not paid after you ask for it in writing, wages continue to accrue as a penalty for up to 60 days. | RSMo 290.110checked October 29, 2026 |
| Montana | Immediately, within 4 hours or by the end of the business day, whichever comes first (a written policy may extend to the next payday or 15 days) | Next regular payday or within 15 days, whichever is earlier | Penalty of up to 110% of the unpaid wages if you file a wage complaint. | MCA 39-3-205, 39-3-206checked October 29, 2026 |
| Nebraska | Next regular payday or within 14 days, whichever is earlier | Next regular payday or within 14 days, whichever is earlier | Wage Payment and Collection Act: up to twice the unpaid amount plus fees for deliberate nonpayment. | Neb. Rev. Stat. 48-1230, 48-1231checked October 29, 2026 |
| Nevada | Within 3 days of being fired | Next regular payday or within 7 days, whichever is earlier | Wages continue at your true hourly rate for up to 30 days if final pay is late. | NRS 608.020, 608.030, 608.040checked October 29, 2026 |
| New Hampshire | Within 72 hours of being fired | Next regular payday. Within 72 hours if at least one pay period's notice was given | An extra penalty payment up to double the unpaid wages for deliberate nonpayment. | RSA 275:44, 275:53checked October 29, 2026 |
| New Jersey | Next regular payday | Next regular payday | Wage Theft Act: an extra penalty payment up to 200% of unpaid wages if you file a wage complaint. | N.J.S.A. 34:11-4.3checked October 29, 2026 |
| New Mexico | Within 5 days for fixed wages. Within 10 days for commission or task-based pay | Next regular payday | Unpaid wages continue to accrue at your true hourly rate for up to 60 days. | NMSA 50-4-4, 50-4-5checked October 29, 2026 |
| New York | Next regular payday | Next regular payday | None automatic. Claims through NY Department of Labor. | Labor Law 191checked October 29, 2026 |
| North Carolina | Next regular payday | Next regular payday | Wage and Hour Act: unpaid wages plus an extra penalty payment if you file a wage complaint. The employer must notify the worker in writing of any rule that unused time is lost. | N.C.G.S. 95-25.7checked October 29, 2026 |
| North Dakota | Next regular payday or within 15 days, whichever is earlier | Next regular payday or within 15 days, whichever is earlier | Up to twice the unpaid amount if you file a wage complaint for deliberate nonpayment. | N.D.C.C. 34-14-03, 34-14-09.1checked October 29, 2026 |
| Ohio | Next regular payday or within 15 days, whichever is sooner | Next regular payday or within 15 days, whichever is sooner | None automatic. Wage complaints through the Ohio Department of Commerce. | Ohio Rev. Code 4113.15checked October 29, 2026 |
| Oklahoma | Next regular payday | Next regular payday | An extra penalty payment of 2% of unpaid wages per day, up to the amount owed, if you file a wage complaint. | 40 O.S. 165.3, 165.9checked October 29, 2026 |
| Oregon | By the end of the next business day | Within 5 business days or the next payday, whichever is first. On the last day if at least 48 hours' notice was given | Penalty wages: the daily rate for up to 30 days of late payment (8 hours a day), plus fees. | ORS 652.140, 652.150checked October 29, 2026 |
| Pennsylvania | Next regular payday | Next regular payday | Wage Payment and Collection Law: 25% an extra penalty payment or $500, whichever is greater, if you file a wage complaint. | 43 P.S. 260.5checked October 29, 2026 |
| Rhode Island | Next regular payday | Next regular payday | Up to twice the unpaid amount plus fees if you file a wage complaint. | R.I. Gen. Laws 28-14-4, 28-14-19.2checked October 29, 2026 |
| South Carolina | Within 48 hours or the next regular payday, whichever comes first (no later than 30 days) | Within 48 hours or the next regular payday, whichever comes first (no later than 30 days) | Payment of Wages Act: up to three times the unpaid amount plus fees if you file a wage complaint. | S.C. Code 41-10-50, 41-10-80checked October 29, 2026 |
| South Dakota | Next regular payday (the employer may hold pay until company property is returned) | Next regular payday | None automatic. Claims through the Department of Labor and Regulation. | SDCL 60-11-10, 60-11-14checked October 29, 2026 |
| Tennessee | Next regular payday or within 21 days of the last day, whichever is later | Next regular payday or within 21 days of the last day, whichever is later | None automatic. Claims through the Tennessee Department of Labor. | Tenn. Code 50-2-103(g)checked October 29, 2026 |
| Texas | Within 6 calendar days of being fired | Next regular payday | No automatic penalty. Wage complaints go to the Texas Workforce Commission. | Texas Payday Law, Labor Code 61.014checked October 29, 2026 |
| Utah | Within 24 hours of being fired | Next regular payday | If unpaid after you ask for it in writing, wages continue as a penalty for up to 60 days. | Utah Code 34-28-5checked October 29, 2026 |
| Vermont | Within 72 hours of being fired | Next regular payday, or the following Friday if there is none | Wage complaints can recover twice the unpaid amount plus fees. | 21 V.S.A. 342, 347checked October 29, 2026 |
| Virginia | Next regular payday | Next regular payday | Wage complaints can recover unpaid wages plus an extra penalty payment and, if deliberate, three times the unpaid amount. | Va. Code 40.1-29checked October 29, 2026 |
| Washington | On or before the next regularly scheduled payday | On or before the next regularly scheduled payday | None automatic. The employer may not withhold pay for unreturned equipment. | RCW 49.48.010checked October 29, 2026 |
| West Virginia | Within 72 hours of being fired | Next regular payday | Wage Payment and Collection Act: an extra penalty payment of 2x the unpaid amount plus fees. | W. Va. Code 21-5-4checked October 29, 2026 |
| Wisconsin | Next regular payday | Next regular payday | Wage complaints through the Department of Workforce Development. Courts may add up to 50% as increased wages. | Wis. Stat. 109.03checked October 29, 2026 |
| Wyoming | Next regular payday | Next regular payday | None automatic. Claims through the Department of Workforce Services. | Wyo. Stat. 27-4-104checked October 29, 2026 |
Federal baseline: Every rule row carries the page it was read from and the date it was read. Federal baseline: Federal law overtime after 40 hours in a work week at 1.5x your true hourly rate (29 U.S.C. 207). No federal daily overtime, meal, rest, final-pay deadline or PTO payout rule. Verified October 29, 2026.