How the biweekly paycheck calculator works
A biweekly paycheck is paid every two weeks, which gives 26 regular pay periods in a typical year. The IRS payroll tables in Publication 15-T include biweekly payroll as a 26-period schedule.
This calculator starts with your gross pay and estimates federal income tax, Social Security, Medicare, state and local taxes, and the deductions you enter. It shows what may reach your bank account from a normal biweekly paycheck.
Biweekly take-home pay by salary (2026)
Single filer, 2026 federal income tax and FICA only. State tax, local tax and benefit deductions are not included. To reproduce a row, choose "No state income tax", Single, and enter the salary above.
| Annual salary | Gross biweekly | Take-home biweekly | Federal + FICA rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| $30,000 | $1,153.85 | $1,010.96 | 12.4% |
| $35,000 | $1,346.15 | $1,165.48 | 13.4% |
| $40,000 | $1,538.46 | $1,320.00 | 14.2% |
| $45,000 | $1,730.77 | $1,474.52 | 14.8% |
| $50,000 | $1,923.08 | $1,629.04 | 15.3% |
| $55,000 | $2,115.38 | $1,783.56 | 15.7% |
| $60,000 | $2,307.69 | $1,938.08 | 16.0% |
| $65,000 | $2,500.00 | $2,092.60 | 16.3% |
| $70,000 | $2,692.31 | $2,233.65 | 17.0% |
| $75,000 | $2,884.62 | $2,368.94 | 17.9% |
| $80,000 | $3,076.92 | $2,504.23 | 18.6% |
| $90,000 | $3,461.54 | $2,774.81 | 19.8% |
| $100,000 | $3,846.15 | $3,045.38 | 20.8% |
| $120,000 | $4,615.38 | $3,586.54 | 22.3% |
How to calculate your biweekly paycheck: worked example
Here is the math for a $60,000 salary, single filer, no deductions and no state tax:
- Gross biweekly pay: $60,000 ÷ 26 = $2,307.69.
- Taxable income: $60,000 − $16,100 standard deduction = $43,900.
- Federal income tax: 10% of the first $12,400 ($1,240) plus 12% of the remaining $31,500 ($3,780) = $5,020 a year, or $193.08 per paycheck.
- FICA: 7.65% of $2,307.69 = $176.54 per paycheck (Social Security $143.08 plus Medicare $33.46).
- Take-home: $2,307.69 − $193.08 − $176.54 = $1,938.08 per biweekly paycheck.
Biweekly pay by hourly rate (80-hour pay period)
Single filer, 2,080 hours a year, federal income tax and FICA only.
| Hourly rate | Gross biweekly | Take-home biweekly | Annual gross |
|---|---|---|---|
| $15 an hour | $1,200.00 | $1,048.05 | $31,200 |
| $17 an hour | $1,360.00 | $1,176.61 | $35,360 |
| $18 an hour | $1,440.00 | $1,240.89 | $37,440 |
| $20 an hour | $1,600.00 | $1,369.45 | $41,600 |
| $22 an hour | $1,760.00 | $1,498.01 | $45,760 |
| $25 an hour | $2,000.00 | $1,690.85 | $52,000 |
| $30 an hour | $2,400.00 | $2,012.25 | $62,400 |
| $35 an hour | $2,800.00 | $2,309.42 | $72,800 |
| $40 an hour | $3,200.00 | $2,590.82 | $83,200 |
Working more or fewer hours? Use the hourly mode in the calculator, or the hourly paycheck calculator.
Convert a biweekly paycheck to annual, monthly and hourly pay
| Gross biweekly | Annual | Monthly | Hourly (80 hrs) |
|---|---|---|---|
| $1,200 | $31,200 | $2,600 | $15.00 |
| $1,500 | $39,000 | $3,250 | $18.75 |
| $2,000 | $52,000 | $4,333 | $25.00 |
| $2,500 | $65,000 | $5,417 | $31.25 |
| $3,000 | $78,000 | $6,500 | $37.50 |
| $4,000 | $104,000 | $8,667 | $50.00 |
Salary vs. hourly biweekly pay
| Pay type | Basic calculation | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Salary | Annual salary ÷ 26 | $78,000 ÷ 26 = $3,000 |
| Hourly | Hourly rate × hours × 52 ÷ 26 | $25 × 40 × 52 ÷ 26 = $2,000 |
What taxes reduce your paycheck?
Federal income tax withholding depends on your wages and the information on your Form W-4; the IRS explains the process in Publication 15. Social Security (6.2%, up to a $184,500 wage base in 2026) and Medicare (1.45%) are separate payroll taxes. Social Security wage limits are published by the Social Security Administration.
2026 federal tax assumptions
For 2026 this calculator uses a standard deduction of $16,100 for single filers, $24,150 for heads of household and $32,200 for married couples filing jointly, with seven marginal rates from 10% to 37% and a $2,200 credit per qualifying child. It annualizes your taxable wages, applies those brackets and divides the result across 26 paychecks. Health, HSA and FSA contributions also reduce your FICA wages.
3-paycheck month finder
With 26 paychecks and 12 months, two months a year usually have three. Enter any one of your paydays to see which months they are.
Which months have three biweekly paychecks in 2026?
