For many employees, understanding how often they get paid is just as important as knowing how much they earn. A common payroll system used by businesses is the biweekly schedule, where workers receive a paycheck every two weeks. Knowing how many paychecks you receive in a year on a biweekly schedule helps with budgeting, saving, and planning for taxes or expenses. It’s a topic that affects millions of workers, yet many still find it confusing.
What Does Biweekly Pay Mean?
Definition of Biweekly Pay
Biweekly pay means employees are paid once every two weeks, typically on the same day of the week, such as every other Friday. This results in 26 pay periods in a normal calendar year, though some years can include an extra paycheck due to how the calendar days fall.
Difference Between Biweekly and Other Pay Schedules
There are several payroll schedules employers may use:
- Weekly: Employees are paid once per week, resulting in 52 paychecks per year.
- Semi-monthly: Employees are paid twice a month, typically on the 15th and last day, totaling 24 paychecks per year.
- Monthly: Employees receive one paycheck each month, totaling 12 in a year.
Biweekly pay provides a balance between frequent pay and manageable payroll processing for employers.
How Many Paychecks in a Year Biweekly?
Standard Year
In most cases, employees who are paid biweekly will receive 26 paychecks in a single calendar year. This is because there are 52 weeks in a year, and a biweekly schedule includes a paycheck every 2 weeks (52 ÷ 2 = 26).
Leap Years and Extra Paycheck
Some years may contain 27 biweekly pay periods. This can happen when January 1 falls on the same day of the week as December 31, resulting in one extra paycheck during the year. This is often referred to as a ‘payroll leap year.’
How to Know If You’ll Get 27 Paychecks
To determine whether you’ll receive 27 paychecks in a particular year, check the day of your first paycheck and track whether there are 27 occurrences of that day over the calendar year. For example, if your first biweekly paycheck is on a Friday, and there are 27 Fridays in that year spaced two weeks apart, you’ll get 27 checks.
Impact on Salary and Budgeting
Salary Employees on Biweekly Pay
For salaried employees, the annual salary is divided by the number of pay periods. In a 26-paycheck year, your annual salary is divided by 26. If there’s a 27th paycheck, the company usually adjusts the amount per check or provides the extra paycheck depending on their payroll policy.
Hourly Employees on Biweekly Pay
Hourly workers are paid based on hours worked during the two-week period. If they work overtime or miss hours, their biweekly paycheck may vary. However, the structure of 26 or 27 paychecks remains the same.
Budgeting With Biweekly Pay
One of the key benefits of biweekly pay is the occasional extra paycheck. Most months will include two paychecks, but two months out of the year will typically include a third. If budgeted properly, this can be an excellent opportunity to save or pay down debt.
- Use regular months to cover fixed expenses (rent, utilities, groceries).
- Save the third paycheck for emergencies or big purchases.
- Plan ahead for months with three pay periods so that you don’t rely on them for regular expenses.
Advantages of Biweekly Pay
More Frequent Payments
Receiving a paycheck every two weeks means employees don’t have to wait too long between payments. This can help with cash flow and managing living expenses.
Easier Overtime Calculations
For hourly employees, a biweekly schedule simplifies tracking overtime because each pay period includes a consistent number of workdays.
Extra Paychecks in Some Years
The chance to receive 27 paychecks in a year is a financial bonus, especially for those who plan and save wisely. It’s a simple way to create a buffer without changing your salary.
Challenges of Biweekly Pay
Budget Adjustments
Since most bills are monthly, budgeting biweekly income can take some practice. You may need to adjust your financial tracking to align with paycheck dates.
Irregular Third Paycheck Months
It may be tempting to treat third-paycheck months as bonus money, but failing to budget it properly can lead to overspending or missed financial goals.
Employer Considerations
Payroll Processing
Employers often prefer biweekly schedules because it reduces payroll processing costs compared to weekly pay while still offering relatively frequent income for employees.
Communicating Pay Schedules
It’s essential that employers clearly communicate whether their company follows a 26- or 27-paycheck model and how that affects benefits, taxes, and deductions.
Benefit Deductions
In a 27-paycheck year, employers must decide how to handle benefit deductions. Some choose to keep deductions the same, resulting in a lower deduction for each check, while others skip one paycheck’s deductions entirely.
How to Plan Financially With Biweekly Pay
Set Up a Biweekly Budget
Rather than budgeting monthly, consider creating a biweekly budget. This means planning your spending around when you actually receive your income.
- Divide bills between the two pay periods each month.
- Automate savings from each paycheck.
- Use the third paycheck months to make larger payments.
Track Pay Periods and Dates
Mark your pay dates on a calendar. This helps with planning expenses and ensures you don’t miss due dates because you thought a paycheck would arrive earlier.
Use Financial Apps
Many budgeting apps allow you to set biweekly pay schedules. These tools can help you track spending, forecast your cash flow, and save consistently.
Receiving paychecks on a biweekly basis means most workers will get 26 paychecks in a standard year, and occasionally 27 in certain calendar years. This pay schedule is common in many industries and offers a balance between frequent income and manageable payroll processing. Understanding how many paychecks to expect in a year biweekly helps individuals better plan their budgets, manage expenses, and take advantage of the months where an extra paycheck appears. Whether you’re a salaried employee or an hourly worker, aligning your financial planning with your pay cycle is key to maintaining financial stability and meeting long-term goals.