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Wisconsin Final Paycheck and Pay Frequency Laws (2026)

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

In Wisconsin, a final paycheck for an employee who is fired or laid off is due by the next regular payday or within 31 days, whichever is earlier (within 24 hours if the business closes, merges or relocates). If the employee quits: same rule. Pay frequency: Wisconsin employers must pay at least monthly, covering all wages earned up to 31 days before payday. Managerial, executive, commissioned-sales and confidential employees fall outside the law.

Final pay: fired
Next payday (≤31 days)
Final pay: quits
Next payday (≤31 days)
Pay frequency
At least monthly
Payday deadline
31 days
after the pay period ends

Wisconsin final paycheck law

Fired or laid off
By the next regular payday or within 31 days, whichever is earlier (within 24 hours if the business closes, merges or relocates).
Quits
Same rule.
Final-pay source
Wis. Stat. § 109.03

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 Wisconsin employers must pay

Wisconsin employers must pay at least monthly, covering all wages earned up to 31 days before payday. Managerial, executive, commissioned-sales and confidential employees fall outside the law.

  • Most employeesWeekly (allowed)Biweekly (allowed)Semimonthly (allowed)Monthly (allowed)
  • Logging and farm laborWeekly (allowed)Biweekly (allowed)Semimonthly (allowed)Monthly (allowed)At least quarterly.

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

Rule
At least monthly
Salaried / exempt staff
Managerial, executive, commissioned-sales and confidential employees aren't covered by the wage payment law.
Longest gap between paydays
31 days
Payday deadline after the pay period
Each payment must include all wages earned up to a day no more than 31 days before payday.
Posting / notice of paydays
No requirement to post or announce paydays in the wage payment law.
Changing paydays
No specific advance-notice rule in the wage payment law; give written notice before the change as a best practice.

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

Build a Wisconsin payroll calendar

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

Wisconsin final paycheck and payday FAQ

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

By the next regular payday or within 31 days, whichever is earlier (within 24 hours if the business closes, merges or relocates). Source: Wis. Stat. § 109.03.

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

Same rule. Source: Wis. Stat. § 109.03.

How often do Wisconsin employers have to pay employees?

Wisconsin employers must pay at least monthly, covering all wages earned up to 31 days before payday. Managerial, executive, commissioned-sales and confidential employees fall outside the law.

Can I pay employees monthly in Wisconsin?

Yes. Monthly pay periods are allowed for most employees. Salaried / exempt staff: Managerial, executive, commissioned-sales and confidential employees aren't covered by the wage payment law.

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

Each payment must include all wages earned up to a day no more than 31 days before payday.

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

The wage payment law has no specific advance-notice rule for changing paydays. Give employees written notice before the change as a best practice, and keep paying at least as often as the law requires.

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 Wisconsin's labor department before relying on them.