When You Can Expect to Get Your First and Last Paycheck

When you will get paid is one of the most important things to know when you’re about to start a new job. It’s also important to know when you’ll collect your last paycheck if you move on. Will you have to wait for it, or will you get paid upon termination of employment?

When Do You Get Paid After Starting a Job?

When you receive your first paycheck depends on the timing of the company's payroll and when you start employment.

Company Pay Schedules

Most employers pay their employees on a weekly or biweekly (every other week) basis. Some employers pay monthly; other employers pay on set dates, for example, on the 1st and 15th of every month. You may be paid:

• Weekly: Paid every week on a scheduled day of the week. (Example: payday is every Friday)
• Biweekly: Paid every two weeks on a scheduled day of the week. (Example: paydays are every other Friday)
• Monthly: Paid once a month on a specific date. (Example: payday is the 1st of each month)
• Bimonthly: Paid twice a month on specific dates. (Example: paydays are the 15th and 30th of each month)

Company Pay Periods

Payroll checks may be issued at the end of each pay period worked, or there may be a lag and your paycheck may be issued a week or two (or longer) after you begin work. At the latest, you should be paid by the company's regular pay date for the first pay period that you worked.

State Payday Requirements

Some states have payday requirements that regulate when employees must be paid. For example, employees in Maine must be paid at regular intervals not to exceed 16 days.

In Arizona, payday must be two or more days in a month, not more than 16 days apart. Some states require weekly or biweekly pay, while others permit monthly pay schedules.

How Much to Expect in Your Check

The amount you receive in your first paycheck depends on deductions for federal, state, and local taxes. There may also be deductions for your share of employee benefits payments.

Your employer will ask you to complete a W-4 form so that the company will know how much tax to deduct from your check.

When you get paid, you will receive a paper, electronic, or online pay stub, which will itemize your gross pay, deductions, and net pay. Here's a list of what is included on a pay stub.

How Will You Receive Your Check?

Direct Deposit

You may not actually receive a physical paper check. Many companies choose to pay employers through direct deposit, having their bank place the money in your bank account. If your employer pays with direct deposit, you'll have to fill out a form—or, in some cases, provide a voided check—to share your bank account information with your employer.

Paper Check

If your employer does not have direct deposit available, then you will be paid with a paper check. This may be mailed to the home address you provided or delivered to you at work, or you may have to pick up a check from a set location.

Payroll Debit Card

Some companies offer employees the option to be paid with a deposit to a payroll debit card instead of direct depositing their pay or giving them a paper check.

Company Pay Policies

However you receive your payment, the method of delivery should be clear and transparent. Typically, employers will share information on the payment process on your first day of employment during new job orientation.

When Will You Get Your Last Paycheck?

When you resign or are terminated from a job, one of the first questions you may have is, "When will I get my final paycheck?" The answer is that it depends. When you receive your final paycheck depends on state law and on company policy. There is no federal law requiring employers to pay you on the last day worked. However, some states may require that you be paid right away or within a certain time period after employment ends.

If you are laid off or fired from your job, in many cases, your employer will have your final paycheck ready for you at the time you're fired. However, that isn't guaranteed. 

There is no federal law requiring employers to pay you on the last day worked, but some states may require that you be paid immediately. Some employers may opt to pay you immediately, especially if you have been fired, regardless of the law in your state. 

At the very latest, you should receive your last check on the regular pay date for the last pay period that you worked for the company.

Check with the HR department at your company. They should be able to advise you on when you will be paid and what will be included in the check. If you have unused personal time off (PTO) or vacation or sick leave, that will typically be included in your final check.

The information contained in this article is not legal advice and is not a substitute for such advice. State and federal laws change frequently, and the information in this article may not reflect your own state’s laws or the most recent changes to the law.