It depends on which Friday, Thursday or other weekday you are paid, and which of the two possible every-other-week cycles you are on. Find your first 2026 payday below, or use the finder above for any date.
| Payday weekday | First payday in 2026 | Months with three paychecks |
|---|---|---|
| Monday | January 5 | March, August |
| Monday | January 12 | June, November |
| Tuesday | January 6 | March, September |
| Tuesday | January 13 | June, December |
| Wednesday | January 7 | April, September |
| Wednesday | January 14 | July, December |
| Thursday | January 1 | January, July, December (27 paychecks) |
| Thursday | January 8 | April, October |
| Friday | January 2 | January, July |
| Friday | January 9 | May, October |
2026 has 365 days, so a 27th paycheck only happens when a payday falls on both January 1 and December 31 (both Thursdays this year). Employers often move holiday paydays, so confirm with your payroll calendar.
Biweekly vs. weekly, semimonthly and monthly pay
| Schedule | Payments | Checks per year | Gross on $65,000 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Weekly | Every week | 52 | $1,250.00 |
| Biweekly | Every 2 weeks | 26 | $2,500.00 |
| Semimonthly | Twice per month | 24 | $2,708.33 |
| Monthly | Once per month | 12 | $5,416.67 |
Biweekly checks are smaller than semimonthly checks, but you receive 26 of them. In most years that means two months with three paychecks instead of two. Annual pay is the same either way. Compare schedules with the weekly and monthly paycheck calculators.
Why your biweekly paycheck may change
Your paycheck can change even when your salary stays the same. Common causes are changes to benefits, retirement contributions, tax withholding, overtime, bonuses and other payroll deductions. The IRS suggests checking your withholding with its Tax Withholding Estimator after major life or income changes.
Common mistakes when estimating biweekly take-home pay
- Dividing annual salary by 24 instead of 26.
- Treating a biweekly schedule as the same thing as semimonthly pay.
- Forgetting retirement or insurance deductions.
- Using an annual tax amount as if it were a single-paycheck deduction.
- Ignoring state or local income taxes.
- Assuming the estimate exactly matches an employer's payroll system.
Budgeting with a biweekly paycheck
Most bills are due monthly, but you are paid every two weeks. A simple approach is to build your monthly budget around two paychecks a month and treat the extra paychecks in three-paycheck months as bonus money. On a $2,368.94 take-home paycheck, those two extra checks add up to about $4,737.88 a year to put toward an emergency fund, debt or savings goals.
Need a starting framework? See the 50/30/20 rule, or read how to budget when living paycheck to paycheck. To understand the numbers on your pay stub, read gross pay vs. net pay and what take-home pay means.
Related paycheck calculators
- Paycheck Tax Calculator
- Take-Home Pay Calculator
- Hourly Paycheck Calculator
- Salary Paycheck Calculator
- Weekly Paycheck Calculator
- Monthly Paycheck Calculator
- Overtime Pay Calculator
State paycheck calculators
- California paycheck calculator
- New York paycheck calculator
- Virginia paycheck calculator
- Illinois paycheck calculator
- North Carolina paycheck calculator
- Washington paycheck calculator
- Maryland paycheck calculator
- Michigan paycheck calculator
- New Jersey paycheck calculator
- Oregon paycheck calculator
- Hawaii paycheck calculator
- Idaho paycheck calculator
Frequently asked questions
How many biweekly paychecks are there in a year?
Most years have 26 biweekly paychecks because employees are paid every two weeks. A 27th paycheck is possible when paydays land on the first and last days of a 365-day year. In 2026 that applies to a Thursday payday schedule that starts on January 1 and ends on December 31. Check your employer's pay calendar, or use the 3-paycheck month finder on this page.
How do I calculate biweekly pay from an annual salary?
Divide your annual gross salary by 26. For example, a $78,000 salary produces $3,000 in gross pay per regular biweekly paycheck before taxes and deductions.
How much is a $60,000 salary biweekly after taxes?
A $60,000 salary is about $2,307.69 gross per biweekly paycheck. After federal income tax and FICA for a single filer with no other deductions, take-home is roughly $1,938.08, before any state or local tax.
How much is a $75,000 salary biweekly after taxes?
A $75,000 salary is $2,884.62 gross per biweekly paycheck. After 2026 federal income tax and FICA for a single filer with no other deductions, take-home is roughly $2,368.94, before any state or local tax.
How much is $20 an hour biweekly?
At 80 hours in a two-week period, $20 an hour is $1,600 gross. After 2026 federal income tax and FICA for a single filer, take-home is roughly $1,369.45 per paycheck, before state or local tax.
Is biweekly the same as twice a month?
No. Biweekly means every two weeks and normally produces 26 paychecks a year. Semimonthly means twice a month, usually on set dates, and produces 24. On a $65,000 salary, a biweekly check is $2,500 gross and a semimonthly check is $2,708.33 gross.
Which months have three biweekly paychecks?
Two months a year usually have three paychecks, depending on your payday. If you are paid every other Friday and your first 2026 payday was January 2, they are January and July. If your first 2026 Friday payday was January 9, they are May and October. Enter one of your paydays in the finder on this page to see yours.
How do I calculate biweekly pay from an hourly rate?
Multiply your hourly rate by the hours worked in the two-week period. For a standard 80-hour period, $25 an hour is $2,000 gross. Add overtime hours at 1.5 times your rate where they apply.
How should I budget monthly bills on a biweekly paycheck?
Many people plan bills around two paychecks a month and treat the extra paychecks in three-paycheck months as savings or debt payments. This keeps your monthly budget the same every month.
Does this calculator include state tax?
Yes, it uses simplified average effective state rates for planning, plus any local tax rate you enter. Real state withholding uses brackets, deductions and credits, so use your pay stub or your state's calculator for exact figures.
Why does my actual paycheck differ from the calculator?
Payroll withholding depends on your Form W-4, benefits, deductions, payroll system, state and local rules and other circumstances. Withholding is an estimate of your tax, not your final tax bill.