Biweekly vs Semi-Monthly Pay
Biweekly means every other week, 26 checks a year. Semi-monthly means twice a month, 24 checks a year. The same salary pays the same total either way, but each check is different, and biweekly usually has two months with three checks.
Enter your salary
The calculator compares the two schedules for your salary, state and filing status, and shows how many biweekly checks land in each month of the year you choose. Enter any real payday from your stub and the calendar lines up.
Why biweekly checks are smaller
Biweekly splits a year into 26 checks and semi-monthly into 24, so a biweekly check is 24/26, about 92%, of a semi-monthly check. The annual total is the same, and biweekly gets there with 2 more checks in the year. The table shows the gross pay and Texas take-home at three salaries.
The three-paycheck months
If you budget monthly bills from a biweekly check, treat 26 checks as 12 months of 2.17 checks. Usually two months a year carry an extra check. For a 2026 calendar, first payday January 2 means January and July; first payday January 9 means May and October. Plan to save the extra check or use it for irregular costs.
Semi-monthly months are always two checks, but the dates sit on the 15th and month end, moved to the prior weekday when they fall on a weekend. Holidays can move them further, depending on your employer.
Hourly workers
A biweekly check covers exactly 80 hours for a 40-hour week. A semi-monthly check covers a half month, which in 2026 holds between 80 and 96 scheduled hours at 8 hours per weekday, so hourly pay varies from check to check. Overtime is measured by the workweek, not by the pay period, under federal law. See the overtime calculator.
Related
To turn any salary into hourly, weekly and monthly pay, use the pay conversion chart. To see each tax line, use the paycheck calculator or the pay stub calculator.
| Salary | Biweekly gross | Semi-monthly gross | Biweekly take-home | Semi-monthly take-home | Annual rounding gap |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| $40,000 | $1,538.46 | $1,666.67 | $1,320.00 | $1,430.00 | -$0.12 |
| $65,000 | $2,500.00 | $2,708.33 | $2,092.60 | $2,266.97 | $0.08 |
| $100,000 | $3,846.15 | $4,166.67 | $3,045.38 | $3,299.17 | -$0.18 |
Watch it worked through
- How Many Paychecks in a Year? Sometimes 27, Not 26 (YouTube Short)
- Biweekly Pay Can Give You 3 Paychecks in a Month (YouTube Short)
Paycheck Zip videos use the same calculator as this page. Figures in a video are from the day it was made; the page is kept current.
Keep reading
Questions
What is the difference between biweekly and semi-monthly pay?
Biweekly pays every two weeks on the same weekday, 26 times a year. Semi-monthly pays twice a month on set dates such as the 15th and the last day, 24 times a year. Biweekly checks are smaller because the salary is split 26 ways instead of 24.
Which pays more, biweekly or semi-monthly?
Neither, for a salaried employee. The annual salary is the same. For an hourly worker, annual pay depends on the hours worked, not the schedule, although hours per check can vary on a semi-monthly schedule.
Why do I get three paychecks some months?
Twenty-six biweekly checks across twelve months means two months a year usually have three, and in a year with 27 paydays three months do. In 2026, a first payday of January 2 gives three checks in January and July; a first payday of January 9 gives May and October. In 2027, a first payday of January 1 makes 27 paydays and three-check months in January, July and December.
How do I calculate a biweekly paycheck from annual salary?
Divide the annual salary by 26 for gross pay per check. For semi-monthly, divide by 24. Net pay then depends on withholding. The calculator on this page shows gross and take-home for both.
Does pay frequency change how much tax I pay?
Not meaningfully. Withholding tables annualize each check, so yearly tax is nearly the same. The check size and the timing of the money differ. Your final tax is set on your tax return, not by the schedule.
Does my state set how often I must be paid?
Yes. Pay frequency rules are set by states, and the federal wage law does not set one. Many states require at least twice-monthly or biweekly pay for some or all employees. Check your state labor agency for your situation.