How Many Pay Periods Are in a Year?
This article breaks down the different types of payroll schedules employers use and how that impacts the total number of pay periods that occur in a year.
Pay periods are a defined amount of time for which an employee will receive a paycheck. Pay periods determine:
- The frequency and schedule by which employers run their payroll and pay their employees.
- The frequency and number of paychecks received by employees in a month.
- The amount deducted from each paycheck to pay for benefits.
Common payroll periods include:
- Semi-Monthly
Twice a month on two specific days of the month, e.g. 15th and 30th.
Employees will have 24 pay periods in a year. - Bi-Weekly
Every two weeks on a specific day of the week, e.g. every other Friday.
Employees will have 26 pay periods in a year. - Weekly
Once a week on a specific day of the week, e.g. each Friday.
Employees will have 52 pay periods in a year. - Monthly
Once a month on a specific date, e.g. 30th.
Employees will have 12 pay periods in a year.
Final Tips
The most common payroll period schedules are semi-monthly, bi-weekly, and weekly. Be sure to check with your state laws because they may require a minimum pay period. It’s also worth noting and communicating what goes into an employee paystub.
This article was published on September 1, 2015 and updated on October 10, 2018.
