Your pay schedule sets how many paychecks you get, how big each one is and which months bring an extra check. Each guide here answers a different version of that question, so start with the one that matches what you need to know.
Which pay schedule guide should you read?
| Your question | Best page | What you get |
|---|---|---|
| Is biweekly or semi-monthly pay better? | Biweekly vs semi-monthly pay compared | Weekly, biweekly, semi-monthly and monthly pay side by side, with a $52,000 salary worked through each schedule |
| What does semi-monthly mean on my offer letter? | What semi-monthly pay means | Common pay dates, weekend and holiday paydays, and how hourly workers are paid twice a month |
| How many paychecks will I get this year? | How many pay periods are in a year | A pay period counter that lists every payday and flags 3-paycheck months |
How are biweekly and semi-monthly pay different?
Biweekly pay arrives every other week on the same weekday, which works out to 26 paychecks in most years. Semi-monthly pay arrives on two fixed dates each month, such as the 15th and the last day, for 24 paychecks a year. Your yearly pay is the same either way. What changes is the size of each check and the day it lands.
If you are comparing two job offers or choosing a schedule for a small business, start with the biweekly vs semi-monthly comparison, which also covers how overtime works on each schedule. If you only need the definition and sample pay dates, the semi-monthly pay explainer is more focused and shows how to convert a semi-monthly check to hourly or yearly pay.
When do you get 27 paychecks or a 3-paycheck month?
On biweekly pay, 26 paydays spread across 12 months means two months a year bring a third check. About once every 11 or 12 years, a biweekly schedule also picks up a 27th payday, when its first payday falls on January 1. In 2026 that happens to Thursday paydays. Holiday rules can move the extra check, so enter your own payday in the biweekly pay period counter to see the exact dates.
Once you know your schedule, the paycheck calculator estimates take-home pay per check for weekly, biweekly, semi-monthly or monthly pay.