Pick your state
- Alabama
- Alaska
- Arizona
- Arkansas
- California
- Colorado
- Connecticut
- Delaware
- District of Columbia
- Florida
- Georgia
- Hawaii
- Idaho
- Illinois
- Indiana
- Iowa
- Kansas
- Kentucky
- Louisiana
- Maine
- Maryland
- Massachusetts
- Michigan
- Minnesota
- Mississippi
- Missouri
- Montana
- Nebraska
- Nevada
- New Hampshire
- New Jersey
- New Mexico
- New York
- North Carolina
- North Dakota
- Ohio
- Oklahoma
- Oregon
- Pennsylvania
- Rhode Island
- South Carolina
- South Dakota
- Tennessee
- Texas
- Utah
- Vermont
- Virginia
- Washington
- West Virginia
- Wisconsin
- Wyoming
Pay frequency rules at a glance
A short summary for each state. Open a state for the details, exceptions and sources.
| State | How often you must pay | Time to pay after the pay period ends |
|---|---|---|
| AlabamaNo state law | No state rule. Federal law does not set a pay frequency; wages are due on the regular payday for the period. Source: dol.gov↗ (opens in a new tab) | No state rule. Federal law sets no fixed lag beyond paying on the regular payday. Source: dol.gov↗ (opens in a new tab) |
| Alaska | Monthly or semi-monthly pay periods, at the employee's choice. An annual initial employment contract may set monthly pay. Source: labor.alaska.gov↗ (opens in a new tab) | No fixed number of days in the statute; pay on the regular payday for the period. Source: labor.alaska.gov↗ (opens in a new tab) |
| Arizona | At least two fixed paydays each month, no more than 16 days apart. Source: azleg.gov↗ (opens in a new tab) | Regular wages within 5 business days after the pay period ends. Overtime and exception pay within 16 days. School districts have up to 7 business days. Source: azleg.gov↗ (opens in a new tab) |
| Arkansas | Corporations doing business in Arkansas must pay employees semi-monthly. Corporations with $500,000+ yearly income may pay certain highly paid exempt managers monthly. Source: labor.arkansas.gov↗ (opens in a new tab) | No set number of days in state law; corporations must pay at least semi-monthly, on their regular payday. Source: labor.arkansas.gov↗ (opens in a new tab) |
| California | At least twice each calendar month on regular paydays set in advance. Some farm, domestic and farm labor contractor workers have different schedules. Source: dir.ca.gov↗ (opens in a new tab) | 1st-15th work is paid by the 26th; 16th-month end work by the 10th of next month. Weekly or biweekly pay is due within 7 calendar days. Source: dir.ca.gov↗ (opens in a new tab) |
| Colorado | Pay periods can be no longer than one calendar month or 30 days. Source: cdle.colorado.gov↗ (opens in a new tab) | Payday must be no later than 10 days after the pay period closes. Source: cdle.colorado.gov↗ (opens in a new tab) |
| Connecticut | Weekly or once every two weeks on a regular payday set in advance. The Labor Commissioner can approve less frequent pay, but at least monthly. Source: portal.ct.gov↗ (opens in a new tab) | The pay period must end no more than 8 days before payday. If payday is a non-work day, pay the work day before. Source: portal.ct.gov↗ (opens in a new tab) |
| Delaware | At least once each calendar month on regular paydays designated in advance. Source: delcode.delaware.gov↗ (opens in a new tab) | Within 7 days after the close of the pay period. Source: delcode.delaware.gov↗ (opens in a new tab) |
| District of Columbia | At least twice a month on regular paydays designated in advance. Employers that have always paid monthly by contract or custom may continue. Source: code.dccouncil.gov↗ (opens in a new tab) | No more than 10 working days after the pay period ends, unless a union contract says otherwise. Source: code.dccouncil.gov↗ (opens in a new tab) |
| FloridaNo state law | No state rule. Federal law does not set a pay frequency; wages are due on the regular payday for the period. Source: dol.gov↗ (opens in a new tab) | No state rule. Federal law sets no fixed lag beyond paying on the regular payday. Source: dol.gov↗ (opens in a new tab) |
