Formula
Biweekly gross = annual salary ÷ 26. Semimonthly gross = annual salary ÷ 24. A 27-payday biweekly calendar divides the selected annual salary by 27 only when payroll actually reallocates the salary that way.
Payroll comparison
Biweekly vs. Semimonthly Pay Calculator
Compare gross paycheck amounts for 26 biweekly versus 24 semimonthly pay periods using the same annual salary.
Worked example
A $62,400 salary produces a normal gross of $2,400 biweekly or $2,600 semimonthly. The $200 difference per regular check does not change the annual gross.
What the comparison tells you
Biweekly pay repeats every 14 days and normally creates 26 checks. Semimonthly pay posts twice per month and creates 24. The semimonthly amount is larger because the same annual salary is split fewer ways, while biweekly pay can produce two months with a third check.
What this calculator does not estimate
It does not calculate withholding, overtime, unpaid time, benefit deductions or a net paycheck. It also does not decide how an employer handles a 27-payday year. Use the payroll agreement and actual period records for those questions.
Frequently asked questions
Why is semimonthly pay higher than biweekly pay?
The same annual salary is divided by 24 instead of 26, so each regular semimonthly check is larger.
Does biweekly pay mean twice a month?
No. It means every 14 days. Most months contain two checks, but two months in a typical 26-paycheck year contain three.
How many hours are in a semimonthly pay period?
For salary comparison, 2,080 annual hours divided by 24 averages 86.67 hours. Actual hourly timecards vary with the calendar and should use the period's real payable hours.
Will annual salary change when pay frequency changes?
Not from frequency alone. The regular check amount changes because the same annual figure is divided into a different number of payments.
Generate the dates
Compare the amounts here, then generate the real paydays and find extra-paycheck months.
Use the Pay Date Calendar