Pay period calculator
Pick a pay frequency and the first day of a period. Get the start and end dates of the periods that follow.
This calculator needs JavaScript. Weekly: 7-day periods, 52 a year. Biweekly: 14-day periods, 26 a year. Semi-monthly: the 1st–15th and 16th–end of month, 24 a year. Monthly: 12 a year.
Pay periods per year
| Frequency | Periods a year | Typical hours at 40/week |
|---|---|---|
| Weekly | 52 | 40 |
| Biweekly | 26 | 80 |
| Semi-monthly | 24 | 86.67 |
| Monthly | 12 | 173.33 |
Some years have 53 weekly or 27 biweekly paydays, depending on the calendar.
Terms used: pay period, biweekly, semi-monthly, workweek.
Questions
Is a pay period the same as a workweek?
No. Overtime is counted per workweek, a fixed 7-day period. A biweekly pay period holds two workweeks, each counted on its own.
What is the difference between biweekly and semi-monthly?
Biweekly is every 14 days (26 a year). Semi-monthly is twice a month on set dates (24 a year).
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