| Georgia | Officials, superintendents and department heads may be paid monthly; other employees must be paid at least semi-monthly. Source: dol.georgia.gov↗ (opens in a new tab) | No set number of days; paydays must split the month into at least two equal periods, each paying the full wages due for that period. Source: dol.georgia.gov↗ (opens in a new tab) |
| Hawaii | At least twice each calendar month on regular paydays set in advance. A majority of staff can vote by secret ballot for monthly pay, for two years at a time. Source: data.capitol.hawaii.gov↗ (opens in a new tab) | Within 7 days after the pay period ends. The director may allow up to 15 days for good reason. Source: labor.hawaii.gov↗ (opens in a new tab) Source: data.capitol.hawaii.gov↗ (opens in a new tab) |
| Idaho | At least once a month on regular paydays designated in advance. Source: legislature.idaho.gov↗ (opens in a new tab) | The pay period may end no more than 15 days before payday, unless the director allows longer. If payday is a non-work day, pay the work day before. Source: legislature.idaho.gov↗ (opens in a new tab) |
| Illinois | At least semi-monthly (twice a month) for most employees. Source: labor.illinois.gov↗ (opens in a new tab) | No later than 13 days after the end of the pay period in which the wages were earned. Source: labor.illinois.gov↗ (opens in a new tab) |
| Indiana | At least semi-monthly, or bi-weekly if the employee requests it. Farm and agricultural workers are exempt. Source: iga.in.gov↗ (opens in a new tab) | Each payment must cover wages earned up to no more than 10 business days before payday. Source: iga.in.gov↗ (opens in a new tab) |
| Iowa | At least monthly, semi-monthly or bi-weekly, on regular paydays set in advance at consistent intervals. Source: legis.iowa.gov↗ (opens in a new tab) | Payday can be no more than 12 days after the pay period ends, not counting Sundays and legal holidays. Source: legis.iowa.gov↗ (opens in a new tab) |
| Kansas | At least once each calendar month, on regular paydays the employer sets in advance. Source: ksrevisor.gov↗ (opens in a new tab) | The pay period must end no more than 15 days before payday. Source: ksrevisor.gov↗ (opens in a new tab) |
| Kentucky | At least semi-monthly (twice a month). Source: apps.legislature.ky.gov↗ (opens in a new tab) | Each payment must cover work up to a date no more than 18 days before payday. Source: apps.legislature.ky.gov↗ (opens in a new tab) |
| Louisiana | Manufacturing, mining and oil-boring employers with 10+ employees, and public service corporations, must pay twice a month. Others without set paydays pay on the 1st and 16th. Source: legis.la.gov↗ (opens in a new tab) | For covered employers, paydays must be about two weeks apart, with each period paid by the payday ending the next pay period. Source: legis.la.gov↗ (opens in a new tab) |
| Maine | At regular intervals of no more than 16 days, on an established day or date. Source: legislature.maine.gov↗ (opens in a new tab) | Each payment must include all wages earned up to 8 days before the payday. Source: legislature.maine.gov↗ (opens in a new tab) |
| Maryland | At least once every 2 weeks or twice a month, on regular pay periods. Source: mgaleg.maryland.gov↗ (opens in a new tab) | No set lag in statute. If payday falls on a nonworkday, pay on the workday before. Source: mgaleg.maryland.gov↗ (opens in a new tab) |
| Massachusetts | Hourly workers must be paid weekly or bi-weekly. Source: mass.gov↗ (opens in a new tab) | Within 6 days after the pay period ends for 5 or 6 day workers; within 7 days for 7 day or casual (1 to 4 day) workers. Source: mass.gov↗ (opens in a new tab) |
| Michigan | Weekly, bi-weekly, semi-monthly or monthly schedules are allowed. Hand harvesters must be paid weekly. Source: legislature.mi.gov↗ (opens in a new tab) | Weekly or bi-weekly: within 14 days. Monthly: within 15 days. Semi-monthly: 1st-15th paid by the 1st of next month; 16th-month end by the 15th. Source: legislature.mi.gov↗ (opens in a new tab) |
| Minnesota | At least once every 31 days on a regular payday set in advance. Commissions at least every 3 months. Source: revisor.mn.gov↗ (opens in a new tab) | No separate lag. First-period wages for the first half are due on the first regular payday after the start date. Source: revisor.mn.gov↗ (opens in a new tab) |
