SmallBizHandbookSmallBizHandbook

Colorado Final Paycheck and Pay Frequency Laws (2026)

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

In Colorado, a final paycheck for an employee who is fired or laid off is due immediately. If the payroll office isn't open, within 6 hours after it opens on its next regular workday; if payroll is off-site, within 24 hours after the start of its next regular workday (C.R.S. § 8-4-109). If the employee quits: by the next regular payday. Pay frequency: Colorado pay periods can be no longer than one calendar month (or 30 days, whichever is longer), and payday must fall no later than 10 days after the period closes — unless employer and employee agree to another schedule.

Final pay: fired
Immediately (6 or 24 h if payroll closed/off-site)
Final pay: quits
Next regular payday
Pay frequency
At least monthly
Payday deadline
10 days
after the pay period ends

Colorado final paycheck law

Fired or laid off
Immediately. If the payroll office isn't open, within 6 hours after it opens on its next regular workday; if payroll is off-site, within 24 hours after the start of its next regular workday (C.R.S. § 8-4-109).
Quits
By the next regular payday.
Final-pay source
C.R.S. § 8-4-109

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 Colorado employers must pay

Colorado pay periods can be no longer than one calendar month (or 30 days, whichever is longer), and payday must fall no later than 10 days after the period closes — unless employer and employee agree to another schedule.

  • All employeesWeekly (allowed)Biweekly (allowed)Semimonthly (allowed)Monthly (allowed)

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

Rule
At least monthly
Salaried / exempt staff
Same rule as other employees.
Longest gap between paydays
31 days
Payday deadline after the pay period
Regular payday no later than 10 days after the pay period closes, unless employer and employee mutually agree otherwise.
Posting / notice of paydays
Post a notice of the regular paydays and the time and place of payment at the workplace (C.R.S. § 8-4-107).
Changing paydays
The posted notice must show any changes to paydays (C.R.S. § 8-4-107); no specific advance period.
  • After a written demand, wages not paid within 14 days carry a penalty of the greater of 2× the wages or $1,000 (3× or $3,000 if willful) (C.R.S. § 8-4-109(3)).

Same category (at least monthly): Delaware, Idaho, Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, North Carolina, North Dakota, Oregon, South Dakota, Tennessee, Washington and Wisconsin.

Build a Colorado payroll calendar

Generate every 2026–2028 payday for your schedule, moved for bank holidays, and check it against Colorado'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 Colorado payroll rules

Colorado final paycheck and payday FAQ

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

Immediately. If the payroll office isn't open, within 6 hours after it opens on its next regular workday; if payroll is off-site, within 24 hours after the start of its next regular workday (C.R.S. § 8-4-109). Source: C.R.S. § 8-4-109.

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

By the next regular payday. Source: C.R.S. § 8-4-109.

How often do Colorado employers have to pay employees?

Colorado pay periods can be no longer than one calendar month (or 30 days, whichever is longer), and payday must fall no later than 10 days after the period closes — unless employer and employee agree to another schedule.

Can I pay employees monthly in Colorado?

Yes. Monthly pay periods are allowed for all employees. Salaried / exempt staff: Same rule as other employees.

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

Regular payday no later than 10 days after the pay period closes, unless employer and employee mutually agree otherwise.

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

The posted notice must show any changes to paydays (C.R.S. § 8-4-107); no specific advance period.

Official Sources

Figures checked against these sources on 2026-10-03

Related Resources on This Site

Final paycheck and payday laws in other states

ALAKAZARCACTDEDCFLGAHIIDILINIAKSKYLAMEMDMAMIMNMSMOMTNENVNHNJNMNYNCNDOHOKORPARISCSDTNTXUTVTVAWAWVWIWY

All states on one map and table →

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