When an employee is dismissed, every state has its own rules about:
When you must issue a final paycheck.
Whether unused PTO must be paid.
Important: In some states, late payments can lead to penalties, damages, or even criminal consequences. Always review your state’s Department of Labor website.
If you have specific questions about a termination, work with an employment attorney.
See the table in this article for details by state.
Table last revised April 21, 2026.
State
Dismissal paycheck deadline(s)
Requirements for paying out unused vacation
Additional information
Alabama
No statute
No (unless otherwise stated)
An employer’s policy or employee contract governs whether earned, unused vacation is paid upon termination.
Alaska
If the employee leaves involuntarily: Within 3 working days.
If the employee leaves voluntarily: Next scheduled payday, that's at least 3 days after the employee gives notice.
No (unless otherwise stated)
An employer’s policy or employee contract governs whether earned, unused vacation is paid upon termination.
Arizona
If the employee leaves involuntarily: Within 7 working days or the next scheduled payday, whichever is sooner.
If the employee leaves voluntarily: Next regular payday.
No (unless otherwise stated)
An employer’s policy or employee contract governs whether earned, unused vacation is paid upon termination.
Arkansas
If the employee leaves involuntarily:* Next scheduled payday. If payment is not made within seven days of that payday, the employer is liable for double the wages owed.
If the employee leaves voluntarily: Next scheduled payday.
No (unless otherwise stated)
An employer’s policy or employee contract governs whether earned, unused vacation is paid upon termination.
California
If the employee leaves involuntarily: Immediately.
If the employee leaves voluntarily: Immediately if they give at least 72 hours of notice. The payment is due within 72 hours if no notice was given.
Yes
Employers are required to pay employees any accrued, unused vacation time upon termination.
Colorado
If the employee leaves involuntarily: Immediately, with some exceptions.
If the employee leaves voluntarily: Next regular payday.
Yes
Earned vacation time is considered wages required to be paid out upon termination.
Connecticut
If the employee leaves involuntarily: Next business day.
If the employee leaves voluntarily: Next scheduled payday.
No (unless otherwise stated)
An employer’s policy or employee contract governs whether earned, unused vacation is paid upon termination.
Delaware
You're required to pay the employee on or before the next scheduled payday.
No (unless otherwise stated)
An employer’s policy or employee contract governs whether earned, unused vacation is paid upon termination.
Florida
No statute
No
No state statute addresses payment of accrued vacation on termination.
Georgia
No statute
No
No state statute addresses payment of accrued vacation on termination.
Hawaii
If the employee leaves involuntarily: You're required to pay the employee immediately or no later than the next working day.
If the employee leaves voluntarily: You’re required to pay the employee on the last day of work if notice is given. If the employee resigns without notice, pay is due on the next regular payday.
No (unless otherwise stated)
An employer’s policy or employee contract governs whether earned, unused vacation is paid upon termination.
Idaho
If the employee leaves involuntarily: Next scheduled payday or within 10 business days, whichever is sooner.
If the employee makes a written request for earlier payment, within 48 hours (excluding weekends and holidays) of receiving the request.
If the employee leaves voluntarily: Next scheduled payday or within 10 business days, whichever is sooner.
If the employee makes a written request for earlier payment, within 48 hours (excluding weekends and holidays) of receiving the request.
No (unless otherwise stated)
An employer’s policy or employee contract governs whether earned, unused vacation is paid upon termination.
Illinois
If the employee leaves involuntarily: Immediately if possible, but no later than the next scheduled payday.
If the employee leaves voluntarily: Immediately if possible, but no later than the next scheduled payday.
Yes
An Illinois company cannot put into place a company policy that does not pay out PTO upon termination.
Indiana
You're required to pay the employee by the next scheduled payday.
Yes (unless otherwise stated)
Accrued vacation pay is considered a form of compensation. An employee may be entitled to accrued unused vacation time if they've met any certain conditions of a company policy or employment contract.
Iowa
You're required to pay the employee on or before the company's next regular payday.
No (unless otherwise stated)
An employer’s policy or employee contract governs whether earned, unused vacation is paid upon termination.
Kansas
You're required to pay the employee on or before the company’s next scheduled payday.
No (unless otherwise stated)
An employer’s policy or employee contract governs whether earned, unused vacation is paid upon termination.
Kentucky
You're required to pay the employee on the next scheduled payday, or within 14 days, whichever is later.
