NCNorth Carolina final paycheck law
If you are fired in North Carolina, your final pay is due by the next regular payday. If you quit, it is due by the next regular payday.
| 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. Earned but unused vacation must be paid when you leave the job unless the written policy has a clear rule that unused time is lost that was given to the employee in advance. |
| are paid late | 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. |
| want to read the law | N.C.G.S. 95-25.7checked October 29, 2026 |
When is my last check due? North Carolina calculator
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 North Carolina. When do I get my last check?
Next regular payday.
I quit my job in North Carolina. When do I get my last check?
Next regular payday.
What if my employer pays my last check late in North Carolina?
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.
Will my unused vacation be in my last check in North Carolina?
Yes, the law requires it. Earned but unused vacation must be paid when you leave the job unless the written policy has a clear rule that unused time is lost that was given to the employee in advance. See North Carolina 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 North Carolina labor office.