Semi-monthly means 24 checks a year
Semi-monthly pay lands twice a month, usually on the 1st and 15th or the 15th and the last day. That is always 24 checks a year, so each gross check is your salary divided by 24. It never varies month to month, which is what makes budgeting easy.
Why it is not the same as biweekly
Biweekly pays every 14 days, so 26 times a year. Same yearly total, but each biweekly check is smaller — and two months a year you get a third one.
On a $60,000 salary, each semi-monthly check is $192.31 larger than a biweekly one — but biweekly adds two extra checks a year, so both total $60,000.
Annual salary to semi-monthly gross
| Annual | Per check | Per month |
|---|---|---|
| $40,000 | $1,666.67 | $3,333.34 |
| $50,000 | $2,083.33 | $4,166.67 |
| $60,000 | $2,500.00 | $5,000.00 |
| $75,000 | $3,125.00 | $6,250.00 |
| $100,000 | $4,166.67 | $8,333.34 |
These are gross figures. Federal, Social Security (6.2%), Medicare (1.45%) and state tax come out of each check before you see it.
Two things people get wrong
- Hours per period. It is 86.67, not 80. That is 40 × 52 ÷ 24. Using 80 undercounts a semi-monthly period by nearly seven hours.
- Overtime is still weekly. Federal rules count overtime past 40 hours in a week, even though the paycheck spans about 15 days.
Common questions
How do I work out my semi-monthly pay?
Divide your annual salary by 24, because semi-monthly means two paychecks every month. A $60,000 salary is $2,500 gross per check, or $5,000 a month.
Is semi-monthly the same as biweekly?
No. Semi-monthly pays 24 times a year (twice each month), while biweekly pays every 14 days for 26 checks a year. Same annual salary, but each biweekly check is smaller, and two months a year carry a third biweekly check.
How many hours are in a semi-monthly pay period?
For a 40-hour week it is 86.67 hours, found from 40 times 52 weeks divided by 24 periods. Do not use 80 hours — that only works for biweekly pay.
