Final Paycheck Calculator — Calculate Final Pay
Estimate gross final wages from unpaid regular hours plus unused PTO or vacation that is payable under the law or policy that applies to you.
Calculator scope: unpaid regular hours + unused PTO/vacation hours you expect to be payable. It does not add overtime, commissions, bonuses, reimbursements, deductions, penalties, or taxes. Your net check depends on actual payroll withholding.
Unpaid Hours: —
PTO Payout: —
Total Estimated Final Pay: —
On this page: Last paycheck vs final pay · How to calculate final pay · Resignation vs termination · When payment is due · FAQ
Related help: Unpaid wages (missing hours) calculator · Unpaid overtime calculator · Back pay calculator
Last Paycheck Calculator: Estimate Your Final Salary Payment
This tool serves as both a final paycheck calculator and last paycheck calculator. Both terms refer to the same thing: the final payment you receive when leaving a job through quitting, termination, resignation, or layoff.
What this calculator estimates:
- Unpaid hours from your final pay period (hours worked but not yet paid)
- PTO/vacation payout for unused paid time off (if required in your jurisdiction)
- Total final pay combining both components
Many people search for "final salary payment calculator" or "calculate final paycheck" when trying to determine what their employer owes them. This tool provides that estimate based on hours worked and your pay rate.
Just need missing hours (no PTO)? Use the Unpaid Wages Calculator for a simpler calculation. Multiple pay periods of underpayment? Use the Back Pay Calculator instead.
How to Calculate Final Pay and Your Last Paycheck
- Identify unpaid regular hours: count hours worked in the final pay period that have not yet been paid.
- Value those hours: multiply unpaid regular hours by the applicable hourly rate.
- Add payable unused vacation/PTO: only if the balance is payable under the law or policy that applies to you. If you need to estimate how many PTO hours you have earned, use the PTO Accrual Calculator; for payout rules and dollar value, use the PTO Payout Calculator.
- Handle overtime separately: overtime can depend on weekly/daily rules and regular-rate calculations; use the Overtime Pay Calculator rather than treating all hours as straight time.
- Add other earned compensation separately: commissions, bonuses, reimbursements, and other amounts can follow their own rules and are not included in this calculator output.
This tool estimates gross pay before payroll deductions and does not determine final-pay deadlines or penalties.
Final Pay After Resignation vs Termination
Federal law does not require an employer to issue a former employee's final paycheck immediately. State law can impose earlier deadlines, and the deadline may differ depending on whether the worker quit or was discharged.
California Example
California generally requires final wages immediately when an employee is discharged. An employee who quits with at least 72 hours' notice is generally due final wages at quitting; without that notice, final wages are generally due within 72 hours. California also includes earned accrued vacation in final wages.
Official references: U.S. DOL — Last Paycheck · California DIR — Final wages.
Legal context: Read about unpaid wages laws, final paycheck rules, and employee rights before contacting a labor board or employment attorney.
What Can Be Included in a Final Paycheck?
- Regular wages earned through the last day worked.
- Overtime or other premium wages that are earned and unpaid, calculated under the applicable rules.
- Unused vacation/PTO when payout is required by applicable law or policy.
- Earned commissions or bonuses when they are due under the governing compensation plan and law.
- Other amounts such as approved reimbursements, where applicable.
Permitted deductions from final wages vary by jurisdiction. Do not assume an employer can — or cannot — deduct a disputed amount without checking the applicable wage-payment law.
When Is a Final Paycheck Due?
There is no single U.S. deadline. Federal law does not require immediate payment of a final paycheck, while states can impose their own deadlines.
- Federal baseline: if the regular payday for the last pay period has passed and wages remain unpaid, the U.S. Department of Labor directs workers to contact the Wage and Hour Division or the state labor department.
- California discharge: final wages are generally due immediately at termination.
- California quit: generally due at quitting with at least 72 hours' notice, or within 72 hours if the employee quits without that notice.
Some states also impose penalties for late final wages. Those penalties are not included in this calculator. For California, use the California Waiting Time Penalty Calculator to estimate a potential Labor Code §203 penalty separately from the wages themselves.
Verify the current rule with the labor agency for the state where you worked.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I calculate my final paycheck?
Start with unpaid regular hours × hourly rate, then add unused vacation or PTO only if that balance is payable under the law or policy that applies to you. Calculate overtime, commissions, bonuses, deductions, and penalties separately because this calculator does not model them.
What is the difference between final pay and a last paycheck?
The terms are often used interchangeably for the final wages paid after employment ends. The exact components and payment deadline depend on the jurisdiction and the employee's compensation arrangements.
When must a final paycheck be paid?
Federal law does not require immediate final payment. State law can set an earlier deadline, and the rule may differ depending on whether the employee quit or was discharged.
Does a final paycheck include unused PTO or vacation?
Sometimes. Whether unused vacation or PTO must be paid depends on state law, the type of leave, and the employer policy. Do not enter PTO hours here unless you are treating them as payable for your estimate.
Is a final paycheck taxed?
Earned wages are taxable compensation, and the IRS also treats payments for accumulated vacation and severance as taxable. The amount withheld from the check is not necessarily your final tax liability.
What if my final paycheck is missing wages?
Compare the check with time records, pay stubs, the compensation plan, and applicable final-pay rules. If earned wages remain unpaid, you may be able to request a correction or file a wage claim with the appropriate labor agency.
Do I still get paid if I quit without notice?
Quitting without notice does not generally erase wages already earned, although the deadline for final payment depends on state law. California, for example, generally allows up to 72 hours after a quit without at least 72 hours' advance notice.
Can salaried employees use this calculator?
Only as a rough gross-pay worksheet if you know the applicable hourly equivalent and the unpaid hours to value. Salary deductions, exemptions, partial-week rules, and final-pay methods can be more complex than a simple annual-salary ÷ 2,080 conversion.
Is this final paycheck calculator legal advice?
No. It is an informational gross-pay estimator and does not determine entitlement, final-pay deadlines, deductions, taxes, or penalties.
For other pay scenarios, view all wage and paycheck calculators.