| Mississippi | Manufacturers with 50 or more employees must pay every two weeks or twice a month. No general rule for other employers. Source: dol.gov↗ (opens in a new tab) | State law sets no rule on this. Source: dol.gov↗ (opens in a new tab) |
| Missouri | Corporations doing business in Missouri (and railroads) must pay at least twice a month. Source: revisor.mo.gov↗ (opens in a new tab) | Within 16 days after the close of each payroll period. Source: revisor.mo.gov↗ (opens in a new tab) |
| Montana | No fixed frequency in statute. If no pay period or payday is set, the pay period is presumed to be semimonthly. Source: mca.legmt.gov↗ (opens in a new tab) | Wages may not be held more than 10 business days after they are due and payable. Source: mca.legmt.gov↗ (opens in a new tab) |
| Nebraska | No fixed minimum frequency. Wages must be paid on regular days designated by the employer or agreed with the employee. Source: nebraskalegislature.gov↗ (opens in a new tab) | No specific lag in statute. An employee can sue for wages not paid within 30 days of the regular payday. Source: nebraskalegislature.gov↗ (opens in a new tab) |
| Nevada | Private employers must pay semimonthly. Employer and employee may agree to another schedule, but you cannot require the agreement. Source: leg.state.nv.us↗ (opens in a new tab) | Wages earned before the 16th are due by 8 a.m. on the last day of that month; the rest by 8 a.m. on the 15th of next month. Source: leg.state.nv.us↗ (opens in a new tab) |
| New Hampshire | Weekly or biweekly. Less often (but at least monthly) only with written approval from the labor commissioner. Source: gc.nh.gov↗ (opens in a new tab) | Weekly pay within 8 days after the workweek ends; biweekly pay within 15 days after the workweek ends. Source: gc.nh.gov↗ (opens in a new tab) |
| New Jersey | At least twice each calendar month, on regular paydays designated in advance. Source: pub.njleg.gov↗ (opens in a new tab) | The pay period must end no more than 10 working days before the payday. Source: pub.njleg.gov↗ (opens in a new tab) |
| New Mexico | Semimonthly: regular paydays no more than 16 days apart. Source: nmlegis.gov↗ (opens in a new tab) | Wages for days 1-15 due by the 25th; days 16 to month end due by the 10th of next month. Later deadlines apply if payroll is run outside New Mexico. Source: nmlegis.gov↗ (opens in a new tab) |
| New York | Manual workers weekly. Clerical and other workers at least semi-monthly. Commission salespeople at least monthly. Railroad workers weekly by Thursday. Source: nysenate.gov↗ (opens in a new tab) | Manual workers must be paid no later than seven calendar days after the end of the week the wages were earned. Source: nysenate.gov↗ (opens in a new tab) |
| North Carolina | Pay periods may be daily, weekly, biweekly, semi-monthly or monthly. Bonuses and commissions may be paid as rarely as yearly if set in advance. Source: ncleg.gov↗ (opens in a new tab) | No specific lag in statute. All wages and tips must be paid on the regular payday. Source: ncleg.gov↗ (opens in a new tab) |
| North Dakota | At least once each calendar month, on regular agreed paydays designated in advance. Source: ndlegis.gov↗ (opens in a new tab) | The statute sets no specific time limit. Source: ndlegis.gov↗ (opens in a new tab) |
| Ohio | At least semimonthly. Daily or weekly pay is allowed, as are longer intervals customary in a trade or set by written contract or law. Source: codes.ohio.gov↗ (opens in a new tab) | Wages for the first half of a month are due by the 1st of the next month; second-half wages by the 15th of the next month. Source: codes.ohio.gov↗ (opens in a new tab) |
| Oklahoma | At least twice each calendar month, on regular paydays set in advance. Source: oklahoma.gov↗ (opens in a new tab) | Regular pay dates must fall within 11 days after the pay period ends; the agency allows 3 more days before a wage claim. Source: oklahoma.gov↗ (opens in a new tab) |
