26 pay periods versus 24
Biweekly vs Semi-Monthly Pay: What's the Difference?
Compare two common pay schedules and understand why the cheque amount, payday pattern and occasional extra-pay-month differ.
Key point
Biweekly pay normally creates 26 pay periods in a 52-week year, while semi-monthly pay creates 24 fixed periods. Equal annual salary can therefore produce different gross amounts per cheque.
- Biweekly: every 14 days, usually 26 cheques.
- Semi-monthly: usually two fixed dates per month, 24 cheques.
- Hourly timesheets and overtime still follow the legal workweek, not the payroll frequency.
Gross pay per period
For a $60,000 annual salary, a simple biweekly amount is $60,000 ÷ 26 = $2,307.69, while a semi-monthly amount is $60,000 ÷ 24 = $2,500.00. Both reconcile to the same annual base before adjustments.
Calendar effects
Biweekly schedules can create three-paycheque months. Semi-monthly paydays can land on weekends or holidays and may be moved under payroll policy. A leap year does not change the basic 24 versus 26 distinction.
Hourly work and overtime
Do not divide a pay period’s total hours by two and assume each week is equal. Keep daily and weekly records because statutory overtime thresholds are tied to workdays or workweeks.
Related WageWise resources
Frequently Asked Questions
How many pay periods are in a biweekly vs semi-monthly pay schedule?
A biweekly pay schedule has 26 pay periods per year (paid every two weeks on a specific day like Friday). A semi-monthly schedule has exactly 24 pay periods per year (paid twice a month on fixed dates like the 15th and last day of the month).
Official sources
Rules can change and special occupations, agreements or facts can alter the result. Confirm the current official rule for the jurisdiction where the work is performed.