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California: final paycheck rules

When your employer must hand over your last paycheck if you are fired or quit, and whether unused vacation must be paid out.

Single detailed source
Deadline if you are fired or laid offSame day
Deadline if you quitWithin 72 hours (immediately with 72 hours' notice)
Unused vacation payYes, all earned vacation
LawLab. Code 201-203, 227.3

If your employer misses the deadline, you can file a wage claim with your state labor department; many states add penalties. Federal law has no final-pay deadline.

General information only, not legal, insurance or financial advice. Not affiliated with any government agency. Exceptions can apply. Confirm with the state agency, the court or a licensed professional in California.

How California compares

2 of 51 states and DC share this answer (Same day): Massachusetts.

Alaska: Within 3 working daysAKMaine: Next regular paydayMEVermont: Within 72 hoursVTNew Hampshire: Within 72 hoursNHWashington: End of the pay periodWAIdaho: Next payday or within 10 days, whichever is earlierIDMontana: Immediately (or next payday or 15 days under a written policy)MTNorth Dakota: Next regular paydayNDMinnesota: Within 24 hours of a written demandMNIllinois: At separation if possible, no later than next paydayILWisconsin: Next payday or within 6 days of a demand, whichever is earlierWIMichigan: As soon as wages can be calculatedMINew York: Next regular paydayNYRhode Island: Next regular paydayRIMassachusetts: Same dayMAOregon: End of the first business day after dischargeORNevada: ImmediatelyNVWyoming: Next regular payroll dateWYSouth Dakota: Next regular payday (or when company property is returned)SDIowa: Next regular paydayIAIndiana: Next regular paydayINOhio: Next regular payday (semimonthly schedule)OHPennsylvania: Next regular paydayPANew Jersey: Next regular paydayNJConnecticut: Next business dayCTCalifornia: Same dayCAUtah: Within 24 hoursUTColorado: ImmediatelyCONebraska: Next payday or within 2 weeks, whichever is soonerNEMissouri: Day of discharge (on request)MOKentucky: Next pay period or within 14 days, whichever is laterKYWest Virginia: Next regular paydayWVVirginia: Next regular paydayVAMaryland: Next regular paydayMDDelaware: Next regular paydayDEArizona: Within 7 working days or end of the next pay period, whichever is soonerAZNew Mexico: Within 5 days (10 days for commission or piece pay)NMKansas: Next regular paydayKSArkansas: Next regular payday (double wages if still unpaid 7 days later)ARTennessee: Next regular payday or within 21 days, whichever is laterTNNorth Carolina: Next regular paydayNCSouth Carolina: Within 48 hours or next payday, but within 30 daysSCDistrict of Columbia: Next working dayDCOklahoma: Next regular paydayOKLouisiana: Next payday or within 15 days, whichever is firstLAMississippi: No state deadlineMSAlabama: No state deadline (next regular payday is customary)ALGeorgia: No state deadlineGAHawaii: At discharge, or next working dayHITexas: Within 6 calendar daysTXFlorida: No state deadlineFL
  • Next regular payday (18)
  • Immediately (3)
  • Same day (2)
  • No state deadline / other (28)

Also for California: Discrimination deadlines in California · Paid leave programs in California · Minimum wage in California · Paid sick leave in California · State income tax in California · Right-to-work laws in California · Tipped minimum wage in California · Payday frequency in California · Rest break laws in California · State EITC in California · All California rules on one page

How we checked this

Deadlines come from a statute-cited 50-state final pay survey updated in 2026. States with no final-pay statute are shown as having no deadline. Last checked: November 12, 2026. Laws change; confirm with the state agency or a licensed professional before acting.

Cross-checked sources agree   Checked on official source confirmed on a government, court or legislature site   Single detailed source one detailed table built from statutes or official data   Under review sources disagree; read the note and the law.