Final paycheck deadline calculator
Left a job and waiting for your last paycheck? Find the legal deadline your employer must meet — by state and how you left. This is an educational estimate, not legal advice.
Employer email template
Subject: Request for final pay review
I am writing to ask you to review my final pay. Based on the information available to me, I believe the amount or deadline may not match the applicable rule. Please confirm the calculation, the pay period covered, any deductions, and the expected payment date.
Wage claim checklist
- OK Final payslip or pay statement
- OK Employment contract or handbook policy
- OK Dates worked and termination/resignation date
- OK Written request sent to employer
- OK Official state or country claim link
When your final paycheck is legally due
There is no single federal deadline for a final paycheck in the United States. Instead each state sets its own rule, and two factors decide it: which state you worked in, and whether you quit or were let go. This tool pairs those two inputs to show the deadline that applies to you, rather than a vague "it depends".
The strictest states require payment the moment employment ends. California and Massachusetts, for instance, require a fired employee's full final wages on their last day. Many states are more relaxed and allow until the next regular payday, and a handful have no specific statute at all — in which case your employer's normal pay schedule governs. Several states also impose waiting-time penalties: extra pay for every day the final wages are late, which gives the deadline real teeth.
Note that whether your final pay must include unused vacation is a separate question, decided by your state's PTO payout rules rather than its paycheck-timing law. If your deadline passes without payment, your state labor office is the place to file a wage claim. Download the PDF summary to keep a dated record of the rule that applied when you left.
Frequently asked questions
When does my employer have to give me my final paycheck?+−
It depends on your state and how you left. Some states require payment immediately on termination — California, for example, requires final wages on your last day if you are fired. Others allow until the next regular payday. Select your state above to see the rule.
Is the deadline different if I quit versus being fired?+−
Often, yes. Many states set a faster deadline when an employer ends the job than when an employee resigns. In California a fired employee must be paid immediately, while someone who quits without notice is paid within 72 hours.
What if my state has no specific law?+−
A few states (such as Alabama, Florida, Georgia and Mississippi) have no specific final-paycheck statute. In those states, final wages generally follow your employer's normal pay schedule — usually the next regular payday. This tool covers all 50 states and DC.
Does my final paycheck include unused PTO?+−
That is a separate question governed by your state's PTO payout rules. Some states treat earned vacation as wages that must be paid out, while others leave it to employer policy. Check a PTO payout calculator for your state.
What can I do if my final paycheck is late?+−
You can file a wage claim with your state labor office. Some states impose 'waiting-time penalties' — additional pay for each day the final wages are late — which can add up quickly for a missed deadline.
Can my employer withhold my final paycheck?+−
Generally no. You must be paid for all hours worked, even if you have not returned equipment or a uniform. Deductions are tightly restricted, so withholding an entire final paycheck is usually unlawful.
Legal basis and primary sources
All statutory figures are sourced directly from official government legislation and guidance. See our methodology →