Payroll 101

Paycheck Laws by State 2023

The Wrapbook Team
March 30, 2023

If you're managing payroll for cast and crew, it's a good time to get familiar with paycheck laws. Whether you're shooting in California, New York, or somewhere in between, each state has its own requirements and ignoring those could bring unnecessary costs to your production.

Here's a quick guide to the paycheck laws by state.

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Pay frequency requirements by state

To avoid making payroll mistakes and finding yourself in hot water with regulators, know the different paycheck laws by state.

Because there are pay frequency requirements by state, you'll need to be prepared to pay your workers at different intervals. For example, the paycheck calendar in California allows you to choose weekly, bi-weekly, semi-monthly, or monthly pay periods. Delaware's paycheck calendar only requires monthly payments.

Paycheck Laws by State 2023 - Wrapbook - Crew On Set
When you keep up with paycheck laws by state, production crews can focus on filming. SOURCE

The time and costs of managing a production payroll that crosses state lines with temporary workers are enormous — and if you’re making a feature, you might even be starting from scratch with each new production. It helps to have a quick reference for the pay frequency and last paycheck laws by state.

Final paycheck laws by state

Final paychecks are another payroll concern. Each state differs in its approach to ensuring workers get their final paychecks. Most have different requirements that depend on the way a worker's services were ended. Final check laws by state are different for a worker who was terminated than those for one who quit.

For example, say you have crews in Delaware and California who have wrapped up and terminated their workers. When you issue their final paychecks varies depending on which state they're from, even though it's all for the same production. You can pay final paychecks on the next regular payday in Delaware. California paycheck laws state that you have one to three days.

The list below includes the final check laws by state to give you a quick reference for final checks.

What are the final check laws by the state?

There are different laws for final wages by state because each can create its own. Many states have no requirements for paying your worker's final wages, while some final paycheck laws by state are very strict.

How does final pay work?

Each state is different, so the final check laws by state reflect those differences. For example, Washington requires that an employee who quits or is terminated is paid by the next payday; but Wisconsin gives an employer the option to pay within 31 days or the next payday, whichever is first.

How long does an employer have to send a final check?

Final check laws by state vary. In some states, you have until the next scheduled payday to pay terminated employees, while some make you pay them immediately. That's why we've compiled this list of last paycheck laws by state, to make it a handy tool for quick reference.

Can final paychecks be directly deposited?

If you pay your workers through direct deposit, you can pay their final paychecks that way as well. Again, when you do so makes a difference because there are varying last paycheck laws by state.

Can you hold a final paycheck?

South Dakota is the only state that allows you to hold a final paycheck, and only on the condition of returning company property. Our list of last paycheck laws by state can serve as a guide for your paycheck law questions.

What happens if you miss paying a worker?

If you miss paying a worker based on their last paycheck laws by state, it's best to pay them as soon as you're notified it happened. Workers can sue your company if they aren't paid within the time frame set by their state.

Paycheck laws by state

1. Alabama

Employee quits

Alabama has no paycheck frequency or final paycheck laws in place.

Employee terminated

Alabama has no paycheck frequency or final paycheck laws in place.

Required pay frequency

Alabama has no paycheck frequency or final paycheck laws in place.

2. Alaska

Employee quits

Alaska requires you to pay by the next regular payday that's at least three days after the notice is given.

Employee terminated

Alaska gives you no more than three working days after the termination.

Required pay frequency

Alaska employees and workers are required to be paid, at a minimum, semi-monthly or monthly.

3. Arizona

Employee quits

Arizona requires employees to be paid by the next regular payday.

Employee terminated

Arizona requires employees to be paid by the next regular payday.

Required pay frequency

You'll need to pay Arizona employees at least semi-monthly.

4. Arkansas

Employee quits

Arkansas requires employees to be paid the next regular payday.

Employee terminated

If an Arkansas employee is terminated, you'll need to pay them on the next regular payday. If you're seven working days late paying them, you'll owe them double the wages.

Required pay frequency

Arkansas requires employees to be paid at least semi-monthly.

5. California

Employee quits

You have three days to pay employees in California after they quit.

Employee terminated

If you terminate a California employee, you must pay them immediately.

Required pay frequency

California allows you to pay employees on a weekly, bi-weekly, semi-monthly, or monthly basis.

6. Colorado

Employee quits

Colorado requires you to pay employees who quit by the next regular payday.

Employee terminated

If a Colorado employee is terminated, you must pay them immediately.

Required pay frequency

At a minimum, Colorado requires that employees are paid at least monthly.

7. Connecticut

Employee quits

Connecticut requires you to pay employees that quit by the next regular payday.

