Biweekly vs semimonthly pay
Both mean getting paid about twice a month, but they're not the same: one gives you 26 paychecks a year and the other 24. Here's what changes for your paycheck, your budget and your overtime.
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The short answer
| Biweekly | Semimonthly | |
|---|---|---|
| How often | Every two weeks, on the same weekday | Twice a month, on set dates (often the 15th and the last day) |
| Paychecks a year | 26 (occasionally 27) | 24 |
| Hours in a full-time period | 80 | 86.67 on average (varies) |
| Paycheck on a $52,000 salary | $2,000.00 | $2,166.67 |
| Months with three paychecks | Usually two a year | Never |
Biweekly is the most common pay schedule in the United States, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, especially for hourly workers. Semimonthly is common for salaried employees.
Paycheck size
For the same yearly pay, each semimonthly paycheck is bigger, because the year is split into 24 instead of 26. Neither pays more over the year.
The "extra" paychecks
Because 26 biweekly paydays don't fit evenly into 12 months, two months a year usually have three paydays. Budgeting around two paychecks a month makes those third checks feel like a bonus. Every so often — roughly once every 11 years, depending on the payday — a calendar year has 27 biweekly paydays, which matters for salaried employees whose salary is split into 26 parts.
Overtime is different with semimonthly pay
Overtime is counted per workweek, not per pay period. A biweekly period always holds exactly two workweeks, so it's easy: work out each week, then add them. A semimonthly period runs on calendar dates, so its edges often fall in the middle of a workweek. The overtime for a workweek that's split between two paychecks is often paid on the second paycheck, once the whole week is known.
Example: hourly, paid semimonthly, workweek Monday to Sunday
- The pay period ends on Tuesday the 15th. You worked 16 hours on Monday and Tuesday.
- You work 30 more hours Wednesday to Sunday: 46 hours that workweek.
- The 6 hours of overtime belong to that workweek and are usually paid on the paycheck for the 16th to the end of the month.
Use the biweekly time card calculator for two workweeks, or the weekly time card calculator week by week for semimonthly pay.
Which is better?
- Biweekly pays on a predictable weekday and gives two three-paycheck months a year. It suits hourly pay because each period is exactly two workweeks.
- Semimonthly lines up with monthly bills like rent and has bigger paychecks, but paydays move to a different weekday each month and periods vary in length.
Employers usually choose the schedule, within state laws that set a minimum pay frequency.
Frequently asked questions
How many hours are in a biweekly pay period?
80 hours for a full-time 40-hour schedule.
Is biweekly the same as twice a month?
No. Biweekly is every two weeks (26 times a year); twice a month is semimonthly (24 times a year).
How do I convert a biweekly paycheck to a yearly salary?
Multiply by 26: $1,800 every two weeks is $46,800 a year. For semimonthly, multiply by 24.
Sources
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics — length of pay periods.
- U.S. Department of Labor, Fact Sheet #23 (overtime per workweek).