Seventy-eight percent of U.S. workers would experience financial strain if their paycheck was delayed a week, according to results from the 2025 Getting Paid In America survey conducted by PayrollOrg, an organization that provides education, publications, and networking opportunities to payroll professionals.
This figure is up slightly from the 2024 survey, which found that 77% of individuals were living paycheck to paycheck.
The annual survey asked respondents how difficult it would be to meet their financial obligations if their paychecks were delayed for a week. Of the 23,005 individuals who responded to this question, 17,867 respondents, or 78%, said they would find it somewhat or very difficult to meet their financial obligations.
“When 78% of Americans indicate they would face hardship if their paycheck was delayed just one week, it underscores a worker financial wellness crisis with ripple effects on employee turnover and engagement,” Jason Lee, chief of Chime Enterprise, a financial wellness solutions provider, said in a statement. “It is more important than ever for companies to think beyond just earned wage access and start giving their teams comprehensive financial wellness benefits to save, build credit, and make financial progress.”
The survey also asked respondents how they would cover expenses if their paycheck was delayed. Nearly one-third (29%) said they would rely on friends or family or draw from savings. Another 26% indicated they would delay bill payments, while 25% reported they would turn to credit cards to make ends meet.
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“The reality for 78% of workers today is that they would struggle to meet financial obligations if their paycheck were delayed by even a week,” said Crystal Bryant-Minter, senior vice president and general manager of workforce solutions at rapid!, a paycard solutions provider. “This financial fragility underscores the growing demand for earned wage access, or EWA, though a significant portion of workers are unaware these solutions are even an option. Many instead turn to credit cards or delay bills just to get by. As awareness grows, employer-sponsored EWA programs are emerging as a vital solution, already used by two-thirds of those accessing their pay early. It’s clear that EWA isn’t just a convenience, it’s a necessary tool for financial resilience.”
In a July 2024 report, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau estimated that in 2022, more than 10 million workers used employer-integrated and direct-to-consumer products totaling $32 billion. According to a 2022 survey, 70% of middle-market companies offer EWA products to some staff. Other research finds that firms perceive EWA as a recruitment and retention tool and that younger employees expect to have access to on-demand earned wages.
Photo credit: filo/iStock
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