They sound alike, but they aren't the same:
- Biweekly means every two weeks, usually on the same weekday, such as every other Friday. That's 26 paychecks a year (occasionally 27).
- Semimonthly means twice a month on fixed dates, such as the 15th and the last day of the month. That's 24 paychecks a year.
Your annual salary is the same either way. What changes is the size and timing of each paycheck.
Paycheck size by salary
Gross pay per paycheck, before taxes and deductions:
| Annual salary | Weekly (52) | Biweekly (26) | Semimonthly (24) | Monthly (12) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $40,000 | $769.23 | $1,538.46 | $1,666.67 | $3,333.33 |
| $50,000 | $961.54 | $1,923.08 | $2,083.33 | $4,166.67 |
| $60,000 | $1,153.85 | $2,307.69 | $2,500.00 | $5,000.00 |
| $75,000 | $1,442.31 | $2,884.62 | $3,125.00 | $6,250.00 |
| $90,000 | $1,730.77 | $3,461.54 | $3,750.00 | $7,500.00 |
| $100,000 | $1,923.08 | $3,846.15 | $4,166.67 | $8,333.33 |
| $125,000 | $2,403.85 | $4,807.69 | $5,208.33 | $10,416.67 |
Semimonthly checks are bigger, but there are fewer of them. On a $60,000 salary, 26 checks of $2,307.69 and 24 checks of $2,500 both add up to $60,000.
The "three-paycheck months"
With biweekly pay, most months have two paydays, but two months a year have three. Those months feel like a bonus, and they're the key to budgeting on a biweekly schedule:
- Build your monthly budget on two paychecks.
- Use the two extra paychecks each year for savings, debt payoff or irregular bills like car insurance or holiday spending.
To convert biweekly pay to an average monthly figure, multiply by 26 and divide by 12. Don't simply double it: $2,307.69 × 2 = $4,615, but your true monthly average is $5,000.
When a year has 27 paydays
A year has 52 weeks plus one or two extra days. On a biweekly schedule those extra days slowly add up, and roughly every 11 years a year contains 27 paydays instead of 26. Some employers then divide the annual salary by 27, which makes each check slightly smaller; others pay 27 regular checks. Your payroll department can tell you which applies.
What it means for hourly workers
Biweekly periods line up with workweeks: every paycheck covers exactly two full weeks. That matters for overtime, which federal law calculates per workweek (hours over 40 in a week), not per pay period.
Semimonthly periods cut through weeks. A workweek that straddles the 15th has its hours split across two paychecks, so overtime earned late in one period can show up in the next check. It's legal, but it makes paychecks harder to check. The Time Duration Calculator helps you total your hours for each week.
Which is better?
Neither pays more over a year. It comes down to how you budget:
- Biweekly is predictable (always the same weekday) and gives you two extra checks a year. It suits people who save the third checks.
- Semimonthly lines up with monthly bills. If rent is due on the 1st, the check on the last day of the month covers it every time.
You usually don't get to choose; employers pick one schedule for everyone. But knowing how yours works makes it much easier to plan.
Convert your own pay
The Hourly to Salary Calculator converts between hourly, weekly, biweekly, semimonthly, monthly and yearly pay. If you're paid by the hour, see our hourly to salary chart for quick conversions.
Frequently asked questions
Is biweekly the same as twice a month?
How do I convert a biweekly paycheck to monthly income?
Do I earn more with biweekly pay?
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