WIWisconsin final paycheck law
If you are fired in Wisconsin, 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
Per policyunused vacation
| If you | Your last check is due |
|---|---|
| were fired or laid off | Next regular payday |
| quit | Next regular payday |
| have unused vacation | It is paid if your employer's written policy says so. Paid when you leave the job unless a written policy says earned vacation will not be paid. |
| are paid late | Wage complaints through the Department of Workforce Development. Courts may add up to 50% as increased wages. |
| want to read the law | Wis. Stat. 109.03checked October 29, 2026 |
When is my last check due? Wisconsin 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 Wisconsin. When do I get my last check?
Next regular payday.
I quit my job in Wisconsin. When do I get my last check?
Next regular payday.
What if my employer pays my last check late in Wisconsin?
Wage complaints through the Department of Workforce Development. Courts may add up to 50% as increased wages.
Will my unused vacation be in my last check in Wisconsin?
Only if your employer's written policy or your contract says so. Paid when you leave the job unless a written policy says earned vacation will not be paid. See Wisconsin 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 Wisconsin labor office.