When is my last paycheck due?

Final Paycheck Deadline Calculator

Pick your state and how your job ended to see when your employer has to pay your final wages.

Data updated September 26, 2026
All 50 states + DC
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State where you work

State rules vary, so we use your work state for this result.

How did your job end?

I quit I was fired Laid off

Last day of work (optional)

Add it to see an estimated calendar date for the deadline.

Your final paycheck deadline

Choose your state and how your job ended to see when your final pay is due.

Your answer will show

The answer in plain English
How we calculated it, step by step
The rule that applies where you work
The official source and when we last checked it

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Informational estimate, not legal, tax, or financial advice. Why?

This calculator uses the information you enter and publicly available government data. Real situations can involve employment contracts, company policy, collective bargaining agreements, and exceptions we can't see.

For advice about your specific situation, talk to a licensed employment attorney or your state labor department.

The short answer

Your final paycheck deadline depends on your state and whether you quit or were fired. If you are fired, some states require payment right away: California at the time of discharge, and Colorado and Montana within hours. If you quit, most states allow payment by the next regular payday. Where no state law applies, federal law does not require immediate payment, so the usual default is your next scheduled payday.

When must my employer pay my final paycheck?

State law sets the deadline. Some states, such as California, require payment at the moment you are let go. If your state has no final paycheck law, federal law does not require immediate payment, so final wages are generally due by your next regularly scheduled payday. To see your full final pay, also check your PTO payout.

Where the rules come from

Each result shows the state statute and the official page we used to check it, either a state or federal government site or the state's published statute. You can confirm the rule with your state labor department.

Last reviewed September 26, 2026.

Common questions

How long does an employer have to give you your last paycheck?

It depends entirely on your state and whether you quit or were fired. If you are fired, some states, such as California and Massachusetts, require payment on your last day. If you quit, most states give the employer until the next regularly scheduled payday. Check our state-by-state calculator above for your exact deadline.

When is my employer legally required to give me my final paycheck?

It depends on your state and how you left. If you were fired, some states require payment right away: California, Hawaii, Massachusetts, and Missouri on the day of discharge, Colorado immediately or within 24 hours, and Montana within 4 hours or by the end of the business day. If you resigned, most states allow payment on the next regular payday. Where a state has no specific law, federal law does not require immediate payment, so the usual default is your next scheduled payday. Use our calculator above to get your state's exact rule.

Can my employer hold my final paycheck if I didn't return equipment?

Generally no. State final-pay laws set a deadline, and unreturned equipment is not a recognized reason to miss it. Whether an employer may deduct the value of equipment from wages varies by state, and many states require your written authorization first. If your employer holds your check, you can file a wage claim with your state labor department.

What should my final paycheck include?

Your final paycheck must include: all regular wages for hours worked, overtime pay if applicable, any commission or bonus wages already earned, and in states with mandatory PTO payout laws (CA, CO, IL, LA, ME, MA, MT, NE, ND, RI), the cash value of accrued unused vacation/PTO. It must NOT be reduced for notice period not served, training costs, or equipment.

What happens if my employer is late with my final paycheck?

Most states impose penalties on employers who pay late. California is among the strictest. Employers owe one day of your wages for every day the paycheck is willfully late, up to 30 days. That can add up to 1.5 months of pay in penalties. File a wage claim at your state labor board — most claims are free and resolved within 30–60 days.