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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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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.
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 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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Alabama has no paycheck frequency or final paycheck laws in place.
Alabama has no paycheck frequency or final paycheck laws in place.
Alabama has no paycheck frequency or final paycheck laws in place.
Alaska requires you to pay by the next regular payday that's at least three days after the notice is given.
Alaska gives you no more than three working days after the termination.
Alaska employees and workers are required to be paid, at a minimum, semi-monthly or monthly.
Arizona requires employees to be paid by the next regular payday.
Arizona requires employees to be paid by the next regular payday.
You'll need to pay Arizona employees at least semi-monthly.
Arkansas requires employees to be paid the next regular payday.
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.
Arkansas requires employees to be paid at least semi-monthly.
You have three days to pay employees in California after they quit.
If you terminate a California employee, you must pay them immediately.
California allows you to pay employees on a weekly, bi-weekly, semi-monthly, or monthly basis.
Colorado requires you to pay employees who quit by the next regular payday.
If a Colorado employee is terminated, you must pay them immediately.
At a minimum, Colorado requires that employees are paid at least monthly.
Connecticut requires you to pay employees that quit by the next regular payday.
If a Colorado employee is terminated, you must pay them the next business day.
Connecticut requires that employees are paid weekly.
Delaware employees that quit can be paid on the next regular payday.
Delaware employees that are terminated can be paid on the next regular payday.
Delaware employees must be paid monthly at a minimum.
If an employee from D.C. quits, they can be paid on the next regular payday.
D.C. employees who are terminated must be paid by the next business day.
D.C. requires you to pay employees weekly.
Florida employees that quit can be paid on the next regular payday.
Florida employees that are terminated can be paid on the next regular payday.
Florida requires that employees be paid monthly at a minimum.
A Georgia employee who quits must be paid by the next payday or within seven days, whichever comes first.
If a Georgia employee is terminated, they must be paid by the next regular payday.
Georgia requires that employees are paid at least semi-monthly.
Hawaii requires that terminated employees are paid on the next scheduled payday or immediately (depending on when the final notice was given).
If an employee who works and lives in Hawaii is terminated, they must be paid by the next business day or immediately, if necessary.
Hawaii requires that employees are paid semi-monthly or monthly.
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.
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.
Idaho requires that employees must be paid monthly, at a minimum.
An Illinois employee who quits can be paid on the next regular payday.
An Illinois terminated employee can be paid on the next regular payday.
Illinois requires that employees are paid monthly at a minimum.
An employee who works and lives in Indiana who quits must be paid by the next regular payday.
An employee who works and lives in Indiana who is terminated must be paid by the next regular payday.
Indiana requires that employees are paid bi-weekly, semi-monthly, or monthly.
An employee who works and lives in Iowa and quits can be paid on the next payday.
An employee working and living in Iowa who is terminated can be paid on the next regular payday.
Iowa requires that employees are paid weekly, bi-weekly, semi-monthly, or monthly.
A Kansas employee who quits can be paid on the next regular payday.
A terminated Kansas employee can be paid on the next regular payday.
Kansas requires that employees are paid monthly at a minimum.
Kentucky employees who quit must be paid no more than 14 days later or the next regular payday, whichever is the latest.
Kentucky employees who are terminated must be paid no more than 14 days later or the next regular payday, whichever is the latest.
Kentucky requires that employees are paid semi-monthly.
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.
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.
Louisiana requires that employees are paid bi-weekly or semi-monthly.
Maine employees who quit can be paid on the next regular payday.
Maine employees who are terminated can be paid on the next regular payday.
Maines requires that employees are paid at least semi-monthly.
A Maryland employee who quits can be paid on the next regular payday.
A Maryland terminated employee can be paid on the next regular payday.
Maryland requires that employees are paid bi-weekly or semi-monthly.
A Massachusetts employee who quits must be paid the Saturday following their resignation or the next regular payday, whichever is first.
If an employee is terminated in Massachusetts, they must be paid immediately.
Massachusetts requires that employees are paid weekly or bi-weekly.
Michigan employees who quit can be paid on the next regular payday.
Michigan employees who are terminated can be paid on the next regular payday.
Michigan requires that employees are paid weekly, bi-weekly, semi-monthly, or monthly.
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.
If an employee who works and lives in Minnesota is terminated, they must be paid within one day of the employee asking for it.
Minnesota requires that employees be paid bi-monthly or monthly.
Mississippi has no final paycheck laws.
Mississippi has no final paycheck laws.
Mississippi requires that employees are paid bi-weekly or semi-monthly.
Missouri has no final paycheck laws.
A Missouri employee who is terminated must be paid immediately.
Missouri requires that employees be paid semi-monthly.
Montana employees who quit must be paid by the next regular payday or within 15 days, whichever is first.
Montana employees who are terminated must be paid immediately, within four hours, or by the end of the business day, whichever is first.
Montana has no required pay frequency.
Employees in Nebraska who quit must be paid no more than 14 days or the next regular payday, whichever is first.
