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Maine Final Paycheck and Pay Frequency Laws (2026)

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

In Maine, a final paycheck for an employee who is fired or laid off is due by the next established payday (or within 2 weeks of the employee's demand, if earlier). Accrued vacation must be paid at employers with more than 10 employees. If the employee quits: same: next established payday. Pay frequency: Maine employers must pay at regular intervals of no more than 16 days, covering all wages earned up to 8 days before payday. Salaried exempt employees and the employer's family members are excluded.

Final pay: fired
Next regular payday
Final pay: quits
Next regular payday
Pay frequency
At least every 16 days
Payday deadline
8 days
after the pay period ends

Maine final paycheck law

Fired or laid off
By the next established payday (or within 2 weeks of the employee's demand, if earlier). Accrued vacation must be paid at employers with more than 10 employees.
Quits
Same: next established payday.
Final-pay source
26 M.R.S. § 626

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 Maine employers must pay

Maine employers must pay at regular intervals of no more than 16 days, covering all wages earned up to 8 days before payday. Salaried exempt employees and the employer's family members are excluded.

  • Most employeesWeekly (allowed)Biweekly (allowed)Semimonthly (allowed)Monthly (not allowed)
  • Salaried exempt (26 M.R.S. § 663(3)(K))Weekly (allowed)Biweekly (allowed)Semimonthly (allowed)Monthly (allowed)Salaried executive, administrative or professional employees earning more than 3,000 × the state minimum wage a year (or the federal threshold, if higher).

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

Rule
At least every 16 days (at least twice a month)
Salaried / exempt staff
Salaried executive, administrative and professional staff above the § 663(3)(K) salary level are excluded.
Longest gap between paydays
16 days
Payday deadline after the pay period
Each payment must include all wages earned up to 8 days before the payday. A payday that falls when the business is closed may be paid the next business day.
Posting / notice of paydays
Paydays must be on an established day or date at regular intervals made known to the employee (26 M.R.S. § 621-A(2)).
Changing paydays
The pay interval can't be lengthened without written notice to employees at least 30 days in advance (26 M.R.S. § 621-A(2)).

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

Build a Maine payroll calendar

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

Maine final paycheck and payday FAQ

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

By the next established payday (or within 2 weeks of the employee's demand, if earlier). Accrued vacation must be paid at employers with more than 10 employees. Source: 26 M.R.S. § 626.

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

Same: next established payday. Source: 26 M.R.S. § 626.

How often do Maine employers have to pay employees?

Maine employers must pay at regular intervals of no more than 16 days, covering all wages earned up to 8 days before payday. Salaried exempt employees and the employer's family members are excluded.

Can I pay employees monthly in Maine?

Not for most employees — they must be paid weekly, biweekly and semimonthly. Salaried / exempt staff: Salaried executive, administrative and professional staff above the § 663(3)(K) salary level are excluded.

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

Each payment must include all wages earned up to 8 days before the payday. A payday that falls when the business is closed may be paid the next business day.

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

The pay interval can't be lengthened without written notice to employees at least 30 days in advance (26 M.R.S. § 621-A(2)).

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 Maine's labor department before relying on them.