No (unless otherwise stated)
An employer’s policy or employee contract governs whether earned, unused vacation is paid upon termination.
Louisiana
You're required to pay the employee on the next scheduled payday or within 15 days, whichever is sooner.
No (unless otherwise stated)
An employer’s policy or employee contract governs whether earned, unused vacation is paid upon termination; however, earned vacation cannot be forfeited by policy.
Maine
If you have more than 10 employees, you're required to pay the employee on or before the company's next regular payday.
Yes
You're required to pay out all unused PTO with their final paycheck.
Maryland
If the employee leaves involuntarily: Next scheduled payday.
If the employee leaves voluntarily: Next scheduled payday.
Yes (unless otherwise stated)
Employers are required to pay employees any accrued, unused vacation time upon termination unless the employer's written policy states that vacation time will be forfeited upon termination.
Massachusetts
If the employee leaves involuntarily: You're required to pay the employee on their last day.
If the employee leaves voluntarily: Next scheduled payday.
Yes
Employers are required to pay employees any accrued, unused vacation time upon termination.
Michigan
You're required to pay the employee on or before the company’s next scheduled payday.
No (unless otherwise stated)
An employer’s policy or employee contract governs whether earned, unused vacation is paid upon termination.
Minnesota
If the employee leaves involuntarily: You're required to pay the employee within 24 hours of their demand for wages.
If the employee leaves voluntarily: You're required to pay the employee by the next scheduled payday that's more than 5 days and less than 20 days from their last day.
No (unless otherwise stated)
An employer’s policy or employee contract governs whether earned, unused vacation is paid upon termination.
Mississippi
No statute
No
No state statute addresses payment of accrued vacation on termination.
Missouri
If the employee leaves involuntarily: You're required to pay the employee on their last day.
If the employee leaves voluntarily: Next scheduled payday.
No
Employers are not required to pay employees for earned, unused vacation upon termination.
Montana
If the employee leaves involuntarily: Immediately, unless you have a pre-existing written policy that extends the timing of final payment. The written policy cannot exceed the next scheduled payday or 15 days, whichever is earlier.
If the employee leaves voluntarily: Next scheduled payday or 15 days, whichever is earlier.
No (unless otherwise stated)
An employer’s policy or employee contract governs whether earned, unused vacation is paid upon termination.
Nebraska
You're required to pay the employee on the company's next regular payday or within two weeks, whichever is sooner.
Yes
All earned and unused vacation and PTO benefits must be paid to the employee with their final wages.
Nevada
If the employee leaves involuntarily: Immediately.
If the employee leaves voluntarily: You must pay on either the next regular payday or within seven days after they resign (whichever is earlier).
No (unless otherwise stated)
An employer’s policy or employee contract governs whether earned, unused vacation is paid upon termination.
New Hampshire
If the employee leaves involuntarily: Within 72 hours.
If the employee leaves voluntarily: Next scheduled payday. If the employee gives at least one pay period’s notice, then within 72 hours.
No
You can pay out unused PTO if you'd like, but you are not required to.
New Jersey
If the employee leaves involuntarily: Next scheduled payday.
If the employee leaves voluntarily: Next scheduled payday.
No (unless otherwise stated)
An employer’s policy or employee contract governs whether earned, unused vacation is paid upon termination.
New Mexico
If the employee leaves involuntarily: You're required to pay them within 5 days of their last day.
If the employee leaves voluntarily: You're required to pay them on or before the company's next regular payday.
No (unless otherwise stated)
An employer’s policy or employee contract governs whether earned, unused vacation is paid upon termination.
New York
You're required to pay the employee by the next scheduled payday.
Yes
An employer must pay the employee for accrued unused vacation if there's no written forfeit policy.
North Carolina
You're required to pay the employee by the next scheduled payday.
Yes
An employer must pay the employee for accrued unused vacation if there's no written forfeit policy.
North Dakota
You're required to pay the employee by the next scheduled payday.
Yes, in most cases
Must pay accrued time off unless employee is leaving voluntary and all of the following apply:
Employee has been employed for less than 1 year.
Policy states that there's a limitation of pay of accrued time off.
The employee gave the employer less than 5 days verbal or written notice.
Ohio
You're required to pay the employee by the next scheduled payday, or within 15 days, whichever is sooner.
No (unless otherwise stated)
An employer’s policy or employee contract governs whether earned, unused vacation is paid upon termination.
