There are usually two biweekly paychecks in one month, as this schedule typically results in 26 pay periods per year (26 checks ÷ ÷ 12 months = 2.16). Because a year has 52 weeks and not 48, two months per year will have three paychecks instead of two.
Biweekly pay means employees are paid every two weeks (26 times a year), while semimonthly pay occurs twice a month (24 times a year). Semimonthly pay can reduce payroll processing costs but may require more complex calculations. Biweekly pay offers more consistent payday scheduling.
If your first paycheck of 2023 was Friday, Jan. 13: Your three-paycheck months are June and December. If your first paycheck of 2024 is Friday, Jan. 5: Your three-paycheck months are March and August.
A weekly pay period pays employees once a week, so they receive 52 paychecks in a year. With bi-weekly pay periods, employees are paid every other week, typically every 14 days, and receive 26 paychecks in a year.
Employees who get paid on a biweekly basis (every other week) can expect two months with a third paycheck in 2025. These months depend on when the first paycheck of the year is. In a 52-week year, employees who get paid biweekly usually receive two paychecks per month − 26 paychecks in total.
It truly feels like a bonus. (And those of you who are paid each Friday will get a fifth paycheck four times a year!) Getting three paychecks in one month creates a great opportunity for you to increase your savings, make a big dent in your debt, or open a new bank account with your extra funds.
Budgeting considerations
Pay periods impact your employees' budgeting habits and financial stability. Biweekly or semimonthly pay periods may balance regular income and budgeting, while monthly pay periods offer more money but require more careful planning.
If your first paycheck of 2026 arrived on Friday, Jan. 2, you will see an extra paycheck in January and July. If your first paycheck of 2026 arrives on Friday, Jan. 9, you will see an extra paycheck in May and October.
Companies handle 27 pay periods (occurring roughly every 11 years for bi-weekly pay) by either pro-rating salaries (smaller checks for 27 periods), giving an extra paycheck (larger checks), or adjusting benefit deductions, with the most common approach being dividing the annual salary by 27 to keep total yearly pay consistent, though this requires careful communication to avoid employee confusion. Other strategies include an off-cycle year-end check or switching to a different pay cycle like semi-monthly.
(NEXSTAR) – As if larger paychecks weren't enough, some workers will start 2026 with a three-paycheck January. Twice a year, those who are paid bi-weekly receive three checks in a month (if you're paid weekly, then you get five paychecks instead of four).
Weekly paychecks have been shown to lead to better overall job satisfaction and higher retention rates. If your employees are paid hourly, chances are they'll have a strong preference for weekly pay. Disadvantages of weekly pay periods: Processing payroll weekly can be much more time-consuming than other approaches.
Biweekly payments whittle down your balance quicker than monthly payments do and are one of the best strategies for a faster mortgage payoff. They also save you considerably on longer-term interest.
One of the most powerful uses of an extra paycheck is building your emergency savings. An emergency fund is money you set aside for true financial curveballs — job loss, car repairs, medical bills. Experts recommend having enough to cover three to six months of expenses.
However, in some years, there are 53 weeks. This occurs because the calendar year (365 days) is slightly longer than 52 weeks (364 days). To adjust for this discrepancy, a leap year is introduced every four years by adding an extra day to February (leap day), making that year 366 days long.
Planning Notes for 2025
For example, in a schedule where the first 2025 paycheck is January 3, January will have three paychecks. In a schedule where the first paycheck is January 10, May and October will have three paychecks.
If you start work in the middle of a pay period, your employer will usually pay you for the days you worked in that first partial period, often on the next payday, meaning you might wait longer for your first check; alternatively, they might combine your initial partial pay with your next full paycheck, resulting in a larger first check, but the key is to ask HR or your manager to understand your specific company's payroll cycle and policy for new hires.
Budgeting difficulties
Another disadvantage of being paid monthly is that it can be more difficult to budget. Employees may have to wait a full month before receiving another wage payment, making it difficult to manage expenses that occur throughout the month.
It can still be worth researching these careers further, though, as the average salaries appear to provide a substantial income.