Semi-Monthly Pay Calculator
Semi-monthly = twice a month on fixed dates = 24 checks, every year — each is salary ÷ 24. The checks are bigger than biweekly’s but there are two fewer, and there’s never a three-paycheck month.
Semi-monthly pay = salary ÷ 24. $60,000 → $2,500 on the 1st and 15th. Each period averages 86.67 work-hours — which is why hourly overtime never divides evenly into it.
- $45,000 semi-monthly$1,875.00
- $60,000 semi-monthly$2,500.00
- $90,000 semi-monthly$3,750.00
- Hours per period (FT avg)86.67
- Checks per year24 — always
Typical paydays: 1st & 15th, or 15th & last day; weekend paydays shift to the nearest business day.
Salary → semi-monthly checks
| Salary | Semi-monthly (÷24) | Biweekly (÷26) | Difference per check |
|---|---|---|---|
| $40,000 | $1,666.67 | $1,538.46 | +$128.21 |
| $50,000 | $2,083.33 | $1,923.08 | +$160.26 |
| $60,000 | $2,500.00 | $2,307.69 | +$192.31 |
| $75,000 | $3,125.00 | $2,884.62 | +$240.38 |
| $90,000 | $3,750.00 | $3,461.54 | +$288.46 |
| $120,000 | $5,000.00 | $4,615.38 | +$384.62 |
Semi-monthly wins on budgeting simplicity (paydays match rent and bill cycles) and loses on overtime cleanliness — a “half month” is 86.67 hours on average but 80–96 in practice, so hourly and OT-heavy workplaces run biweekly instead. That’s the entire difference; the annual money is identical.
Frequently asked questions
How much is $60,000 semi-monthly?
$2,500 per check — salary ÷ 24. The same salary biweekly is $2,307.69 (÷26).
Is semi-monthly the same as biweekly?
No. Semi-monthly = fixed dates, 24 checks. Biweekly = every 14 days, 26 checks. Semi-monthly checks are about 8.3% larger; annual pay is the same.
How many hours is a semi-monthly pay period?
86.67 on average for full-time (2,080 ÷ 24), but actual periods range roughly 80–96 hours — which is why overtime is computed by workweek, never by pay period.
When do semi-monthly employees get paid?
Most commonly the 1st and 15th, or the 15th and last day of the month, shifting to the prior business day when those land on weekends or holidays.
Sources & methodology
Sources: NumberBench methodology.
Results update as you type; general estimates, not financial or tax advice.