Do You Get Paid Early for Thanksgiving? A Guide for W-2 Workers
Thanksgiving is the unofficial kickoff to the holiday season and a time for family, food, and gratitude. But if you’re one of the nearly 160 million wage and salary workers (a majority of whom are W-2 employees) in the U.S. budgeting around payday, it’s also a time for questions: Do you get paid early for Thanksgiving? Will your direct deposit hit on time — or be delayed by the holiday?
Since Thanksgiving always lands on a Thursday, payroll processing can shift. In this guide, you'll learn how holidays can affect pay schedules, how early you might get paid, and how to plan ahead in case your paycheck comes later than expected.
You'll also discover how the EarnIn app's features, like Cash Out1 and Balance Shield2, can help you keep your holiday stress-free.
How Thanksgiving affects payroll schedules
One of the biggest payroll disruptors during the holidays is bank closures. On Thanksgiving Day, the Federal Reserve, most banks, and the Automated Clearing House (ACH) system are closed, meaning that no direct deposits or electronic transfers can be processed.
Here’s what typically happens:
- If your regular payday falls on Thanksgiving (Thursday), most employers will move the pay date up to Wednesday.
- Some companies may even process payroll on Tuesday to ensure funds are deposited before the holiday.
- If you're scheduled to be paid on Friday, your deposit will usually arrive on time — but delays can happen if your employer processed the payroll late due to the holiday.
It’s also important to consider that bank holidays don’t just affect deposits — they also delay outgoing payments, which can impact your ability to pay bills or transfer funds.
Understanding direct deposit vs. paper checks
The methods below are the most common ways employees get paid. Here's a little more on each process and how quickly they happen:
Direct deposit: Usually early or on time
If you’re paid via direct deposit, your employer likely sends payroll files to the bank one to two business days ahead of payday. When banks are closed (like on Thanksgiving), employers may adjust the schedule to make sure deposits clear early.
Some banks also offer early direct deposit, where funds are available up to two days earlier than the scheduled payday — based on their policies, not the employer’s. This means you might receive your paycheck as early as Tuesday.
Examples of financial institutions offering early deposit features:
Check with your bank directly to see if you qualify for early access.
Payroll cards: May vary
For employees using payroll cards, deposits are often processed like direct deposits, but with a slight delay depending on the card provider. If your payday is close to the holiday, it’s a good idea to check with the payroll card’s customer service to confirm processing times.
Paper checks: More likely to be delayed
If you're still receiving paper checks, expect potential delays. The USPS doesn’t deliver mail on Thanksgiving, and holiday mail volume can slow things down overall. If your paycheck is scheduled to be mailed the week of Thanksgiving, it may not arrive until after the weekend.
Employer and payroll provider differences
Whether or not you’re paid early can also depend on your employer and payroll provider.
Larger payroll companies like ADP, Paychex, Gusto, and OnPay typically adjust for banking holidays automatically, ensuring employees receive their pay in advance if payday falls on a holiday. However, it’s up to the employer to approve and initiate early processing.
For example:
- ADP recommends employers submit payroll at least two business days early during holiday weeks.
- OnPay posts a holiday payroll guide showing recommended processing deadlines for Thanksgiving week.
If you’re unsure what your employer plans to do, now’s the time to ask.
When you might get paid early
For example, if your scheduled payday is Thursday, November 27 (Thanksgiving 2025), you’ll most likely be paid on Wednesday, November 26, or possibly Tuesday, November 25, depending on how your employer processes payroll.
Additionally, if your bank offers early direct deposit, your funds could arrive even sooner.
If your regular payday is Friday, November 28, and your employer doesn’t adjust their schedule, your deposit should still land on time. But paper checks or payroll cards could experience slight delays, especially if mailing timelines are tight.
What to do if your paycheck is delayed
If you're expecting your paycheck right around Thanksgiving, a delay can throw off your holiday plans and budget. Here's how to prepare:
- Talk to HR or payroll early in November to confirm your expected payday.
- Adjust bill due dates (many utility companies allow for flexible payments if you ask in advance).
Accessing your wages when you need them can help cover groceries, travel, or holiday expenses without resorting to high-interest loans or overdrafting your account.
