South Carolina final paycheck law: when your last check is due
In South Carolina, if you were fired or laid off, your final wages are generally due within 48 hours of the separation or by the next regular payday, not to exceed 30 days. If you quit after giving notice, they are generally due within 48 hours of the separation or by the next regular payday, not to exceed 30 days. If you quit without notice, they are generally due within 48 hours of the separation or by the next regular payday, not to exceed 30 days.
Deadlines at a glance
Fired or laid off
Final wages due within 48 hours of the separation or by the next regular payday, not to exceed 30 days
Quit with notice
Final wages due within 48 hours of the separation or by the next regular payday, not to exceed 30 days
Quit without notice
Final wages due within 48 hours of the separation or by the next regular payday, not to exceed 30 days
Statute
No state-specific final-pay statute
Wage claim agency
South Carolina Department of Labor, Licensing and Regulation
What counts as wages in your final paycheck
Final pay usually covers more than your last regular hours. Depending on your state and your employer's policy, it can include unpaid regular and overtime hours, earned commissions, bonuses that have already been earned, accrued unused vacation or PTO where state law or company policy treats it as earned wages, and unreimbursed business expenses.
What to do if the South Carolina deadline passes
- Write down the facts: your last day worked, the amount you believe you are owed, and any messages from your employer about payment.
- Send a written demand letter that names the South Carolina deadline and gives your employer a short, specific window to pay.
- Send it by email and by certified mail with return receipt, and keep proof of delivery. See how certified mail works.
- If the deadline in your letter passes without payment, file a wage claim with the South Carolina Department of Labor, Licensing and Regulation.
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Create my South Carolina demand letterCommon questions
When is my final paycheck due in South Carolina if I was fired?
In South Carolina, final wages are generally due within 48 hours of the separation or by the next regular payday, not to exceed 30 days after an involuntary termination.
When is my final paycheck due in South Carolina if I quit?
If you gave notice, final wages are generally due within 48 hours of the separation or by the next regular payday, not to exceed 30 days. If you quit without notice, they are generally due within 48 hours of the separation or by the next regular payday, not to exceed 30 days.
Can my employer be penalized for paying late in South Carolina?
South Carolina does not have a widely applied waiting-time penalty specific to final pay, but unpaid wages can still be pursued through a wage claim with the South Carolina Department of Labor, Licensing and Regulation.
Who do I file an unpaid wage claim with in South Carolina?
Unpaid wage claims in South Carolina are handled by the South Carolina Department of Labor, Licensing and Regulation.
Other states
This page is general information, not legal advice. Last Check GPT is not a law firm. State rules change and exceptions apply; verify with the South Carolina Department of Labor, Licensing and Regulation before relying on a deadline.