Employee terminated

If a Colorado employee is terminated, you must pay them the next business day.

Required pay frequency

Connecticut requires that employees are paid weekly.

8. Delaware

Employee quits

Delaware employees that quit can be paid on the next regular payday.

Employee terminated

Delaware employees that are terminated can be paid on the next regular payday.

Required pay frequency

Delaware employees must be paid monthly at a minimum.

9. District of Columbia (D.C.)

Employee quits

If an employee from D.C. quits, they can be paid on the next regular payday.

Employee terminated

D.C. employees who are terminated must be paid by the next business day.

Required pay frequency

D.C. requires you to pay employees weekly.

10. Florida

Employee quits

Florida employees that quit can be paid on the next regular payday.

Employee terminated

Florida employees that are terminated can be paid on the next regular payday.

Required pay frequency

Florida requires that employees be paid monthly at a minimum.

11. Georgia

Employee quits

A Georgia employee who quits must be paid by the next payday or within seven days, whichever comes first.

Employee terminated

If a Georgia employee is terminated, they must be paid by the next regular payday.

Required pay frequency

Georgia requires that employees are paid at least semi-monthly.

12. Hawaii

Employee quits

Hawaii requires that terminated employees are paid on the next scheduled payday or immediately (depending on when the final notice was given).

Employee terminated

If an employee who works and lives in Hawaii is terminated, they must be paid by the next business day or immediately, if necessary.

Required pay frequency

Hawaii requires that employees are paid semi-monthly or monthly.

13. Idaho

Employee quits

Idaho requires that an employee who quits is paid no more than 10 days or the next payday and no more than two days if the employee submits a written request to be paid earlier.

Employee terminated

If an employee who works and lives in Idaho is terminated, they must be paid no more than 10 days or the next payday and no more than two days if they submit a written request to be paid earlier.

Required pay frequency

Idaho requires that employees must be paid monthly, at a minimum.

14. Illinois

Employee quits

An Illinois employee who quits can be paid on the next regular payday.

Employee terminated

An Illinois terminated employee can be paid on the next regular payday.

Required pay frequency

Illinois requires that employees are paid monthly at a minimum.

15. Indiana

Employee quits

An employee who works and lives in Indiana who quits must be paid by the next regular payday.

Employee terminated

An employee who works and lives in Indiana who is terminated must be paid by the next regular payday.

Required pay frequency

Indiana requires that employees are paid bi-weekly, semi-monthly, or monthly.

16. Iowa

Employee quits

An employee who works and lives in Iowa and quits can be paid on the next payday.

Employee terminated

An employee working and living in Iowa who is terminated can be paid on the next regular payday.

Required pay frequency

Iowa requires that employees are paid weekly, bi-weekly, semi-monthly, or monthly.

17. Kansas

Employee quits

A Kansas employee who quits can be paid on the next regular payday.

Employee terminated

A terminated Kansas employee can be paid on the next regular payday.

Required pay frequency

Kansas requires that employees are paid monthly at a minimum.

18. Kentucky

Employee quits

Kentucky employees who quit must be paid no more than 14 days later or the next regular payday, whichever is the latest.

Employee terminated

Kentucky employees who are terminated must be paid no more than 14 days later or the next regular payday, whichever is the latest.

Required pay frequency

Kentucky requires that employees are paid semi-monthly.

19. Louisiana

Employee quits

An employee who lives and works in Louisiana and quits must be paid no more than 15 days later or the next scheduled payday, whichever is first.

Employee terminated

An employee who lives and works in Louisiana and is terminated must be paid no more than 15 days later or the next scheduled payday, whichever is first.

Required pay frequency

Louisiana requires that employees are paid bi-weekly or semi-monthly.

20. Maine

Employee quits

Maine employees who quit can be paid on the next regular payday.

Employee terminated

Maine employees who are terminated can be paid on the next regular payday.

Required pay frequency

Maines requires that employees are paid at least semi-monthly.

21. Maryland

Employee quits

A Maryland employee who quits can be paid on the next regular payday.

Employee terminated

A Maryland terminated employee can be paid on the next regular payday.

Required pay frequency

Maryland requires that employees are paid bi-weekly or semi-monthly.

22. Massachusetts

Employee quits

A Massachusetts employee who quits must be paid the Saturday following their resignation or the next regular payday, whichever is first.

Employee terminated

If an employee is terminated in Massachusetts, they must be paid immediately.

Required pay frequency

Massachusetts requires that employees are paid weekly or bi-weekly.

23. Michigan

Employee quits

Michigan employees who quit can be paid on the next regular payday.

Employee terminated

Michigan employees who are terminated can be paid on the next regular payday.

