Home › Tools › Payday laws by state
Direct answer: Federal law does not set how often you must be paid; state payday laws do. Per the U.S. Labor Department's table (revised Jan. 1, 2023), Tennessee requires at least semi-monthly pay, California generally requires pay at least twice each calendar month, and Alabama and Florida list no state frequency rule.
By the numbers: DOL State Payday Requirements table (last revised Jan. 1, 2023): 50 states + DC + Puerto Rico covered; AL/FL footnote “no regulations or not specified”; empty or special rows for PA, MT, NE, NC, SC. Source: U.S. DOL Wage and Hour Division: State Payday Requirements
“Employers are not required by federal law to give former employees their final paycheck immediately. Some states, however, may require immediate payment.” — U.S. Department of Labor, Last Paycheck
Updated 2026-10-18
At least semi-monthly (twice a month), according to the U.S. Labor Department's State Payday Requirements table (last revised Jan. 1, 2023). Confirm with the Tennessee Department of Labor and Workforce Development for official details.
No. The Fair Labor Standards Act does not set payday frequency. State law governs how often wages must be paid. FLSA wages are due on the regular payday for the period worked.
With some exceptions, at least twice during each calendar month on designated regular paydays (California Labor Code § 204; DOL footnote that frequency can depend on occupation). Wages for the 1st–15th are generally due by the 26th; wages for the 16th–end by the 10th of the next month.
If the regular payday for a pay period has passed and you still have not been paid, contact your state labor office or the U.S. Labor Department's Wage and Hour Division (1-866-487-9243).
No. Federal law does not require an immediate final paycheck when you quit or are fired. Some states do. Timing of final wages by state is not published on this DOL payday-frequency table; use the DOL Last Paycheck page and your state labor office.
Alabama and Florida are footnoted “no regulations or not specified.” Pennsylvania's row has no frequency marks. Montana, Nebraska, North Carolina and South Carolina have special footnotes instead of a simple weekly/biweekly/semi-monthly/monthly X.
Payday frequency rules from the U.S. Labor Department's State Payday Requirements table (last revised Jan. 1, 2023), cross-checked with California DIR; federal last-paycheck baseline from DOL; checked Oct. 18, 2026.
As of Oct. 18, 2026 · U.S. Labor Department payday table last revised Jan. 1, 2023 · California DIR checked
Federal law does not set payday frequency — state law does. The U.S. Labor Department's table (last revised Jan. 1, 2023) lists how often each state requires pay: Tennessee is at least semi-monthly; California generally at least twice each calendar month; Alabama and Florida have no state frequency rule in the table.
The math:
Sources: DOL payday table · DOL last paycheck · California DIR paydays
A best fit for the situation described, not financial advice or a buy/sell recommendation. Partner links never change a pick.
Pick your state. We show the payday-frequency rule from the U.S. Labor Department's state table.
From the U.S. Labor Department's State Payday Requirements table (last revised Jan. 1, 2023). An “X” on the DOL page means that interval is listed for the state; footnotes can limit who is covered or add conditions. Alabama and Florida appear only in a footnote (“no regulations or not specified”). Guam, the U.S. Virgin Islands and the Northern Mariana Islands are not on this DOL payday table. California's Labor Commissioner page was checked Oct. 18, 2026.
| State | DOL marks | Plain answer | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | — | No state payday-frequency rule in the DOL table | — |
| Alaska | Semi-monthly, Monthly | At least semi-monthly or monthly | Alaska marks semi-monthly and monthly. |
| Arizona | Semi-monthly | At least two paydays a month, not more than 16 days apart | Payday two or more days in a month, not more than 16 days apart (Arizona). Arizona footnote 3. |
| Arkansas | Semi-monthly | At least semi-monthly (twice a month) | — |
| California | Weekly, Biweekly, Semi-monthly, Monthly | At least twice each calendar month on designated paydays (occupation can change the exact rule) | Frequency depends on the occupation. In California, wages (with some exceptions) must be paid at least twice during each calendar month on designated regular paydays. California Labor Code § 204; DOL footnote 10. |
| Colorado | Monthly | At least monthly | — |
| Connecticut | Weekly | At least weekly (longer intervals up to monthly need labor commissioner approval) | Longer intervals (up to monthly) permitted if approved by the labor commissioner (Connecticut). Connecticut footnote 4. |
| Delaware | Monthly | At least monthly | — |
| District of Columbia | Semi-monthly | At least semi-monthly (twice a month) | — |
| Florida | — | No state payday-frequency rule in the DOL table | — |
| Georgia | Semi-monthly | At least semi-monthly (twice a month) | — |
| Hawaii | Semi-monthly, Monthly | At least semi-monthly; monthly only by employee election or director exception (private sector) | Employees may choose monthly pay under a special election; the director may grant exceptions. Private-sector only (Hawaii). Hawaii footnote 5. |
