Guides / Final paycheck deadlines in six states
Final paycheck deadlines in six states
When a job ends, the law sets when the last wages are due. This page quotes the main timing rule from six states and builds a letter you can send.
Start here. Find the state where you worked, read when final pay is due, then build a letter asking for it.
This site cannot say whether your employer owes you money or how much. The statutes have exceptions and extra rules. This page is information, not legal advice. A state labor agency, a legal aid office or a lawyer can tell you your options.
Jump to the state rules · Jump to the letter builder · Your state not listed?
When final pay is due in six states
Each row shows the main timing rule this site read in the state's law. This page is about the timing of wages. The statutes have other provisions, for example on bonuses and commissions in some states, that this site did not summarize.
| State | When final wages are due, per the statute | Source |
|---|---|---|
| California | Discharged: immediately, with some exceptions (for example seasonal layoffs and state employers). Quit, for an employee without a written contract for a definite period: not later than 72 hours after quitting, or at the time of quitting if 72 hours of notice was given. | California Labor Code §§201 and 202 |
| Michigan | Discharged: immediately, as soon as the amount can with due diligence be determined. Quit: as soon as the amount can with due diligence be determined. The statute sets different rules for some contract employees and hand-harvest workers. | Michigan Compiled Laws §408.475 |
| New York | Not later than the regular pay day for the pay period during which the termination occurred. | New York Labor Law §191 |
| North Carolina | On or before the next regular payday. | North Carolina General Statutes §95-25.7 |
| Texas | Discharged: not later than the sixth day after discharge. Left other than by discharge: not later than the next regularly scheduled payday. | Texas Labor Code §61.014 |
| Washington | At the end of the established pay period, with exceptions for some multi-employer industry plans and some labor-management agreements. | Revised Code of Washington 49.48.010 |
This site's reading: whether you were discharged or you quit can change the deadline in some states. Keep a record of your last day and how the job ended.
California
California has one rule for an employer that discharges an employee and a different rule for an employee who quits.
“If an employer discharges an employee, the wages earned and unpaid at the time of discharge are due and payable immediately.”
California Labor Code §§201 and 202, official text, read 14 November 2026.
“If an employee not having a written contract for a definite period quits his or her employment, his or her wages shall become due and payable not later than 72 hours thereafter, unless the employee has given 72 hours previous notice of his or her intention to quit, in which case the employee is entitled to his or her wages at the time of quitting.”
California Labor Code §§201 and 202, official text, read 14 November 2026.
The sections have more provisions, for example for some seasonal work and state employers. This site quoted the main rules and did not summarize the rest.
Michigan
Michigan's statute covers both a discharge and a voluntary departure.
“An employer shall immediately pay to an employee who has been discharged from employment all wages earned and due, as soon as the amount can with due diligence be determined.”
Michigan Compiled Laws §408.475, official text, read 14 November 2026.
“An employer shall pay to an employee voluntarily leaving employment all wages earned and due, as soon as the amount can with due diligence be determined.”
Michigan Compiled Laws §408.475, official text, read 14 November 2026.
The statute has exceptions, for example for some contract employment. This site quoted these two sentences and did not summarize the rest.
New York
New York's rule is tied to the regular pay day.
“If employment is terminated, the employer shall pay the wages not later than the regular pay day for the pay period during which the termination occurred, as established in accordance with the provisions of this section.”
New York Labor Law §191, official text, read 14 November 2026.
This site quoted this paragraph and did not summarize the rest of the section.
North Carolina
North Carolina's rule applies when employment is discontinued for any reason.
“Employees whose employment is discontinued for any reason shall be paid all wages due on or before the next regular payday either through the regular pay channels or by trackable mail if requested by the employee in writing.”
North Carolina General Statutes §95-25.7, official text, read 14 November 2026.
The statute continues with rules for bonuses and commissions. This site did not summarize them.
Texas
Texas treats a discharge and a departure differently.
“An employer shall pay in full an employee who is discharged from employment not later than the sixth day after the date the employee is discharged.”
Texas Labor Code §61.014, official text, read 14 November 2026.
“An employer shall pay in full an employee who leaves employment other than by discharge not later than the next regularly scheduled payday.”
Texas Labor Code §61.014, official text, read 14 November 2026.
Washington
Washington's statute names the end of the established pay period.
“When any employee shall cease to work for an employer, whether by discharge or by voluntary withdrawal, the wages due him or her on account of his or her employment shall be paid to him or her at the end of the established pay period”
Revised Code of Washington 49.48.010, official text, read 14 November 2026.
The statute goes on with exceptions for some multi-employer industry plans and for some labor-management agreements. This site quoted the main rule and did not summarize the rest.
Write your letter
This tool runs in your browser. Nothing you type is sent anywhere. It builds a letter asking for your final pay. You send the letter yourself.
Your letter
Check every line before you send it. Keep a copy.
After you send it
- This site's suggestion: send it in a way that gives you a receipt, and keep a copy and your last pay stub.
- If the deadline has passed and you have no answer, your state labor agency, a legal aid office or a lawyer can tell you your options. This site cannot.
What this site cannot do
- It cannot tell you whether your employer owes you money, or how much.
- It does not send the letter. You send it.
- It did not summarize the penalties, the exceptions or the claim steps in these states, except where a quote above says so.
- It is not a law firm. This page is information, not legal advice.
Not on this list
Your state is missing? That means this site has not checked it yet. Search your state labor department's website for final pay, or ask a legal aid office.
Sources
- California Labor Code §201 and §202, read 14 November 2026
- Michigan Compiled Laws §408.475, read 14 November 2026
- North Carolina General Statutes §95-25.7, read 14 November 2026
- New York Labor Law §191, read 14 November 2026
- Texas Labor Code §61.014, read 14 November 2026
- Revised Code of Washington 49.48.010, read 14 November 2026
Quotations are copied word for word. Text outside a quotation is this site's reading. This is not legal advice.