Some States Make You Wait Weeks for Your Last Paycheck

Getting What You're Owed, When You're Owed It

So, you were fired? Yes, it sucks, but it happens to almost everyone at least once in their lives. The important part is getting what you are owed on your way out—namely, your final paycheck.

That's right. In the United States, when you are let go, you have a legal right to your final paycheck—which must include all wages due for work up to the moment of termination.

However, while you have a right to it—how quickly you have to receive said paycheck, well, the legality of that comes down to what state you are in (as well as how you left your job).

So, for each state, we will give you the current 2025 laws regarding final paychecks for both situations: if you resigned and if you were fired or laid off.

Final Paycheck Laws L

Alabama

Resignation: No law.

Involuntary termination: No law.

(Five states have no laws regarding the final paycheck and thus follow the federal FLSA guidelines: allowing employers to issue the final paycheck on the next regular pay date).

Aerial View Of Montgomery, Alabama Carol M. Highsmith, Wikimedia Commons

Alaska

Resignation: Next regularly scheduled pay date, at least three working days after an employee quits.

Involuntary termination: Within three working days.

Fairbanks, Alaska Quintin Soloviev, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons

Arizona

Resignation: Next regularly scheduled pay date.

Involuntary termination: Within seven working days or the next regularly scheduled payday, whichever comes first.

Aerial of Downtown Mesa, Arizona, with a light rail line in the center. Mesa is part of the Phoenix Metropolitan Area. Dee Liu, Getty Images

Arkansas

Resignation: Next regularly scheduled pay date. If an employer fails to make payment within seven days of the next regular payday, then the employer shall owe the employee double the wages due.

Involuntary termination: Next regularly scheduled pay date. If an employer fails to make payment within seven days of the next regular payday, then the employer shall owe the employee double the wages due.

Historic downtown in Rogers, Arkansas Law7833, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons

California

Resignation: Within 72 hours, but if an employee gives at least 72 hours’ notice, the final wages must be paid at the time of resignation.

Involuntary termination: Immediately.

Aerial view above Lake Merritt in Oakland, California. Looking across the lake at downtown Oakland with skyscrapers in the distance. DianeBentleyRaymond, Getty Images

Colorado

Resignation: Next regularly scheduled pay date.

Involuntary termination: Immediately.

Aerial photo of Highlands Ranch, Colorado Jguy10218, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons

Connecticut

Resignation: Next regularly scheduled pay date.

Involuntary termination: Next business day if fired, but on the next regularly scheduled pay date if they were laid off.

Vibrant urban scene of Hartford, Connecticut captured from a high vantage point SeanPavonePhoto, Adobe Stock

Delaware

Resignation: Next regularly scheduled pay date or three days after the last day, whichever comes first.

Involuntary termination: Next regularly scheduled pay date or three days after the last day, whichever comes first.

Historic district in Downtown Middletown, Delaware Acroterion, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons

District Of Columbia

Resignation: Next regularly scheduled pay date or within seven days from the date of resigning, whichever comes first.

Involuntary termination: Next business day if fired, but on the next regularly scheduled pay date if they were laid off.

Vibrant urban scene of Washington, District of Columbia captured from a high vantage point Sergey Novikov, Adobe Stock

Florida

Resignation: No law.

Involuntary termination: No law.

Pensacolabeach And Condos Jason Meredith, CC BY 2.0, Wikimedia Commons

Georgia

Resignation: No law.

Involuntary termination: No law.

The image showcases a Vibrant urban scene of Atlanta, Georgia digidreamgrafix, Adobe Stock

Hawaii

Resignation: Next regularly scheduled pay date or at the time of quitting if the employee gave at least one pay period’s notice before resigning

Involuntary termination: Immediately or the next working day.

Honolulu, Hawaii hhach, Pixabay

Idaho

Resignation: Next regularly scheduled pay date or within 10 working days of termination, whichever comes first. If an employee requests early payment in writing after separation, employers are required to pay the owed wages within 48 hours of receiving the request, excluding weekends and holidays.