| Idaho | Monthly | At least monthly | — |
| Illinois | Semi-monthly, Monthly | At least semi-monthly; monthly allowed for executive, administrative, and professional staff | Monthly payday allowed for executive, administrative, and professional personnel (DOL footnote). Illinois footnote 2. |
| Indiana | Biweekly, Semi-monthly | At least biweekly or semi-monthly | — |
| Iowa | Weekly, Biweekly, Semi-monthly, Monthly | At least monthly on a predictable schedule (often biweekly/semimonthly); pay no later than 12 days after the earning period ends (Sundays and legal holidays excluded) | Most employees: at least biweekly, semimonthly or monthly; any predictable schedule OK if paid at least monthly and no later than 12 days (excluding Sundays and legal holidays) after the end of the earning period; can be waived in writing; commissions differ (Iowa). Iowa footnote 6. |
| Kansas | Monthly | At least monthly | — |
| Kentucky | Semi-monthly | At least semi-monthly (twice a month) | — |
| Louisiana | Biweekly, Semi-monthly | At least biweekly or semi-monthly for covered manufacturers/miners/oil firms (10+) and public service corporations | Applies to manufacturers/miners/oil borers with 10+ employees and to public service corporations; pay at least twice each calendar month (Louisiana). Louisiana footnote 7 — limited coverage. |
| Maine | Semi-monthly | At regular intervals not more than 16 days apart | Payment due at regular intervals not to exceed 16 days (Maine). Maine footnote 8. |
| Maryland | Biweekly, Semi-monthly | At least biweekly or semi-monthly | — |
| Massachusetts | Weekly, Biweekly | Hourly workers: weekly or biweekly. Salaried workers: often semi-monthly (monthly if the employee agrees) | Hourly employees: weekly or biweekly. Salaried employees may be paid semi-monthly, or monthly if the employee voluntarily agrees (Massachusetts). Massachusetts footnote 9. |
| Michigan | Weekly, Biweekly, Semi-monthly, Monthly | Frequency depends on the occupation (weekly through monthly all marked) | Frequency depends on the occupation. In California, wages (with some exceptions) must be paid at least twice during each calendar month on designated regular paydays. Michigan footnote 10. |
| Minnesota | Semi-monthly, Monthly | At least once every 31 days for wages (commissions every 3 months); some jobs more often | Wages at least once every 31 days; commissions at least once every three months. Transitory employment: not more than 15 days. Public service corporations: at least semimonthly (Minnesota). Minnesota footnote 11. |
| Mississippi | Biweekly, Semi-monthly | Biweekly or semi-monthly for covered manufacturers (50+) and public service corporations | Applies to manufacturers with 50+ employees and to public service corporations; once every two weeks or twice each calendar month (Mississippi). Mississippi footnote 12 — limited coverage. |
| Missouri | Semi-monthly | At least semi-monthly (twice a month) | — |
| Montana | — | If no payday is set, presumed semi-monthly | If no established payday, the pay period is presumed semimonthly (Montana). |
| Nebraska | — | Payday designated by the employer | Payday designated by the employer (Nebraska). |
| Nevada | Semi-monthly, Monthly | At least semi-monthly; monthly allowed for executive, administrative, and professional staff | Monthly payday allowed for executive, administrative, and professional personnel (DOL footnote). Nevada footnote 2. |
| New Hampshire | Weekly, Biweekly, Semi-monthly, Monthly | Weekly or biweekly; semi-monthly or monthly only with written NHDOL permission | Weekly or biweekly required; semi-monthly or monthly available with written permission of the NHDOL (New Hampshire). New Hampshire footnote 15. |
| New Jersey | Semi-monthly, Monthly | At least semi-monthly; monthly allowed for bona fide executive, supervisory and special classifications | Employers may pay bona fide executive, supervisory and other special classifications once per month (New Jersey). New Jersey footnote 16. |
| New Mexico | Semi-monthly, Monthly | At least semi-monthly; monthly allowed for executive, administrative, and professional staff | Monthly payday allowed for executive, administrative, and professional personnel (DOL footnote). New Mexico footnote 2. |
| New York | Weekly, Semi-monthly | Weekly for manual workers; semi-monthly (with approval) for clerical and other workers | Weekly payday for manual workers; semi-monthly upon approval for manual workers and for clerical and other workers (New York). New York footnote 17. |
| North Carolina | — | No required frequency specified (daily through monthly allowed) | None specified; pay periods may be daily, weekly, bi-weekly, semi-monthly or monthly (North Carolina). |
| North Dakota | Monthly | At least monthly | — |
| Ohio | Semi-monthly | At least semi-monthly (twice a month) | — |
| Oklahoma | Semi-monthly | At least semi-monthly (twice a month) | — |
| Oregon | Monthly | At least monthly | — |
| Pennsylvania | — | No state payday-frequency rule in the DOL table | — |
| Puerto Rico | Weekly, Biweekly, Semi-monthly | Weekly, biweekly, or semi-monthly (all marked) | — |
