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Alaska Final Paycheck and Pay Frequency Laws (2026)

Last updated: 2026-10-12 · Rules checked against Alaska's statutes and labor agency on 2026-10-03

In Alaska, a final paycheck for an employee who is fired or laid off is due within 3 working days after the termination (Monday–Friday, not counting legal holidays). If the employee quits: by the next regular payday that is at least 3 days after the employer receives the employee's notice. Pay frequency: Alaska employers must pay at least semimonthly (weekly and biweekly also work). Monthly pay periods are allowed only if the employee elects them or agrees to them in an annual initial contract of employment.

Final pay: fired
3 working days
Final pay: quits
Next payday at least 3 days after notice
Pay frequency
Semimonthly unless the employee chooses monthly
Payday deadline
No state rule
after the pay period ends

Alaska final paycheck law

Fired or laid off
Within 3 working days after the termination (Monday–Friday, not counting legal holidays).
Quits
By the next regular payday that is at least 3 days after the employer receives the employee's notice.
Final-pay source
AS 23.05.140

14 states require final pay immediately or within about three days of a firing (California, Colorado, Connecticut, District of Columbia, Hawaii, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, Nevada, New Hampshire, Oregon, Utah and Vermont); most others allow the next regular payday. Final wages include all earned pay; whether unused vacation must be paid out is a separate state rule.

How often Alaska employers must pay

Alaska employers must pay at least semimonthly (weekly and biweekly also work). Monthly pay periods are allowed only if the employee elects them or agrees to them in an annual initial contract of employment.

  • All employeesWeekly (allowed)Biweekly (allowed)Semimonthly (allowed)Monthly (only if a condition is met)Monthly only at the employee's election or under an annual initial employment contract.

Green: allowed. Amber: allowed only if a condition is met. Struck through: not allowed without approval.

Rule
Semimonthly unless the employee chooses monthly (at least twice a month)
Salaried / exempt staff
Same rule as other employees — monthly only if the employee elects it or agrees in an annual contract.
Payday deadline after the pay period
Alaska sets no maximum time between the end of a pay period and payday.
Posting / notice of paydays
Tell each employee in writing at hire the day and place of payment and the rate of pay, or keep a statement posted at the workplace (AS 23.05.160).
Changing paydays
Give written notice of a change in payday, place of payment or pay rate on the payday before the change (AS 23.05.160). The labor department says a change can't take effect mid-pay-period or retroactively.
  • Late final pay can cost the employee's regular wages from demand to payment, up to 90 working days (AS 23.05.140(d)).

Same category (at least twice a month): Arizona, California, District of Columbia, Georgia, Hawaii, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, Ohio, Oklahoma, Texas, Utah, Virginia and West Virginia.

Build a Alaska payroll calendar

Generate every 2026–2028 payday for your schedule, moved for bank holidays, and check it against Alaska's frequency and payday-deadline rules. Download it as Excel, CSV, PDF or a calendar file.

Payroll calendar settings

Pay periods run Sunday–Saturday; payday is Friday, 6 days after the period ends (e.g. Dec 14, 2025 – Dec 27, 2025 → Fri, Jan 2, 2026).

Paychecks in 2026
27
Usual is 26 — plan for the extra payroll
Months with 3+ paychecks
3
January, July, December
Paydays moved
2
Weekend or holiday
First / last payday
Jan 2 – Dec 31
Fri / Thu

Year-end shift: the payday scheduled for Fri, Jan 1, 2027 moves to Thu, Dec 31, 2026 and is paid in 2026, so it counts toward 2026 — W-2 wages, Social Security wage base and 401(k) limits follow the date wages are paid.

27 biweekly paychecks. If salaried staff are paid annual salary ÷ 26, a 27th check pays about 3.8% more than the salary for the year; dividing by 27 lowers each check about 3.7% instead. Decide before January and adjust per-paycheck benefit deductions and 401(k) deferrals.

