How many pay periods are in a year?
By Onoir Studio LimitedPublished Source links reviewed
The short answer depends on your cycle, and one of them has a wrinkle worth knowing about.
By pay frequency
| Frequency | Pay periods | $60,000 a year |
|---|---|---|
| Weekly | 52 | $1,153.85 |
| Biweekly | 26 | $2,307.69 |
| Semi-monthly | 24 | $2,500.00 |
| Monthly | 12 | $5,000.00 |
The 27-paycheck year
Twenty-six fourteen-day periods cover 364 days. A year is 365, or 366 in a leap year, so each year the cycle slips forward by a day or two. Do that for long enough and a 27th payday lands inside a calendar year.
For salaried staff, an employer may adjust the divisor or use another treatment permitted by the pay agreement and applicable law. For hourly workers, a 27th payday generally reflects when worked hours fall within the calendar rather than a fixed annual-salary divisor.
Why it matters for benefits
Per-paycheck deductions such as health premiums or fixed retirement contributions may be affected by a 27th payday. Treatment varies by employer and benefit plan, so check how payroll handles an additional payday.
Where this comes from
- IRS Publication 15-T, Federal Income Tax Withholding Methods (opens in a new tab)
- IRS Publication 15 (Circular E), Employer's Tax Guide (opens in a new tab)
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