| Oregon | Establish a regular payday; paydays may not be more than 35 days apart. Paying more often is allowed. Source: oregonlegislature.gov↗ (opens in a new tab) | The first payday cannot be more than 35 days after the worker starts. Shortfalls of more than 5% of gross wages must be paid within 3 business days. Source: oregon.gov↗ (opens in a new tab) |
| Pennsylvania | Pay on regular paydays set in advance. Without a written contract, pay within the usual time for the trade or within 15 days after the pay period ends. Source: pa.gov↗ (opens in a new tab) | Within the usual time for the trade, or within 15 days after the pay period ends if no contract sets a time. Source: pa.gov↗ (opens in a new tab) |
| Rhode Island | Most employees must be paid weekly. Employers can petition the Department of Labor and Training for less frequent pay, but must still pay at least twice a month. Source: webserver.rilegislature.gov↗ (opens in a new tab) | Each payday must fall within 9 days of the end of the pay period. If day 9 is a holiday, pay on the next business day. Source: webserver.rilegislature.gov↗ (opens in a new tab) |
| South Carolina | No set frequency. You must pay all wages due at the time and place you named in your hiring notice. Source: scstatehouse.gov↗ (opens in a new tab) | No state rule on lag time. Pay on the payday you designated. Source: scstatehouse.gov↗ (opens in a new tab) |
| South Dakota | At least once each calendar month, on regular paydays set in advance. Source: sdlegislature.gov↗ (opens in a new tab) | No state rule on how soon after the pay period ends wages must be paid. Source: sdlegislature.gov↗ (opens in a new tab) |
| Tennessee | Private employers must pay all wages at least semi-monthly. Source: lwdsupport.tn.gov↗ (opens in a new tab) | Check with the Department of Labor and Workforce Development. Source: lwdsupport.tn.gov↗ (opens in a new tab) |
| Texas | Non-exempt employees: at least twice a month. Semi-monthly periods should have about equal days. If no paydays are set, the 1st and 15th apply. Source: tcss.legis.texas.gov↗ (opens in a new tab) | No specific time limit. Pay on the designated payday. Source: tcss.legis.texas.gov↗ (opens in a new tab) |
| Utah | At least semi-monthly, on regular paydays set in advance. Source: le.utah.gov↗ (opens in a new tab) | Within 10 days after the pay period closes. If payday falls on a weekend or holiday, pay the day before. Source: le.utah.gov↗ (opens in a new tab) |
| Vermont | Weekly by default. Biweekly or semimonthly pay is allowed after giving notice to each employee. Source: legislature.vermont.gov↗ (opens in a new tab) | Wages must cover work through a day no more than 6 days before payday. Under a union contract, up to 13 days. Source: legislature.vermont.gov↗ (opens in a new tab) |
| Virginia | Hourly employees: at least every two weeks or twice a month. Salaried employees: at least once a month. Source: law.lis.virginia.gov↗ (opens in a new tab) | The statute sets no specific time limit. Source: law.lis.virginia.gov↗ (opens in a new tab) |
| Washington | At least monthly, on an established regular payday. Source: app.leg.wa.gov↗ (opens in a new tab) | If the pay period is shorter than a month, payday must be no later than 10 calendar days after it ends. Source: app.leg.wa.gov↗ (opens in a new tab) |
| West Virginia | At least twice every month, with no more than 19 days between paydays, unless a special agreement says otherwise. Source: code.wvlegislature.gov↗ (opens in a new tab) | No separate time limit; the 19-day limit between paydays applies. Source: code.wvlegislature.gov↗ (opens in a new tab) |
| Wisconsin | At least monthly. More frequent schedules are allowed. Source: docs.legis.wisconsin.gov↗ (opens in a new tab) | Wages must cover work through a day no more than 31 days before payday. Source: docs.legis.wisconsin.gov↗ (opens in a new tab) |
| Wyoming | Semi-monthly for railroads, mines, refineries, oil and gas work, factories, mills and workshops. Source: wyoleg.gov↗ (opens in a new tab) | Pay by the 1st for wages earned the 1st to 15th of the prior month, and by the 15th for the rest of the prior month. Source: wyoleg.gov↗ (opens in a new tab) |