| Rhode Island | Weekly, Biweekly, Semi-monthly | Most employers: weekly (some may petition to pay less often, but at least twice a month) | Most employers must pay weekly; childcare providers may choose every two weeks; some employers may petition to pay less often but at least twice a month (Rhode Island). Rhode Island footnote 19. |
| South Carolina | — | Pay on the employer’s established payday (written notice required if 5+ employees) | Employers with 5+ employees must give written notice of wages, time and place of payment, and hours; pay on the normal time established by the employer (South Carolina). |
| South Dakota | Monthly | At least monthly | — |
| Tennessee | Semi-monthly | At least semi-monthly (twice a month) | — |
| Texas | Biweekly, Semi-monthly, Monthly | Non-exempt: at least twice a month. FLSA-exempt: at least once a month | FLSA-exempt employees at least once a month; others at least twice a month. Semi-monthly periods should have nearly equal days (Texas). Texas footnote 21. |
| Utah | Semi-monthly, Monthly | At least semi-monthly; yearly-salary employees may be paid monthly | Employees on a yearly salary can be paid monthly (Utah). Utah footnote 22. |
| Vermont | Weekly, Biweekly, Semi-monthly | Weekly by default; biweekly or semi-monthly with written notice | Bi-weekly and semi-monthly paydays allowed with written notice (Vermont). Vermont footnote 23. |
| Virginia | Weekly, Biweekly, Semi-monthly, Monthly | Weekly, biweekly, or semi-monthly; monthly for EAP staff or high earners by agreement | Monthly payday allowed for executive, administrative, and professional personnel (DOL footnote). Employees whose weekly wages total more than 150% of the Commonwealth's average weekly wage may be paid monthly by agreement (Virginia). Virginia footnotes 2 and 24. |
| Washington | Monthly | At least monthly | — |
| West Virginia | Biweekly | At least biweekly (every two weeks) | — |
| Wisconsin | Monthly | At least monthly, with no more than 31 days between pay periods (narrow exemptions) | Most employers must pay at least monthly, with no more than 31 days between pay periods; logging/farm labor quarterly; other narrow exemptions (Wisconsin). Wisconsin footnote 25. |
| Wyoming | Semi-monthly | At least semi-monthly (twice a month) | — |
State laws change: the Labor Department says to consult the relevant state labor office for official information. American Samoa is not shown. Sources: DOL payday table · California DIR paydays
Sources: DOL FLSA · DOL last paycheck
How we built this: each state's marks and footnotes are read from the U.S. Labor Department's State Payday Requirements table (saved with checksums and asserted in code). California's Labor Commissioner payday FAQ was cross-checked for the “twice each calendar month” rule. The checker runs in your browser with the same answers as our server-side test. We do not invent final-paycheck deadlines by state — that is not on this DOL table.
Facts, not legal advice. The Labor Department's payday table was last revised Jan. 1, 2023 and says to consult the state labor office for official information. Occupation-specific rules, public employment, union contracts and final-paycheck timing are often outside this table.
At least semi-monthly (twice a month), according to the U.S. Labor Department's State Payday Requirements table (last revised Jan. 1, 2023). Confirm with the Tennessee Department of Labor and Workforce Development for official details.
No. The Fair Labor Standards Act does not set payday frequency. State law governs how often wages must be paid. FLSA wages are due on the regular payday for the period worked.
With some exceptions, at least twice during each calendar month on designated regular paydays (California Labor Code § 204; DOL footnote that frequency can depend on occupation). Wages for the 1st–15th are generally due by the 26th; wages for the 16th–end by the 10th of the next month.
If the regular payday for a pay period has passed and you still have not been paid, contact your state labor office or the U.S. Labor Department's Wage and Hour Division (1-866-487-9243).
No. Federal law does not require an immediate final paycheck when you quit or are fired. Some states do. Timing of final wages by state is not published on this DOL payday-frequency table; use the DOL Last Paycheck page and your state labor office.
Alabama and Florida are footnoted “no regulations or not specified.” Pennsylvania's row has no frequency marks. Montana, Nebraska, North Carolina and South Carolina have special footnotes instead of a simple weekly/biweekly/semi-monthly/monthly X.
Estimates, not financial advice. Taxes, insurance, PMI and fees vary by lender, county and city; confirm with your lender, dealer and state agency before acting.
Was this calculator helpful?
We save only this page, your answer and the time. Nothing you typed.
We email you when top savings rates or our picks change. Email only. We send one email first so you can confirm; every email has a one-click unsubscribe.
Free tools need no account, SSN, or address. Most calculators run in your browser; a few send the numbers you enter to our server to do the math.