State Pay Day Requirements

California and Illinois require employers to distribute paychecks semi-monthly, while workers in Kansas must receive their pay at least once a month.

The payday requirements in some other states are much more complex. Arizona requires businesses to issue paychecks two or more times per month, but they cannot be more than 16 days apart. Paycheck frequency in Michigan, meanwhile, depends on one’s occupation.

This article highlights the state payday requirements in a helpful chart. It’s worth noting that Alabama, Florida, and South Carolina do not have legal payday requirements. Clicking on a number will bring you to the additional specific information on that state’s payday laws. 

1. Alabama, Florida, and South Carolina have no specific payday laws.

2. Illinois, Nevada, New Mexico, and Virginia have monthly payday requirements for executives, administrative employees, and professional personnel.

3. Arizona: Payday must occur two or more times a month, no more than 16 days apart.

4. Connecticut: The Labor Commissioner may approve longer payday intervals (up to monthly).

5. Hawaii: Employees may choose to be paid monthly under special election procedures. The Director of Labor and Industrial Relations may also grant exceptions to the general semi-monthly payday requirement. Payday requirements only apply to private sector employees. 

6. Iowa: The law allows any predictable and reliable pay schedule as long as employees get paid at least monthly and no later than 12 days after the end of the work period. Employees can waive this requirement via a written agreement. Commission employees have different requirements.

7. Louisiana: Payday requirements apply to manufacturing, mining, or oil companies with ten or more employees. They also apply to all public service corporations. Companies must pay employees once every two weeks or twice during each calendar month. 

8. Maine: Payment is due at regular intervals that do not exceed 16 days. 

9. California and Michigan: The frequency of paydays depends on the occupation. 

10. Minnesota: Employees engaged in transitory employment requiring employees to change their residence due to termination or completion of the work must receive their pay within 24 hours.

11. Montana: Paydays can only be ten days apart.

12. Mississippi: Applicable to all manufacturing entities with more than 50 employees and that employ public labor, as well as all public service corporations. Firms must issue payment once every two weeks or twice during each calendar month.

13. Nebraska and Pennsylvania: Employers designate a payday.

14. New York: Weekly payday for manual workers. Semi-monthly payday upon approval for manual workers, clerical workers, and other workers. 

15. North Carolina: Pay periods may be daily, weekly, bi-weekly, semi-monthly, or monthly.

16. Rhode Island: Childcare providers have the option to be paid every two weeks. Employers meeting the specific requirements of Rhode Island General Law Section 28-14-2.2 may petition the Rhode Island Department of Labor and Training for permission to pay employees less frequently than weekly. However, companies must pay wages at least twice a month.

17. Texas: Monthly payday for employees who are exempt under the Fair Labor Standards Act. 

18. Utah: Employers must make payments at regular intervals, but no less than semi-monthly. 

19. Vermont: Employers may implement bi-weekly and semi-monthly paydays, provided they give employees written notice. 

20. Virginia: Employers must pay employees whose weekly wages exceed 150 percent of the Commonwealth’s average weekly wage every month, upon agreement with each affected employee. 

21. New Jersey: Employers may pay bona fide executives, supervisors, and other special classifications of employees once per month.

Disclaimer: State laws are subject to change at any time due to new legislation, higher court rulings, and other means. While FindLaw strives to provide readers with the most current information, consult an employment attorney to confirm your state laws.

Talk to an Employment Lawyer To Learn More About State Payday Requirements

If you have questions about how your employer is paying you, it’s best to contact an employment lawyer near you. Understanding your state laws can be challenging and you need to protect your rights.

An experienced employment attorney can answer questions you have about your state’s payday laws. Most offer free initial consultations.