The deadline, and what it depends on
By your next regularly scheduled payday. The date depends on your pay schedule, not on when you were let go.
It depends on your pay schedule, not on the day you left. Two people who leave on the same day can have deadlines a week or more apart.
A collective bargaining agreement can set a different pay date. The employer may offset sums you owe it that were incurred during your employment. You cannot be required to take direct deposit. Wyoming's own labor department mis-cites the unpaid wage remedy on its FAQ; the operative section is § 27-4-104(b).
What “next regular payday” means
“Next regular payday” means the next date your employer would normally have paid you had you stayed. It is not a fixed number of days: paid weekly, it is at most a week away; paid monthly, it can be a month.
That is why the calculator asks for your pay schedule first. Take any recent payday from a pay stub and it works out the date for you.
Unused PTO — is it owed?
Usually, yes. Accrued vacation counts as wages in Wyoming unless the employer has a written policy forfeiting it at separation and you acknowledged that policy in writing. If either piece is missing, the vacation is owed. So the question is whether you were told in writing, before you left, that unused time would be lost. If not, it is owed with your final wages.
What happens if they are late
Wyoming adds no extra days of pay. If you sue and prove what you are owed, the court must award 18% a year interest from the date of discharge, plus a reasonable attorney fee and costs. A willful violation is also a misdemeanour carrying a $500 to $750 fine (Wyo. Stat. § 27-4-104(b), § 27-4-105).
How to file a claim in Wyoming
File a Claim for Wages with the Wyoming Department of Workforce Services, Labor Standards, within 2 years. The department will not pursue more than about two months' wages per claim; larger amounts go to court. Filing is free, and you do not need a lawyer.
- Ask in writing first. Email creates a dated record.
- Send a short demand letter naming the amount, the deadline, and any penalty that applies in Wyoming.
- File the wage claim. Keep copies of pay stubs and your schedule — the time card calculator can total the unpaid hours for you.
Wyoming final paycheck: common questions
Can they hold my last check until I return my equipment?
No. In Wyoming your final wages are due by the deadline on this page whether or not you have returned a laptop, uniform or keys. Your employer can ask for the equipment back or pursue its cost separately, but federal law bars deductions for it that would cut your pay below minimum wage or eat into overtime.
Do I get paid for unused vacation?
Usually, yes. Accrued vacation counts as wages in Wyoming unless the employer has a written policy forfeiting it at separation and you acknowledged that policy in writing. If either piece is missing, the vacation is owed. So the question is whether you were told in writing, before you left, that unused time would be lost. If not, it is owed with your final wages.
What if I quit without notice?
No. Quitting without notice does not forfeit anything you earned in Wyoming. Your final pay is due by your next regular payday, exactly as if you had given notice. Notice only changes the timing, and only where state law says so.
When is my final paycheck due in Wyoming if I am fired?
By your next regularly scheduled payday. The date depends on your pay schedule, not on when you were let go. Everything you earned is due on that deadline, along with any unused vacation your state or your policy makes payable.
What happens if my final paycheck is late in Wyoming?
Wyoming adds no extra days of pay. If you sue and prove what you are owed, the court must award 18% a year interest from the date of discharge, plus a reasonable attorney fee and costs. A willful violation is also a misdemeanour carrying a $500 to $750 fine (Wyo. Stat. § 27-4-104(b), § 27-4-105).
Spotted something wrong? Report an error.
Wyoming overtime rules and calculator →
Other states that also tie the deadline to your next payday: Arizona, Arkansas and Delaware.
Worked across a state line? Colorado final paycheck law and Idaho final paycheck law.