diff --git a/core/migrations/0017_alter_payrolladjustment_type.py b/core/migrations/0017_alter_payrolladjustment_type.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..c077efb
--- /dev/null
+++ b/core/migrations/0017_alter_payrolladjustment_type.py
@@ -0,0 +1,18 @@
+# Generated by Django 5.2.7 on 2026-05-15 17:26
+
+from django.db import migrations, models
+
+
+class Migration(migrations.Migration):
+
+    dependencies = [
+        ('core', '0016_worker_pay_type'),
+    ]
+
+    operations = [
+        migrations.AlterField(
+            model_name='payrolladjustment',
+            name='type',
+            field=models.CharField(choices=[('Bonus', 'Bonus'), ('Overtime', 'Overtime'), ('Deduction', 'Deduction'), ('Loan Repayment', 'Loan Repayment'), ('New Loan', 'Loan'), ('Advance Payment', 'Advance'), ('Advance Repayment', 'Advance Repaid'), ('Salary', 'Salary')], max_length=50),
+        ),
+    ]
diff --git a/docs/plans/2026-05-15-manager-salaried-pay-plan.md b/docs/plans/2026-05-15-manager-salaried-pay-plan.md
index 775ff29..8f554d2 100644
--- a/docs/plans/2026-05-15-manager-salaried-pay-plan.md
+++ b/docs/plans/2026-05-15-manager-salaried-pay-plan.md
@@ -186,6 +186,14 @@ git commit -m "feat: add Worker.pay_type discriminator + is_salaried property"
 - Modify: `core/models.py:289` (`PayrollAdjustment.TYPE_CHOICES`)
 - Modify: `core/views.py` (`ADDITIVE_TYPES` — find with
   `grep -n "^ADDITIVE_TYPES" core/views.py`)
+- Create: `core/migrations/0017_alter_payrolladjustment_type.py` (auto-generated;
+  depends on `0016_worker_pay_type`). **Adding a value to
+  `PayrollAdjustment.TYPE_CHOICES` DOES require a migration in this codebase** —
+  Django's migration autodetector tracks `choices` in field state, so it emits
+  a no-op `AlterField` (choices metadata only; no data or schema change).
+  Precedent: `0012_alter_payrolladjustment_type_display_labels.py` was generated
+  for the exact same kind of `TYPE_CHOICES` edit. Skipping it leaves
+  `makemigrations --check` non-clean — a deploy-hygiene defect.
 - Test: `core/tests.py` (`ManagerSalariedPayTypeRegistrationTests`)
 
 **Step 1: Write the failing tests**
@@ -207,7 +215,9 @@ class ManagerSalariedPayTypeRegistrationTests(TestCase):
 **Step 3: Implement**
 
 `core/models.py` — append to `PayrollAdjustment.TYPE_CHOICES` (DB value ==
-label, so NO UI-vs-DB drift — see CLAUDE.md):
+label, so NO UI-vs-DB drift — see CLAUDE.md). Note: "DB value == label" only
+means the displayed text equals the stored string; it does **not** mean the
+change is migration-free — see the migration bullet above.
 
 ```python
         ('Salary',            'Salary'),
@@ -217,15 +227,25 @@ label, so NO UI-vs-DB drift — see CLAUDE.md):
 net pay). Leave `DEDUCTIVE_TYPES` untouched. Add a short inline comment:
 `# 'Salary' = manager / fixed-salary monthly pay (additive).`
 
+Then generate the required choices migration:
+`USE_SQLITE=true DJANGO_DEBUG=true python manage.py makemigrations core`
+Expected: creates `core/migrations/0017_alter_payrolladjustment_type.py` — a
+single `AlterField` on `payrolladjustment.type` that changes only `choices`
+(depends on `0016_worker_pay_type`; no data migration, no other model touched).
+
 **Step 4: Run — Expected:** PASS (2 tests). Then run the FULL suite to confirm
 no existing test hard-codes the choices length:
 `USE_SQLITE=true DJANGO_DEBUG=true python manage.py test core.tests -v 2`
-Expected: still green (175 now).
+Expected: still green (175 now; the migration is a no-op for behavior). Finally
+confirm a clean tree:
+`USE_SQLITE=true DJANGO_DEBUG=true python manage.py makemigrations --check --dry-run core`
+must report "No changes detected" (exit 0).
 
 **Step 5: Commit**
 
 ```bash
-git add core/models.py core/views.py core/tests.py
+git add core/models.py core/views.py core/tests.py \
+  core/migrations/0017_alter_payrolladjustment_type.py
 git commit -m "feat: register 'Salary' PayrollAdjustment type as additive"
 ```