Skip to content
Oakclause

Final Paycheck Laws in South Carolina

In South Carolina, final wages are due within 48 hours or by the next regular payday (no later than 30 days) for any separation, and vacation pay is owed only if the employer's policy or contract provides for it.

Last checked . General information, not legal advice.

South Carolina at a glance

Deadline if fired
48 hours or next payday (no later than 30 days)
Deadline if employee quits
48 hours or next payday (no later than 30 days)
The rule applies to any separation from the payroll, including a resignation.
Accrued vacation paid out
Only if policy or contract provides it
Wages include vacation pay due under an employer policy or employment contract.

Sources

Last checked

The rules in South Carolina

When is a final paycheck due in South Carolina if the employee is fired or laid off?

Deadline if fired in South Carolina: 48 hours or next payday (no later than 30 days).

When is a final paycheck due in South Carolina if the employee quits?

Deadline if employee quits in South Carolina: 48 hours or next payday (no later than 30 days). The rule applies to any separation from the payroll, including a resignation.

Does South Carolina law require employers to pay out accrued vacation when a job ends?

Only if policy or contract provides it. Accrued vacation paid out in South Carolina: only if policy or contract provides it. Wages include vacation pay due under an employer policy or employment contract.

Where do the South Carolina final paycheck laws come from?

The rules above come from S.C. Code 41-10-50, S.C. Code 41-10-10 and S.C. Code 41-10-80. Each source is linked on this page. We last checked them in October 2026.

Good to know

If wages are not paid on time, the employee may sue for three times the unpaid wages, plus costs and reasonable attorney fees as the court allows.

What this means in practice

Note the exact last day of work and how the job ended, since the deadline often runs from that date and may differ for a firing, a layoff or a resignation. Some statutes also change the deadline when an employee quits without giving notice.

Read the employer's written vacation or paid time off policy and any employment contract. Where state law leaves vacation payout to the employer, the policy terms usually decide whether unused time is paid out or forfeited.

If a final paycheck is late or short, the state labor department usually accepts wage claims, often without a lawyer. Some statutes add penalties for late payment, such as extra daily wages, so keep pay stubs, timesheets and any written communication about the final pay.

General information, not legal advice. Laws change, and cities can add their own rules, so check the current statute before you rely on it.