Check #Pay periodPay dateSubmit payroll byDays after period endNotes
1Dec 14, 2025 – Dec 27, 2025Fri, Jan 2, 2026Tue, Dec 30, 20256
2Dec 28, 2025 – Jan 10, 2026Fri, Jan 16, 2026Wed, Jan 14, 20266
3Jan 11, 2026 – Jan 24, 2026Fri, Jan 30, 2026Wed, Jan 28, 202663rd check in January.
4Jan 25, 2026 – Feb 7, 2026Fri, Feb 13, 2026Wed, Feb 11, 20266
5Feb 8, 2026 – Feb 21, 2026Fri, Feb 27, 2026Wed, Feb 25, 20266
6Feb 22, 2026 – Mar 7, 2026Fri, Mar 13, 2026Wed, Mar 11, 20266
7Mar 8, 2026 – Mar 21, 2026Fri, Mar 27, 2026Wed, Mar 25, 20266
8Mar 22, 2026 – Apr 4, 2026Fri, Apr 10, 2026Wed, Apr 8, 20266
9Apr 5, 2026 – Apr 18, 2026Fri, Apr 24, 2026Wed, Apr 22, 20266
10Apr 19, 2026 – May 2, 2026Fri, May 8, 2026Wed, May 6, 20266
11May 3, 2026 – May 16, 2026Fri, May 22, 2026Wed, May 20, 20266
12May 17, 2026 – May 30, 2026Fri, Jun 5, 2026Wed, Jun 3, 20266
13May 31, 2026 – Jun 13, 2026Thu, Jun 18, 2026Tue, Jun 16, 20265Moved from Fri, Jun 19, 2026 (Juneteenth).
14Jun 14, 2026 – Jun 27, 2026Fri, Jul 3, 2026Wed, Jul 1, 20266
15Jun 28, 2026 – Jul 11, 2026Fri, Jul 17, 2026Wed, Jul 15, 20266
16Jul 12, 2026 – Jul 25, 2026Fri, Jul 31, 2026Wed, Jul 29, 202663rd check in July.
17Jul 26, 2026 – Aug 8, 2026Fri, Aug 14, 2026Wed, Aug 12, 20266
18Aug 9, 2026 – Aug 22, 2026Fri, Aug 28, 2026Wed, Aug 26, 20266
19Aug 23, 2026 – Sep 5, 2026Fri, Sep 11, 2026Wed, Sep 9, 20266
20Sep 6, 2026 – Sep 19, 2026Fri, Sep 25, 2026Wed, Sep 23, 20266
21Sep 20, 2026 – Oct 3, 2026Fri, Oct 9, 2026Wed, Oct 7, 20266
22Oct 4, 2026 – Oct 17, 2026Fri, Oct 23, 2026Wed, Oct 21, 20266
23Oct 18, 2026 – Oct 31, 2026Fri, Nov 6, 2026Wed, Nov 4, 20266
24Nov 1, 2026 – Nov 14, 2026Fri, Nov 20, 2026Wed, Nov 18, 20266
25Nov 15, 2026 – Nov 28, 2026Fri, Dec 4, 2026Wed, Dec 2, 20266
26Nov 29, 2026 – Dec 12, 2026Fri, Dec 18, 2026Wed, Dec 16, 20266
27Dec 13, 2026 – Dec 26, 2026Thu, Dec 31, 2026Tue, Dec 29, 20265Moved from Fri, Jan 1, 2027 (New Year's Day). 3rd check in December.

Holidays: Federal Reserve Bank closures, when ACH direct deposits don't settle (the Reserve Banks stay open on the Friday before a Saturday holiday, such as July 3, 2026 and Dec. 24, 2027). Submit-payroll dates count Federal Reserve business days; your provider's cutoff may differ.

Other Alaska payroll rules

Alaska final paycheck and payday FAQ

When is a final paycheck due in Alaska if an employee is fired?

Within 3 working days after the termination (Monday–Friday, not counting legal holidays). Source: AS 23.05.140.

When is a final paycheck due in Alaska if an employee quits?

By the next regular payday that is at least 3 days after the employer receives the employee's notice. Source: AS 23.05.140.

How often do Alaska employers have to pay employees?

Alaska employers must pay at least semimonthly (weekly and biweekly also work). Monthly pay periods are allowed only if the employee elects them or agrees to them in an annual initial contract of employment.

Can I pay employees monthly in Alaska?

Only in some cases for most employees (all employees): Monthly only at the employee's election or under an annual initial employment contract.. Salaried / exempt staff: Same rule as other employees — monthly only if the employee elects it or agrees in an annual contract.

How soon after a pay period ends must Alaska employees be paid?

Alaska sets no maximum time between the end of a pay period and payday.

Do I have to give notice before changing paydays in Alaska?

Give written notice of a change in payday, place of payment or pay rate on the payday before the change (AS 23.05.160). The labor department says a change can't take effect mid-pay-period or retroactively.

Official Sources

Figures checked against these sources on 2026-10-03

Related Resources on This Site

Final paycheck and payday laws in other states

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General information, not legal advice. Confirm the current rules with Alaska's labor department before relying on them.