Biweekly vs Semi-Monthly Pay: 26 vs 24 Paychecks
Compare biweekly vs semi-monthly pay, paycheck frequency, pay periods per year and how each schedule affects the size of each paycheck.
Biweekly and semi-monthly payroll sound similar, but they create different paycheck schedules. The key difference is simple: biweekly pay is usually every two weeks, while semi-monthly pay is usually twice each calendar month.
How many paychecks do you get?
| Pay frequency | Typical paychecks per year |
|---|---|
| Weekly | 52 |
| Biweekly | 26 |
| Semi-monthly | 24 |
| Monthly | 12 |
Because biweekly payroll usually has 26 checks, some calendar months contain three paydays. Semi-monthly payroll usually pays on two fixed dates each month, creating 24 checks.
Which paycheck is larger?
For the same annual salary, a semi-monthly gross paycheck is normally larger because the annual salary is divided across 24 checks instead of 26. That does not mean the annual salary is higher.
Example with a $78,000 salary
Before taxes, $78,000 divided by 26 is $3,000 per biweekly paycheck. The same salary divided by 24 is $3,250 per semi-monthly paycheck. Withholding is then calculated using the applicable payroll method for the pay period.
Does pay frequency change annual taxes?
Pay frequency changes withholding calculations and the amount of each check, but annual tax liability depends on annual taxable income and the tax rules that apply to you. Withholding is a prepayment estimate rather than the final tax return result.
Compare your own pay schedule
Our paycheck calculator lets you switch between weekly, biweekly, semi-monthly and monthly pay to see how paycheck size changes. For gross salary conversions, use the salary to hourly calculator.