Involuntary termination: Next regularly scheduled pay date or within 10 working days of termination, whichever comes first. If an employee requests early payment in writing after separation, employers are required to pay the owed wages within 48 hours of receiving the request, excluding weekends and holidays.

Boise, Idaho Pinpals, Pixabay

Illinois

Resignation: At the time of separation, if possible, but no later than the next regularly scheduled pay date.

Involuntary termination: At the time of separation, if possible, but no later than the next regularly scheduled pay date.

Downtown Naperville Aerial, Illinois Lectrician2, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons

Indiana

Resignation: On or before the next regularly scheduled pay date.

Involuntary termination: On or before the next regularly scheduled pay date.

Indianapolis, Indiana TROY ALLEN, Unsplash

Iowa

Resignation: Next regularly scheduled pay date.

Involuntary termination: Next regularly scheduled pay date.

The Des Moines River leading to the Des Moines, Iowa skyline, as viewed from the SE 6th Street bridge Tony Webster, CC BY 2.0, Wikimedia Commons

Kansas

Resignation: Next regularly scheduled pay date.

Involuntary termination: Next regularly scheduled pay date.

The image showcases a Vibrant urban scene of Topeka, Kansas Matt Gush, Adobe Stock

Kentucky

Resignation: Next regularly scheduled pay date or within 14 days of termination, whichever is later.

Involuntary termination: Next regularly scheduled pay date or within 14 days of termination, whichever is later.

Louisville, Kentucky Jacob, Adobe Stock

Louisiana

Resignation: On or before the next regularly scheduled pay date or within 15 days of termination, whichever is earlier.

Involuntary termination: On or before the next regularly scheduled pay date or within 15 days of termination, whichever is earlier.

Vibrant urban scene of Baton Rouge, Louisiana captured from a high vantage point CrackerClips, Adobe Stock

Maine

Resignation: Next regularly scheduled pay date or within two weeks if an employee demands.

Involuntary termination: Next regularly scheduled pay date or within two weeks if an employee demands.

Areal view of Munjoy Hill in Portland, Maine Jeffrey B. Ferland, CC BY-SA 2.5, Wikimedia Commons

Maryland

Resignation: On or before the next regularly scheduled pay date.

Involuntary termination: On or before the next regularly scheduled pay date.

The image showcases a Vibrant urban scene of Baltimore, Maryland Tierney, Adobe Stock

Massachusetts

Resignation: Next regularly scheduled pay date or by the first Saturday after they quit (if there is no regular payday).

Involuntary termination: Immediately.

The image showcases a Vibrant urban scene of Boston, Massachusetts jovannig, Adobe Stock

Michigan

Resignation: Next regularly scheduled pay date.

Involuntary termination: Next regularly scheduled pay date.

Holland, Michigan BenHerrera1979, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons

Minnesota

Resignation: Next regularly scheduled pay date that is at least five days after their last day of work. If the payday is within five days of the last day of work, the employer may have up to 20 days to make the final payment.

Involuntary termination: Within 24 hours of an employee’s demand.

Aerial View of Rochester, Minnesota Skyline Wikideas1, CC0, Wikimedia Commons

Mississippi

Resignation: No law.

Involuntary termination: No law.

Waveland, Mississippi Waveland Mississippi by Darius Webb

Missouri

Resignation: No law.

Involuntary termination: Immediately.

Aerial view of the state capital Jefferson City Mike Gattorna, Shutterstock

Montana

Resignation: Next regularly scheduled pay date or within 15 days of termination, whichever is soonest.

Involuntary termination: Immediately.

Billings, Montana skyline Quintin Soloviev, CC BY 4.0, Wikimedia Commons

Nebraska

Resignation: Next regularly scheduled pay date or within two weeks, whichever is soonest.

Involuntary termination: Next regularly scheduled pay date or within two weeks, whichever is soonest.