Required pay frequency

Michigan requires that employees are paid weekly, bi-weekly, semi-monthly, or monthly.

24. Minnesota

Employee quits

Minnesota employees who quits must be paid no less than five days and no more than 20 days after an employee’s last day of work.

Employee terminated

If an employee who works and lives in Minnesota is terminated, they must be paid within one day of the employee asking for it.

Required pay frequency

Minnesota requires that employees be paid bi-monthly or monthly.

25. Mississippi

Employee quits

Mississippi has no final paycheck laws.

Employee terminated

Mississippi has no final paycheck laws.

Required pay frequency

Mississippi requires that employees are paid bi-weekly or semi-monthly.

26. Missouri

Employee quits

Missouri has no final paycheck laws.

Employee terminated

A Missouri employee who is terminated must be paid immediately.

Required pay frequency

Missouri requires that employees be paid semi-monthly.

27. Montana

Employee quits

Montana employees who quit must be paid by the next regular payday or within 15 days, whichever is first.

Employee terminated

Montana employees who are terminated must be paid immediately, within four hours, or by the end of the business day, whichever is first.

Required pay frequency

Montana has no required pay frequency.

28. Nebraska

Employee quits

Employees in Nebraska who quit must be paid no more than 14 days or the next regular payday, whichever is first.

Employee terminated

Employees in Nebraska who are terminated must be paid no more than 14 days or the next regular payday, whichever is first.

Required pay frequency

Nebraska has no paycheck frequency laws.

29. Nevada

Employee quits

Nevada employees who quit must be paid within one week or the next regular payday, whichever is first.

Employee terminated

Employers have no more than three days to pay Nevada employees who are terminated.

Required pay frequency

Nevada requires that employees are paid semi-monthly or monthly.

30. New Hampshire

Employee quits

New Hampshire employees who quit must be paid by the next regular payday or within three days if there was a notice of one pay period.

Employee terminated

If a New Hampshire employee is terminated, you must pay them within 72 hours.

Required pay frequency

New Hampshire requires that employees be paid weekly, bi-weekly, semi-monthly, or monthly.

31. New Jersey

Employee quits

New Jersey employees that quit can be paid on the next regular payday.

Employee terminated

New Jersey terminated employees can be paid on the next regular payday.

Required pay frequency

New Jersey requires that employees be paid semi-monthly or monthly.

32. New Mexico

Employee quits

Employees who quit and work in New Mexico can be paid on the next scheduled payday.

Employee terminated

Employees that are terminated and who live and work in New Mexico can be paid on the next scheduled payday.

Required pay frequency

New Mexico employees can be paid semi-monthly or monthly.

33. New York

Employee quits

Employees that quit, who live and work in New York, can be paid on the next regular payday.

Employee terminated

Employees that are terminated, who live and work in New York, can be paid on the next regular payday.

Required pay frequency

New York requires that employees are paid weekly or semi-monthly.

34. North Carolina

Employee quits

A North Carolina employee who quits can be paid on the next payday.

Employee terminated

A terminated North Carolina employee can be paid on the next regular payday.

Required pay frequency

North Carolina has no paycheck frequency requirements.

35. North Dakota

Employee quits

A North Dakota employee who quits can be paid on the next regular payday.

Employee terminated

A terminated North Dakota employee can be paid on the next regular payday.

Required pay frequency

North Dakota requires that employees are paid at least monthly.

36. Ohio

Employee quits

Ohio has no final paycheck law for employees that quit.

Employee terminated

Ohio has no final paycheck law for employees who are terminated.

Required pay frequency

Ohio requires that employees are paid at least semi-monthly.

37. Oklahoma

Employee quits

An employee who works and lives in Oklahoma who quits can be paid on the next regular payday.

Employee terminated

An employee who works and lives in Oklahoma who is terminated can be paid on the next regular payday.

Required pay frequency

Oklahoma requires that employees be paid at least semi-monthly.

38. Oregon

Employee quits

If an Oregon employee quits with 48 hours notice, they must be paid immediately. They must be paid within five days if there is more than two days' notice or by the next regular payday, whichever is first.

Employee terminated

If an Oregon employee is terminated, they must be paid by the next business day.

Required pay frequency

Oregon requires that employees are paid at least monthly.

39. Pennsylvania

Employee quits

If a Pennsylvania employee quits, they must be paid by the next regular payday.

Employee terminated

If a Pennsylvania employee is terminated, they must be paid by the next regular payday.

Required pay frequency

Pennsylvania has no paycheck frequency requirements.

40. Puerto Rico

Employee quits

If an employee who works and lives in Puerto Rico quits, they can be paid on the next regular payday.