Employees in Nebraska who are terminated must be paid no more than 14 days or the next regular payday, whichever is first.
Nebraska has no paycheck frequency laws.
Nevada employees who quit must be paid within one week or the next regular payday, whichever is first.
Employers have no more than three days to pay Nevada employees who are terminated.
Nevada requires that employees are paid semi-monthly or monthly.
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.
If a New Hampshire employee is terminated, you must pay them within 72 hours.
New Hampshire requires that employees be paid weekly, bi-weekly, semi-monthly, or monthly.
New Jersey employees that quit can be paid on the next regular payday.
New Jersey terminated employees can be paid on the next regular payday.
New Jersey requires that employees be paid semi-monthly or monthly.
Employees who quit and work in New Mexico can be paid on the next scheduled payday.
Employees that are terminated and who live and work in New Mexico can be paid on the next scheduled payday.
New Mexico employees can be paid semi-monthly or monthly.
Employees that quit, who live and work in New York, can be paid on the next regular payday.
Employees that are terminated, who live and work in New York, can be paid on the next regular payday.
New York requires that employees are paid weekly or semi-monthly.
A North Carolina employee who quits can be paid on the next payday.
A terminated North Carolina employee can be paid on the next regular payday.
North Carolina has no paycheck frequency requirements.
A North Dakota employee who quits can be paid on the next regular payday.
A terminated North Dakota employee can be paid on the next regular payday.
North Dakota requires that employees are paid at least monthly.
Ohio has no final paycheck law for employees that quit.
Ohio has no final paycheck law for employees who are terminated.
Ohio requires that employees are paid at least semi-monthly.
An employee who works and lives in Oklahoma who quits can be paid on the next regular payday.
An employee who works and lives in Oklahoma who is terminated can be paid on the next regular payday.
Oklahoma requires that employees be paid at least semi-monthly.
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.
If an Oregon employee is terminated, they must be paid by the next business day.
Oregon requires that employees are paid at least monthly.
If a Pennsylvania employee quits, they must be paid by the next regular payday.
If a Pennsylvania employee is terminated, they must be paid by the next regular payday.
Pennsylvania has no paycheck frequency requirements.
If an employee who works and lives in Puerto Rico quits, they can be paid on the next regular payday.
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.
Puerto Rico requires that employees are paid weekly, bi-weekly, or semi-monthly.
If a Rhode Island employee quits, they can be paid on the next regular payday.
If a Rhode Island employee is terminated, they can be paid on the next regular payday.
Rhode Island requires that employees are paid weekly, bi-weekly, or semi-monthly.
A South Carolina employee who quits must be paid within two days or the next regular payday.
If a South Carolina employee is terminated, they must be paid within two days or the next regular payday.
South Carolina has no paycheck frequency laws.
If an employee in South Dakota quits, they can be paid on the next regular payday or when all company property is returned.
If an employee in South Dakota is terminated, they can be paid on the next regular payday or when all company property is returned.
South Dakota requires employees to be paid at least monthly.
If an employee in Tennessee quits, they can be paid on the next regular payday or within 21 days, whichever occurs later.
If an employee in Tennessee is terminated, they can be paid on the next regular payday or within 21 days, whichever occurs later.
Tennessee requires that employees be paid at least semi-monthly.
A Texas employee who quits can be paid on the next regular payday.
A Texas employee who is terminated must be paid before the end of the sixth calendar day after the termination.
Texas requires that employees are paid bi-weekly, semi-monthly, or monthly.
An employee that lives and works in Utah who quits must be paid no more than 24 hours after leaving.
An employee that lives and works in Utah who is terminated must be paid no more than 24 hours after the termination.
Utah requires that employees are paid semi-monthly or monthly.
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.
An employee who works and lives in Vermont who is terminated must be paid no more than 72 hours after the termination.
Vermont allows employees to be paid weekly, bi-weekly, semi-monthly, or monthly.
An employee that quits and works and lives in Virginia can be paid on the next regular payday.
A terminated employee who works and lives in Virginia can be paid on the next regular payday.
Virginia allows employees to be paid weekly, bi-weekly, semi-monthly, or monthly.
A Washington employee who quits can be paid on the next regular payday.
A terminated Washington employee can be paid on the next regular payday.
Washington requires that employees be paid monthly at a minimum.
A West Virginia employee who quits can be paid on the next regular payday.
A terminated West Virginia employee can be paid on the next regular payday.
West Virginia requires that employees are paid at least bi-monthly.
A Wisconsin employee who quits can be paid on the next regular payday or within 31 days, whichever is first.
A terminated Wisconsin employee can be paid on the next regular payday or within 31 days, whichever is first.
Wisconsin requires that employees are paid at least monthly.
An employee who quits and works and lives in Wyoming can be paid on the next regular payday.
An employee who quits and works and lives in Wyoming can be paid on the next regular payday.
Wyoming requires that employees be paid at least semi-monthly.
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.
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.
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