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Maryland final paycheck law

The short answer

When employment ends, whether by discharge, the employer must pay all wages due for work performed before termination on or before the day the employee would have been paid had the employment not ended. (Md. Code, Labor and Employment § 3-505(a)) When employment ends, whether because the employee quits, the employer must pay all wages due for work performed before termination on or before the day the employee would have been paid had the employment not ended. (Md. Code, Labor and Employment § 3-505(a))

Last verified Sep 24, 2026 · How we verify every rule

General information, not legal advice. This page is for general information only and isn’t legal, financial or tax advice. Laws vary by state and change; check the official source or talk to a qualified professional about your situation. Every rule on this page links to its official source.

Final paycheck

If you fire someone, when is the last paycheck due?Next regular paydayVerified Sep 24, 2026 · 2 official sources

When employment ends, whether by discharge, the employer must pay all wages due for work performed before termination on or before the day the employee would have been paid had the employment not ended. (Md. Code, Labor and Employment § 3-505(a))

“(a) Except as provided in subsection (b) of this section, each employer shall pay an employee or the authorized representative of an employee all wages due for work that the employee performed before the termination of employment, on or before the day on which the employee would have been paid the wages if the employment had not been terminated.”

“Each employer shall pay an employee, or the authorized representative of an employee, all wages due for work that the employee performed before the termination of employment, on or before the day on which the employee would have been paid the wages if the employment had not terminated.”

mgaleg.maryland.gov · labor.maryland.gov

If an employee quits, when is the last paycheck due?Next regular paydayVerified Sep 24, 2026 · 2 official sources

When employment ends, whether because the employee quits, the employer must pay all wages due for work performed before termination on or before the day the employee would have been paid had the employment not ended. (Md. Code, Labor and Employment § 3-505(a))

“(a) Except as provided in subsection (b) of this section, each employer shall pay an employee or the authorized representative of an employee all wages due for work that the employee performed before the termination of employment, on or before the day on which the employee would have been paid the wages if the employment had not been terminated.”

“Each employer shall pay an employee, or the authorized representative of an employee, all wages due for work that the employee performed before the termination of employment, on or before the day on which the employee would have been paid the wages if the employment had not terminated.”

mgaleg.maryland.gov · labor.maryland.gov

What it means for an employer

  1. Set the final pay date when you schedule the termination meeting or accept the resignation, using the deadline above.
  2. Include every wage earned up to the last day, and check the PTO payout rule for your state.
  3. Keep a record of the date and the amount paid.

The federal default

“Employers are not required by federal law to give former employees their final paycheck immediately.”

U.S. Department of Labor: Last paycheck · dol.gov

State rules can add to the federal default. The Maryland rules above are the ones we verified; for anything not covered, ask the state labor office.

Final paycheck: Maryland and its neighbors

StateFinal pay after firingAfter quitting
MarylandNext regular paydayNext regular payday
VirginiaNot verifiedNot verified
West VirginiaNext regular paydayNext regular payday
PennsylvaniaNext regular paydayNext regular payday
DelawareNext payday or 3 business days, whichever is laterNext payday or 3 business days, whichever is later
District of ColumbiaNext business dayNext payday or 7 days, whichever is sooner

Only verified rules are shown. "Not verified" means we have not checked that state's rule yet; open its rulebook for the official source.

Maryland employer rulebookEvery verified rule for the stateFinal paycheck laws by stateOne row per state, with sourcesHow to fire an employee in your stateSteps and documentsEmployee no call, no show: what to doSteps and documentsAn employee resigned: what to do nextSteps and documents

Questions about Maryland final paycheck law

If you fire someone, when is the last paycheck due in Maryland?

When employment ends, whether by discharge, the employer must pay all wages due for work performed before termination on or before the day the employee would have been paid had the employment not ended. (Md. Code, Labor and Employment § 3-505(a))

If an employee quits, when is the last paycheck due in Maryland?

When employment ends, whether because the employee quits, the employer must pay all wages due for work performed before termination on or before the day the employee would have been paid had the employment not ended. (Md. Code, Labor and Employment § 3-505(a))

Sources (3)

Checked Sep 24, 2026 · How we verify every rule · Report an error