Semimonthly Pay Calculator
Figure out your twice-a-month paycheck. Turn hours into gross pay for a semimonthly period, or split an annual salary into 24 paychecks.
Hourly: hours this pay period
Salaried: paycheck from annual salary
Semimonthly = 24 paychecks per year (twice a month). Gross amounts, before taxes and deductions. General information, not payroll advice.
Semimonthly vs biweekly — the key difference
These two are constantly confused. Semimonthly pays twice a month on fixed dates (like the 1st and 15th) for 24 paychecks a year. Biweekly pays every two weeks on a set weekday for 26 paychecks a year (sometimes 27). Same annual pay, different paycheck size and timing: biweekly checks are smaller and land on a weekday; semimonthly checks are larger and land on calendar dates.
Hours in a semimonthly period
A full-time year is about 2,080 hours; divided by 24 pay periods that is roughly 86.67 hours per paycheck on average. The real number changes each period because months have different working days, so hourly employees should total their actual hours.
Frequently asked questions
What does semimonthly pay mean?
Semimonthly means you are paid twice a month — typically on the 1st and 15th, or the 15th and last day. That is 24 paychecks per year. A salaried worker simply divides their annual salary by 24 to get each gross paycheck.
Is semimonthly the same as biweekly?
No — this is the most common mix-up. Semimonthly is twice a month = 24 paychecks a year. Biweekly is every two weeks = 26 paychecks a year (and occasionally 27). Biweekly paychecks are smaller but more frequent; semimonthly paychecks land on fixed calendar dates.
How many work hours are in a semimonthly pay period?
On average about 86.67 hours (2,080 full-time hours per year ÷ 24 pay periods). The exact hours vary by pay period because months have different numbers of working days — so hourly workers should total their actual hours rather than assume a fixed number.
How do I calculate semimonthly pay from an hourly rate?
Multiply your hourly rate by the actual hours worked in that pay period. For example, $20/hr × 86.67 hours = $1,733.40 gross for that paycheck. Enter your numbers above.
Related tools
Time Card Calculator · Hours Calculator · Overtime Calculator
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