Employee terminated

If an employee who works and lives in Puerto Rico is terminated, they can be paid on the next regular payday; however, severance pay laws may apply.

Required pay frequency

Puerto Rico requires that employees are paid weekly, bi-weekly, or semi-monthly.

41. Rhode Island

Employee quits

If a Rhode Island employee quits, they can be paid on the next regular payday.

Employee terminated

If a Rhode Island employee is terminated, they can be paid on the next regular payday.

Required pay frequency

Rhode Island requires that employees are paid weekly, bi-weekly, or semi-monthly.

42. South Carolina

Employee quits

A South Carolina employee who quits must be paid within two days or the next regular payday.

Employee terminated

If a South Carolina employee is terminated, they must be paid within two days or the next regular payday.

Required pay frequency

South Carolina has no paycheck frequency laws.

43. South Dakota

Employee quits

If an employee in South Dakota quits, they can be paid on the next regular payday or when all company property is returned.

Employee terminated

If an employee in South Dakota is terminated, they can be paid on the next regular payday or when all company property is returned.

Required pay frequency

South Dakota requires employees to be paid at least monthly.

44. Tennessee

Employee quits

If an employee in Tennessee quits, they can be paid on the next regular payday or within 21 days, whichever occurs later.

Employee terminated

If an employee in Tennessee is terminated, they can be paid on the next regular payday or within 21 days, whichever occurs later.

Required Pay Frequency

Tennessee requires that employees be paid at least semi-monthly.

45. Texas

Employee quits

A Texas employee who quits can be paid on the next regular payday.

Employee terminated

A Texas employee who is terminated must be paid before the end of the sixth calendar day after the termination.

Required pay frequency

Texas requires that employees are paid bi-weekly, semi-monthly, or monthly.

46. Utah

Employee quits

An employee that lives and works in Utah who quits must be paid no more than 24 hours after leaving.

Employee terminated

An employee that lives and works in Utah who is terminated must be paid no more than 24 hours after the termination.

Required pay frequency

Utah requires that employees are paid semi-monthly or monthly.

47. Vermont

Employee quits

An employee who works and lives in Vermont who quits must be paid by the following Friday or the next regular payday, whichever is first.

Employee terminated

An employee who works and lives in Vermont who is terminated must be paid no more than 72 hours after the termination.

Required pay frequency

Vermont allows employees to be paid weekly, bi-weekly, semi-monthly, or monthly.

48. Virginia

Employee quits

An employee that quits and works and lives in Virginia can be paid on the next regular payday.

Employee terminated

A terminated employee who works and lives in Virginia can be paid on the next regular payday.

Required pay frequency

Virginia allows employees to be paid weekly, bi-weekly, semi-monthly, or monthly.

49. Washington

Employee quits

A Washington employee who quits can be paid on the next regular payday.

Employee terminated

A terminated Washington employee can be paid on the next regular payday.

Required pay frequency

Washington requires that employees be paid monthly at a minimum.

50. West Virginia

Employee quits

A West Virginia employee who quits can be paid on the next regular payday.

Employee terminated

A terminated West Virginia employee can be paid on the next regular payday.

Required pay frequency

West Virginia requires that employees are paid at least bi-monthly.

51. Wisconsin

Employee quits

A Wisconsin employee who quits can be paid on the next regular payday or within 31 days, whichever is first.

Employee terminated

A terminated Wisconsin employee can be paid on the next regular payday or within 31 days, whichever is first.

Required pay frequency

Wisconsin requires that employees are paid at least monthly.

52. Wyoming

Employee quits

An employee who quits and works and lives in Wyoming can be paid on the next regular payday.

Employee terminated

An employee who quits and works and lives in Wyoming can be paid on the next regular payday.

Required pay frequency

Wyoming requires that employees be paid at least semi-monthly.

Wrapping Up

Production work can be tiring, but paying people shouldn’t have to be. Knowing the final paycheck laws by state can help make things easier.

If you need help beyond knowing when to pay people, reach out. This list of final wages by state is only one of the ways Wrapbook can help you get control of your payroll. We’re helping top production companies automate their payroll for immediate business impact.

Disclaimer

At Wrapbook, we pride ourselves on providing outstanding free resources to producers and their crews, but this post is for informational purposes only as of the date above. The content on our website is not intended to provide and should not be relied on for legal, accounting, or tax advice.  You should consult with your own legal, accounting, or tax advisors to determine how this general information may apply to your specific circumstances.

About the Author

The Wrapbook Team

The Wrapbook Team consists of individuals who are thrilled about building modern software tools for creators. We’re a team of compassionate and curious people dedicated to solving complex problems with sophisticated solutions. You can find us across the U.S. and Canada.