MEMaine final paycheck law
If you are fired in Maine, your final pay is due by the next regular payday. If you quit, it is due by the next regular payday.
Next paydayif fired or laid off
Next paydayif you quit
Paid outunused vacation
| If you | Your last check is due |
|---|---|
| were fired or laid off | Next regular payday |
| quit | Next regular payday |
| have unused vacation | It must be paid. Private employers with 11 or more employees must pay all unused vacation when you leave the job. |
| are paid late | Unpaid wages plus an equal amount as an extra penalty payment and fees if you file a wage complaint. |
| want to read the law | 26 M.R.S. 626, 626-Achecked October 29, 2026 |
When is my last check due? Maine calculator
What you are owedupdates as you type
What these words mean
- Final paycheck
- The last pay you are owed after a job ends: all hours worked and, in some states, your unused vacation.
- Late-pay penalty
- Extra money some states make an employer pay when your final check is late.
- Payout
- Being paid cash for paid time off you earned but never used.
- Wage complaint
- A free claim you file with your state labor office or the U.S. Department of Labor when you are not paid what the law requires.
Questions
I was fired in Maine. When do I get my last check?
Next regular payday. It must include the vacation you earned but did not use.
I quit my job in Maine. When do I get my last check?
Next regular payday.
What if my employer pays my last check late in Maine?
Unpaid wages plus an equal amount as an extra penalty payment and fees if you file a wage complaint.
Will my unused vacation be in my last check in Maine?
Yes, the law requires it. Private employers with 11 or more employees must pay all unused vacation when you leave the job. See Maine PTO payout rules.
Can my employer keep my last check until I return my uniform or laptop?
No. Money you earned is yours. An employer can only take out what the law or a signed agreement allows. If the check is late, file a free wage complaint with the Maine labor office.