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Guide · 5 min read · Updated 2026

Montana pay stub requirements

Governed by Montana Code Annotated § 39-3-101 and ARM 24.16. This guide covers the mandatory items on every wage statement, penalties for non-compliance, and a checklist for MT employers.

The rule in one paragraph

Montana requires an itemized wage statement with each payment showing hours, wages, and deductions. The Montana Department of Labor & Industry Wage & Hour Unit enforces the rule.

Mandatory wage-statement items

  1. 1
    Employee name

    Full name of the employee.

  2. 2
    Pay-period dates

    Beginning and ending dates of the pay period.

  3. 3
    Hours worked

    Regular and overtime hours for non-exempt employees.

  4. 4
    Rate of pay

    Hourly, salary, piece, or commission rate applied.

  5. 5
    Gross wages

    Total wages earned before deductions.

  6. 6
    Deductions

    Each deduction itemized separately.

  7. 7
    Net wages

    Take-home pay after all deductions.

Penalties and retention

Penalties

Employees may recover unpaid wages plus a penalty of up to 110% of wages due under § 39-3-206, plus attorney's fees and costs.

Record retention

At least three years under ARM 24.16.7521.

Electronic wage statements

Allowed, provided employees can access and print records at no cost.

Compliance checklist

  • All required items appear on every wage statement
  • Overtime hours and rates itemized for non-exempt employees
  • Deductions labeled clearly
  • Records retained per state and federal rules
  • Portal or paper delivery available on request

Frequently asked questions

Does Montana require pay stubs?

Yes — Mont. Code Ann. § 39-3-101 requires an itemized wage statement each pay period.

Are electronic pay stubs allowed?

Yes, provided employees can access and print their statements at no cost.

How long must payroll records be retained?

At least three years under ARM 24.16.7521.

How do I file a wage claim?

File a wage claim with the Montana state labor agency, or file a federal FLSA complaint with the US Department of Labor Wage & Hour Division.

Generate a MT-compliant pay stub

StubGenPro's US pay stub template covers hours-at-each-rate, itemized deductions, YTD totals, and pay-period dates — the fields most state laws require.

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