How many pay periods are in a year?
26 biweekly
Weekly 52 · twice a month 24 · monthly 12 · 2027: 26 or 27 biweekly Fridays
Pay periods by pay frequency
| Paid | Periods | Hours | On $60,000 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Weekly | 52 or 53 | 40 | $1,153.85 |
| Every 2 weeks | 26 or 27 | 80 | $2,307.69 |
| Twice a month | 24 | 86.7 | $2,500.00 |
| Monthly | 12 | 173.3 | $5,000.00 |
Biweekly Friday paydays, 2026 to 2035
| Year | First payday | Paydays | 3-paycheck months |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | Jan 2 | 26 | Jan, Jul |
| 2026 | Jan 9 | 26 | May, Oct |
| 2027 | Jan 1 | 27 | Jan, Jul, Dec |
| 2027 | Jan 8 | 26 | Apr, Oct |
| 2028 | Jan 7 | 26 | Mar, Sep |
| 2028 | Jan 14 | 26 | Jun, Dec |
| 2029 | Jan 5 | 26 | Mar, Aug |
| 2029 | Jan 12 | 26 | Jun, Nov |
| 2030 | Jan 4 | 26 | Mar, Aug |
| 2030 | Jan 11 | 26 | May, Nov |
| 2031 | Jan 3 | 26 | Jan, Aug |
| 2031 | Jan 10 | 26 | May, Oct |
| 2032 | Jan 2 | 27 | Jan, Jul, Dec |
| 2032 | Jan 9 | 26 | Apr, Oct |
| 2033 | Jan 7 | 26 | Apr, Sep |
| 2033 | Jan 14 | 26 | Jul, Dec |
| 2034 | Jan 6 | 26 | Mar, Sep |
| 2034 | Jan 13 | 26 | Jun, Dec |
| 2035 | Jan 5 | 26 | Mar, Aug |
| 2035 | Jan 12 | 26 | Jun, Nov |
Why some years have 27 paychecks
- A year is 52 weeks and 1 day, or 2 in a leap year.
- Every two weeks, 26 paydays cover 364 days, so each payday comes 1 or 2 days earlier the next year.
- When the first payday falls on January 1, or January 2 in a leap year, the 27th lands on December 31 at the latest.
Next: how many weeks are in a year and how many working hours are in a year.
Frequently asked questions
How many pay periods are in a year?
52 if you are paid weekly, 26 every two weeks, 24 twice a month and 12 monthly. Weekly and biweekly schedules gain one extra payday in some years, because a year is 52 weeks and 1 or 2 days.
How many biweekly pay periods are in 2027?
It depends on the first payday. Paid on Fridays starting Jan 1, 2027, you get 27 paychecks; starting Jan 8, you get 26.
Which months have 3 paychecks?
With biweekly Friday paydays in 2027: Jan, Jul, Dec on the schedule starting Jan 1, Apr, Oct on the one starting Jan 8. Every other month has 2.
When is the next year with 27 biweekly paydays?
For Friday paydays that start on the first Friday of January: 2032, with a first payday on Jan 2. A schedule drifts 1.24 days a year on average (365.2425 − 364), so it gets 27 paydays about every 11 years (14 ÷ 1.24).
How much is each paycheck?
Divide the annual salary by the pay periods. $60,000 a year is $2,307.69 gross every two weeks, or $2,500.00 twice a month. In a 27-payday year, employers either pay $2,307.69 27 times or spread the salary over 27 checks; your employer's policy decides.