Oklahoma
You're required to pay the employee by the next scheduled payday.
No (unless otherwise stated)
An employer’s policy or employee contract governs whether earned, unused vacation is paid upon termination.
Oregon
If the employee leaves involuntarily: You're required to pay them by the end of the next business day.
If the employee leaves voluntarily: You're required to pay them on their last day if they quit with at least 48 hours' notice, unless that day is a weekend or holiday. In that case, their check is due on the next business day. If the employee quits with less than 48 hours' notice, then you’re required to pay them on the next scheduled payday or within 5 business days, whichever comes first.
No (unless otherwise stated)
An employer’s policy or employee contract governs whether earned, unused vacation is paid upon termination.
Pennsylvania
You're required to pay the employee by the next scheduled payday.
No (unless otherwise stated)
An employer’s policy or employee contract governs whether earned, unused vacation is paid upon termination.
Rhode Island
You're required to pay the employee by the next scheduled payday.
No (unless otherwise stated)
If the employee has been working for the company for at least one year, you're required to pay out all unused PTO with their final paycheck.
If the employer closes, merges, sells, or moves the business out of state, they must pay all wages within 24 hours. If the employee has worked there for at least one year, the employer must also pay holiday pay, vacation pay (full or prorated), and any insurance benefits within 24 hours, if a written or verbal agreement or policy provides these benefits.
South Carolina
If the employee leaves involuntarily: Next scheduled payday, but not to exceed 30 days.
If the employee leaves voluntarily: Next scheduled payday, but not to exceed 30 days.
No (unless otherwise stated)
An employer’s policy or employee contract governs whether earned, unused vacation is paid upon termination.
South Dakota
If the employee leaves involuntarily: Next scheduled payday.
If the employee leaves voluntarily: Next scheduled payday.
No (unless otherwise stated)
An employer’s policy or employee contract governs whether earned, unused vacation is paid upon termination.
Tennessee
If the employee leaves involuntarily: Next scheduled payday or within 21 days, whichever is later.
If the employee leaves voluntarily: Next scheduled payday or within 21 days, whichever is later.
No (unless otherwise stated)
An employer’s policy or employee contract governs whether earned, unused vacation is paid upon termination.
Texas
If the employee leaves involuntarily: Within 6 calendar days.
If the employee leaves voluntarily: Next scheduled payday.
No (unless otherwise stated)
An employer’s policy or employee contract governs whether earned, unused vacation is paid upon termination.
Utah
If the employee leaves involuntarily: Within 24 hours.
There are some exceptions for commissions for a sales agent.
If the employee leaves voluntarily: Next scheduled payday.
No (unless otherwise stated)
An employer’s policy or employee contract governs whether earned, unused vacation is paid upon termination.
Vermont
If the employee leaves involuntarily: Within 72 hours.
If the employee leaves voluntarily: Next scheduled payday.
No (unless otherwise stated)
An employer’s policy or employee contract governs whether earned, unused vacation is paid upon termination.
Virginia
You're required to pay the employee by the next scheduled payday.
No (unless otherwise stated)
An employer’s policy or employee contract governs whether earned, unused vacation is paid upon termination.
Washington
If the employee leaves involuntarily: Next scheduled payday.
If the employee leaves voluntarily: Next scheduled payday.
There are some exceptions for specific industries.
No (unless otherwise stated)
An employer’s policy or employee contract governs whether earned, unused vacation is paid upon termination.
Washington DC
If the employee leaves involuntarily: You're required to pay them the day after their last day.
If the employee leaves voluntarily: You're required to pay them on or before the company's next regular payday or within 7 days of their last day, whichever is sooner.
Yes (unless otherwise stated)
You're required to pay out all unused PTO with their final paycheck unless your company has a written policy that indicates unused PTO will not be paid out when an employee leaves the company.
West Virginia
You're required to pay the employee by the next scheduled payday.
No (unless otherwise stated)
An employer’s policy or employee contract governs whether earned, unused vacation is paid upon termination.
Wisconsin
You're required to pay the employee by the next scheduled payday.
Yes (unless otherwise stated)
You're required to pay out unused PTO if your company's PTO policy does not include a written PTO forfeit policy. If your PTO policy includes forfeiture, then you are not required to pay out unused PTO.
Wyoming
You're required to pay the employee by the next scheduled payday.
No (unless otherwise stated)
An employer’s policy or employee contract governs whether earned, unused vacation is paid upon termination.