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Maryland Final Paycheck and Pay Frequency Laws (2026)

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

In Maryland, a final paycheck for an employee who is fired or laid off is due on or before the day the wages would have been paid if employment had continued (the next regular payday). If the employee quits: same: next regular payday. Pay frequency: Maryland employers must set regular pay periods and pay at least once every 2 weeks or twice a month. Administrative, executive and professional employees may be paid less often.

Final pay: fired
Next regular payday
Final pay: quits
Next regular payday
Pay frequency
Every 2 weeks or twice a month
Payday deadline
No set limit
after the pay period ends

Maryland final paycheck law

Fired or laid off
On or before the day the wages would have been paid if employment had continued (the next regular payday).
Quits
Same: next regular payday.
Final-pay source
Md. Code, Lab. & Empl. § 3-505

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 Maryland employers must pay

Maryland employers must set regular pay periods and pay at least once every 2 weeks or twice a month. Administrative, executive and professional employees may be paid less often.

  • Most employeesWeekly (allowed)Biweekly (allowed)Semimonthly (allowed)Monthly (not allowed)
  • Administrative, executive and professionalWeekly (allowed)Biweekly (allowed)Semimonthly (allowed)Monthly (allowed)May be paid less often than every 2 weeks.

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

Rule
Every 2 weeks or twice a month (at least twice a month)
Salaried / exempt staff
Administrative, executive and professional employees may be paid less often (e.g., monthly).
Payday deadline after the pay period
Maryland sets no fixed number of days between the end of a pay period and payday. If payday is a non-workday, pay on the workday before.
Posting / notice of paydays
Give written notice at hire of the rate of pay and the regular paydays (Md. Code, Lab. & Empl. § 3-504).
Changing paydays
Give notice of any change in a payday at least 1 pay period in advance (Md. Code, Lab. & Empl. § 3-504).

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

Build a Maryland payroll calendar

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

Maryland final paycheck and payday FAQ

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

On or before the day the wages would have been paid if employment had continued (the next regular payday). Source: Md. Code, Lab. & Empl. § 3-505.

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

Same: next regular payday. Source: Md. Code, Lab. & Empl. § 3-505.

How often do Maryland employers have to pay employees?

Maryland employers must set regular pay periods and pay at least once every 2 weeks or twice a month. Administrative, executive and professional employees may be paid less often.

Can I pay employees monthly in Maryland?

Not for most employees — they must be paid weekly, biweekly and semimonthly. Salaried / exempt staff: Administrative, executive and professional employees may be paid less often (e.g., monthly).

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

Maryland sets no fixed number of days between the end of a pay period and payday. If payday is a non-workday, pay on the workday before.

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

Give notice of any change in a payday at least 1 pay period in advance (Md. Code, Lab. & Empl. § 3-504).

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 Maryland's labor department before relying on them.