Quick reference: Thanksgiving paycheck scenarios
Here’s a simplified guide to when you might expect your paycheck during Thanksgiving week:
Scheduled pay day | Direct deposit | Paper check | Notes |
Thursday (Thanksgiving) | Usually Wednesday or earlier | May be delayed until Friday or later | Banks and USPS closed on Thursday (Thanksgiving) |
Friday (November 28) | Usually on time | May be delayed due to holiday mail | Check with employer if mailing checks |
Wednesday (November 26) | On time | On time | No major delays expected |
Plan ahead to avoid holiday stress
Don’t wait until Thanksgiving week to ask questions. Confirm your payday with your HR or payroll department early in November so you can plan your expenses accordingly.
You can also use tools from EarnIn to take better control of your budget and payday times. For example, try:
- Balance Shield2 to get alerts when your bank account balance drops below a set threshold (and even trigger automatic Cash Out1).
- Tip Yourself3 to save small amounts ahead of time for holiday costs.
For more ideas on preparing financially for the holiday, see our guide on How to Host Thanksgiving on a Tight Budget.
FAQs
Do you get paid early for Thanksgiving?
It depends on your employer and bank. If your payday falls on Thanksgiving Day, you’ll likely be paid the day before.
Does direct deposit hit early on Thanksgiving?
Direct deposits typically arrive early if processed ahead of the bank holiday — usually Tuesday or Wednesday.
Do you get paid early or late on a holiday?
If your payday falls on a bank holiday, your employer may move it earlier. Paper checks may be delayed due to mail closures.
Please note, the material collected in this post is for informational purposes only and is not intended to be relied upon as or construed as advice regarding any specific circumstances. Nor is it an endorsement of any organization or services.
This blog was sponsored by EarnIn. While the author received compensation, the information shared is grounded in independent research and intended to provide helpful and accurate guidance to readers.
EarnIn is a financial technology company not a bank. Banking Services are provided by Evolve Bank & Trust or Lead Bank, both Member FDIC. The FDIC provides deposit insurance to protect your money in the event of a bank failure. More details about deposit insurance here.
1
A pay period is the time between your paychecks, such as weekly, biweekly, or monthly. EarnIn determines your daily and pay period limits (“Daily Max” and “Pay Period Max”) based on your income and financial risk factors as outlined in the Cash Out Maxes section of our Cash Out User Agreement. EarnIn reserves the right to adjust the Daily Max and Pay Period Max at its discretion. Your actual Daily Max will be displayed in your EarnIn account before each Cash Out.EarnIn does not charge interest on Cash Outs or mandatory fees for standard transfers, which usually take 1–2 business days. For faster transfers, you can choose the Lightning Speed option and pay a fee to receive funds within 30 minutes. Lightning Speed may not be available at all times and/or to all customers. Restrictions and terms apply; see the Lightning Speed Fee Table and Cash Out User Agreement for details and eligibility requirements. Tips are optional and do not affect the quality or availability of services.
2
Balance Shield provides free alerts when your bank account balance drops below the threshold you set in your EarnIn account. You can also enable automatic transfers ($100/day - subject to your available earnings - with a limit of $750/pay period), if your bank account balance falls below your set threshold. If your available earnings are insufficient to transfer the $100, the transfer will not be completed.You choose the speed of these automatic transfers. Standard speed is available at no cost and the transfer typically takes 1-2 business days. Lightning Speed is available for a fee [see Lightning Speed Fee Table] and the transfer typically takes less than 30 minutes. You will also have the option to set a tip for automatic transfers. Tips are optional and can be $0; however, if you choose to set a tip, it will be applied to each Balance Shield transfer. Whether you tip, how much, and how often you tip does not impact the quality and availability of services. You can cancel the alerts and/or transfers at any time in your EarnIn account settings. See the Cash Out User Agreement for more details. While Balance Shield can help you avoid overdrafts, it does not guarantee protection from third-party fees, and its effectiveness depends on your usage and bank activity.3
Tip Yourself Account funds and Tip Jars are held with Evolve Bank & Trust, member FDIC and FDIC insured up to $250,000. Tip Yourself is a 0% Annual Percentage Yield and $0 monthly fee service deposit account. For more information/details, visit Evolve Bank & Trust Customer Account Terms. The FDIC provides deposit insurance to protect your money in the event of a bank failure. More details about deposit insurance here.
