Kansas Final Paycheck and Pay Frequency Laws (2026)
Last updated: 2026-10-12 · Rules checked against Kansas's statutes and labor agency on 2026-10-03
In Kansas, a final paycheck for an employee who is fired or laid off is due by the next regular payday the employee would have been paid. If the employee quits: same: next regular payday. Pay frequency: Kansas employers must pay at least once each calendar month on regular paydays set in advance, and the pay period must end no more than 15 days before payday.
Kansas final paycheck law
- Fired or laid off
- By the next regular payday the employee would have been paid.
- Quits
- Same: next regular payday.
- Final-pay source
- K.S.A. 44-315
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 Kansas employers must pay
Kansas employers must pay at least once each calendar month on regular paydays set in advance, and the pay period must end no more than 15 days before payday.
- 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.
- Payday deadline after the pay period
- The end of the pay period must be no more than 15 days before payday.
- Posting / notice of paydays
- On request, tell an employee in writing the rate of pay and the day and place of payment (K.S.A. 44-320).
- Changing paydays
- On request, give written or posted notice of a change in payday before the change (K.S.A. 44-320).
Same category (at least monthly): Colorado, Delaware, Idaho, Iowa, Michigan, Minnesota, North Carolina, North Dakota, Oregon, South Dakota, Tennessee, Washington and Wisconsin.
Build a Kansas payroll calendar
Generate every 2026–2028 payday for your schedule, moved for bank holidays, and check it against Kansas's frequency and payday-deadline rules. Download it as Excel, CSV, PDF or a calendar file.
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 period | Pay date | Submit payroll by | Days after period end | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Dec 14, 2025 – Dec 27, 2025 | Fri, Jan 2, 2026 | Tue, Dec 30, 2025 | 6 | |
| 2 | Dec 28, 2025 – Jan 10, 2026 | Fri, Jan 16, 2026 | Wed, Jan 14, 2026 | 6 | |
| 3 | Jan 11, 2026 – Jan 24, 2026 | Fri, Jan 30, 2026 | Wed, Jan 28, 2026 | 6 | 3rd check in January. |
| 4 | Jan 25, 2026 – Feb 7, 2026 | Fri, Feb 13, 2026 | Wed, Feb 11, 2026 | 6 | |
| 5 | Feb 8, 2026 – Feb 21, 2026 | Fri, Feb 27, 2026 | Wed, Feb 25, 2026 | 6 | |
| 6 | Feb 22, 2026 – Mar 7, 2026 | Fri, Mar 13, 2026 | Wed, Mar 11, 2026 | 6 | |
| 7 | Mar 8, 2026 – Mar 21, 2026 | Fri, Mar 27, 2026 | Wed, Mar 25, 2026 | 6 | |
| 8 | Mar 22, 2026 – Apr 4, 2026 | Fri, Apr 10, 2026 | Wed, Apr 8, 2026 | 6 | |
| 9 | Apr 5, 2026 – Apr 18, 2026 | Fri, Apr 24, 2026 | Wed, Apr 22, 2026 | 6 | |
| 10 | Apr 19, 2026 – May 2, 2026 | Fri, May 8, 2026 | Wed, May 6, 2026 | 6 | |
| 11 | May 3, 2026 – May 16, 2026 | Fri, May 22, 2026 | Wed, May 20, 2026 | 6 | |
| 12 | May 17, 2026 – May 30, 2026 | Fri, Jun 5, 2026 | Wed, Jun 3, 2026 | 6 | |
| 13 | May 31, 2026 – Jun 13, 2026 | Thu, Jun 18, 2026 | Tue, Jun 16, 2026 | 5 | Moved from Fri, Jun 19, 2026 (Juneteenth). |
| 14 | Jun 14, 2026 – Jun 27, 2026 | Fri, Jul 3, 2026 | Wed, Jul 1, 2026 | 6 | |
| 15 | Jun 28, 2026 – Jul 11, 2026 | Fri, Jul 17, 2026 | Wed, Jul 15, 2026 | 6 | |
| 16 | Jul 12, 2026 – Jul 25, 2026 | Fri, Jul 31, 2026 | Wed, Jul 29, 2026 | 6 | 3rd check in July. |
| 17 | Jul 26, 2026 – Aug 8, 2026 | Fri, Aug 14, 2026 | Wed, Aug 12, 2026 | 6 | |
| 18 | Aug 9, 2026 – Aug 22, 2026 | Fri, Aug 28, 2026 | Wed, Aug 26, 2026 | 6 | |
| 19 | Aug 23, 2026 – Sep 5, 2026 | Fri, Sep 11, 2026 | Wed, Sep 9, 2026 | 6 | |
| 20 | Sep 6, 2026 – Sep 19, 2026 | Fri, Sep 25, 2026 | Wed, Sep 23, 2026 | 6 | |
| 21 | Sep 20, 2026 – Oct 3, 2026 | Fri, Oct 9, 2026 | Wed, Oct 7, 2026 | 6 | |
| 22 | Oct 4, 2026 – Oct 17, 2026 | Fri, Oct 23, 2026 | Wed, Oct 21, 2026 | 6 | |
| 23 | Oct 18, 2026 – Oct 31, 2026 | Fri, Nov 6, 2026 | Wed, Nov 4, 2026 | 6 | |
| 24 | Nov 1, 2026 – Nov 14, 2026 | Fri, Nov 20, 2026 | Wed, Nov 18, 2026 | 6 | |
| 25 | Nov 15, 2026 – Nov 28, 2026 | Fri, Dec 4, 2026 | Wed, Dec 2, 2026 | 6 | |
| 26 | Nov 29, 2026 – Dec 12, 2026 | Fri, Dec 18, 2026 | Wed, Dec 16, 2026 | 6 | |
| 27 | Dec 13, 2026 – Dec 26, 2026 | Thu, Dec 31, 2026 | Tue, Dec 29, 2026 | 5 | Moved 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 Kansas payroll rules
Kansas final paycheck and payday FAQ
When is a final paycheck due in Kansas if an employee is fired?
By the next regular payday the employee would have been paid. Source: K.S.A. 44-315.
When is a final paycheck due in Kansas if an employee quits?
Same: next regular payday. Source: K.S.A. 44-315.
How often do Kansas employers have to pay employees?
Kansas employers must pay at least once each calendar month on regular paydays set in advance, and the pay period must end no more than 15 days before payday.
Can I pay employees monthly in Kansas?
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 Kansas employees be paid?
The end of the pay period must be no more than 15 days before payday.
Do I have to give notice before changing paydays in Kansas?
On request, give written or posted notice of a change in payday before the change (K.S.A. 44-320).
Official Sources
Figures checked against these sources on 2026-10-03Related Resources on This Site
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General information, not legal advice. Confirm the current rules with Kansas's labor department before relying on them.