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If you're managing payroll for cast and crew, it's a good time to get familiar with paycheck laws by state. 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.
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 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. The final paycheck laws by state will vary depending on which state the employees are 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. Final check laws by state will determine the date by which you must pay out to your workers.
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.
Take look through each state's paycheck laws below:
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.
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.
Employee quits
Arizona requires employees to be paid by the next regular payday.
Employee terminated
Arizona requires employees to be paid within seven working days or the next regular payday, whichever comes first.
Required pay frequency
You'll need to pay Arizona employees at least semi-monthly.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Employee quits
If an employee from D.C. quits, they must be paid within 7 business days, or on the next regular payday - whichever comes first.
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.
Employee quits
Florida has no final paycheck laws in place.
Employee terminated
Florida has no final paycheck laws in place.
Required pay frequency
Florida requires that employees be paid monthly at a minimum.
Employee quits
Georgia has no final paycheck laws in place.
Employee terminated
Georgia has no final paycheck laws in place.
Required pay frequency
Georgia requires that employees are paid at least semi-monthly.
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.
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.
Employee quits
An Illinois employee who quits must be paid on the next regular payday.
Employee terminated
An Illinois terminated employee must be paid on the next regular payday.
Required pay frequency
Illinois requires that employees are paid monthly at a minimum.
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.
Employee quits
An employee who works and lives in Iowa and quits must be paid on the next payday.
An employee working and living in Iowa who is terminated must be paid on the next regular payday.
Required pay frequency
Iowa requires that employees are paid weekly, bi-weekly, semi-monthly, or monthly.
Employee quits
A Kansas employee who quits must be paid on the next regular payday.
Employee terminated
A terminated Kansas employee must be paid on the next regular payday.
Required pay frequency
Kansas requires that employees are paid monthly at a minimum.
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.
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.
Employee quits
Maine requires that an employee who quits must be paid by the next scheduled payday or within 2 weeks of employee’s notice, whichever is first.
Employee terminated
Maine requires that an employee who is terminated must be paid by the next scheduled payday or within 2 weeks of termination, whichever is first.
Required pay frequency
Maines requires that employees are paid at least semi-monthly.
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.
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.
Employee quits
Michigan employees who quit must be paid as soon as the amount can be determined.
Employee terminated
Michigan employees who are terminated must be paid as soon as the amount can be determined.
Required pay frequency
Michigan requires that employees are paid weekly, bi-weekly, semi-monthly, or monthly.
Employee quits
Minnesota employees who quit 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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Employee quits
Nevada employees who quit must be paid within one week or the next regular payday, whichever is first.
Employee terminated
Employees who are terminated in Nevada must be paid immediately.
Required pay frequency
Nevada requires that employees are paid semi-monthly or monthly.
Employee quits
New Hampshire employees who quit must be paid by the next regular payday or within 72 hours 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.
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.
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. However, task, piece and commission wages are due within 10 days). If wages are a fixed amount, they are due within 5 days of termination.
Required pay frequency
New Mexico employees can be paid semi-monthly or monthly.
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.
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.
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.
Employee quits
Employees in Ohio who quit must be paid by whichever is first: next scheduled payday or within 15 days.
Employee terminated
Employees in Ohio who are terminated must be paid by whichever is first: next scheduled payday or within 15 days.
Required pay frequency
Ohio requires that employees are paid at least semi-monthly.
Employee quits
An employee who works and lives in Oklahoma who quits can be paid on the next regular payday or within 14 days, whichever is later.
Employee terminated
An employee who works and lives in Oklahoma who is terminated can be paid on the next regular payday or within 14 days, whichever is later.
Required pay frequency
Oklahoma requires that employees be paid at least semi-monthly.
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.
Employee quits
If a Pennsylvania employee quits, they must be paid by the next regular payday. If the employee requests the final check to be mailed, then the employer is required to do so.
Employee terminated
If a Pennsylvania employee is terminated, they must be paid by the next regular payday. If the employee requests the final check to be mailed, then the employer is required to do so.
Required pay frequency
Pennsylvania has no paycheck frequency requirements.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Employee quits
An employee that lives and works in Utah who quits must be paid by the next scheduled payday.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Of course, this is only one part of payroll. For a full guide, check out our practical guide to film payroll.
Or, watch a Wrapbook demo to see what a truly modern production payroll solution looks like.
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.
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.