The image showcases a Vibrant urban scene of Lincoln, Nebraska Jacob, Adobe Stock

Nevada

Resignation: Next regularly scheduled pay date or within seven days, whichever is soonest.

Involuntary termination: Within three days of discharge.

Vibrant urban scene of Carson City, Nevada captured from a high vantage point Shaun Hunter/Wirestock, Adobe Stock

New Hampshire

Resignation: Next regularly scheduled pay date. If the employee gives one pay period notice to quit, the wages should be paid within 72 hours of the last day.

Involuntary termination: Within 72 hours.

Main Street in downtown Concord, New Hampshire, USA AlexiusHoratius, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons

New Jersey

Resignation: Next regularly scheduled pay date.

Involuntary termination: Next regularly scheduled pay date.

Vibrant urban scene of Newark, New Jersey captured from a high vantage point Jin, Adobe Stock

New Mexico

Resignation: Next regularly scheduled pay date.

Involuntary termination: Within five days for fixed wages or within 10 days for variable task-based amounts.

Albuquerque and Interstate 25 in New Mexico, USA Sahmeditor, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons

New York

Resignation: Next regularly scheduled pay date.

Involuntary termination: Next regularly scheduled pay date.

The image showcases a Vibrant urban scene of New York City, New York mandritoiu, Adobe Stock

North Carolina

Resignation: On or before the next regularly scheduled pay date.

Involuntary termination: On or before the next regularly scheduled pay date.

Downtown Charlotte, North Carolina from the west, with Bank of America Stadium in the foreground Precisionviews, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons

North Dakota

Resignation: Next regularly scheduled pay date.

Involuntary termination: Next regularly scheduled pay date.

Aerial View of Bismark, North Dakota during Summer Jacob Boomsma, Shutterstock

Ohio

Resignation: On or before the next regularly scheduled pay date, or within 15 days, whichever is soonest.

Involuntary termination: On or before the next regularly scheduled pay date, or within 15 days, whichever is soonest.

Vibrant urban scene of Cincinnati, Ohio captured from a high vantage point Richard, Adobe Stock

Oklahoma

Resignation: Next regularly scheduled pay date.

Involuntary termination: Next regularly scheduled pay date.

The image showcases a Vibrant urban scene of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma Zenstratus, Adobe Stock

Oregon

Resignation: If an employee quits with less than 48 hours’ notice, the final paycheck is due within five business days or on the next regular payday, whichever comes first. If an employee quits with at least 48 hours’ notice, the final check is due on the last day of employment unless that day is a weekend or a holiday. In that case, the final paycheck is due on the next business day.

Involuntary termination: End of next business day.

Portland, Oregon skyline from the Ross Island Bridge Visitor7, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons

Pennsylvania

Resignation: Next regularly scheduled pay date.

Involuntary termination: Next regularly scheduled pay date.

View of downtown Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania from the top Derek.cashman, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons

Rhode Island

Resignation: Next regularly scheduled pay date.

Involuntary termination: Next regularly scheduled pay date, but if an employee is terminated as a result of the employer liquidating the business, merging the business, disposing of the business or moving the business out of state, all wages are due immediately and have to be paid within 24 hours of the time of separation.

Weybosset Street View, Providence, Rhode Island Kenneth C. Zirkel, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons

South Carolina

Resignation: Within 48 hours of the day of separation or the next regularly scheduled pay date, not to exceed 30 days.

Involuntary termination: Within 48 hours of the day of separation or the next regularly scheduled pay date, not to exceed 30 days.

The image showcases a Vibrant urban scene of Columbia, South Carolina Kevin Ruck, Adobe Stock

South Dakota

Resignation: Next regularly scheduled pay date. An employer can withhold the final paycheck until an employee returns any company property they have.

Involuntary termination: Next regularly scheduled pay date. An employer can withhold the final paycheck until an employee returns any company property they have.

Aerial View of Sioux Falls, South Dakota at Sunset Jacob Boomsma, Shutterstock