California Biweekly Pay Calculator

Calculate your bi-weekly paycheck from annual salary or hourly wages. Perfect for employees paid every two weeks with 26 pay periods per year.

Calculate Biweekly Pay Pay Schedules

Biweekly Pay Calculator

Enter your salary or hourly wage to calculate bi-weekly pay

Pay Schedule Comparison (2025)

Biweekly Pay Schedule

Pay Frequency

Employees are paid every two weeks

Pay Periods: 26 per year
Frequency: Every 14 days
Common Days: Friday or Thursday
Advantages

Benefits of biweekly pay for employees

Budgeting: Easier monthly planning
Extra Paychecks: 2 months with 3 paychecks
Consistency: Same day every 2 weeks

Other Pay Schedules

Weekly (52 pay periods)

Paid every week, most frequent schedule

Pros: Frequent cash flow
Cons: Higher payroll costs
Common in: Hourly positions
Semi-monthly (24 pay periods)

Paid twice per month, usually 15th and last day

Pros: Aligns with monthly bills
Cons: Varying days between pays
Common in: Salaried positions
Monthly (12 pay periods)

Paid once per month, least common schedule

Pros: Lowest payroll costs
Cons: Difficult budgeting
Common in: Executive positions

Biweekly Benefits

For Employees

Why biweekly pay is popular with workers

Cash Flow: Regular income every 2 weeks
Bonus Months: 2 extra paychecks per year
Budgeting: Easier than weekly
For Employers

Business advantages of biweekly payroll

Cost Efficiency: Lower than weekly payroll
Overtime Tracking: Easier 2-week periods
Employee Satisfaction: Popular schedule choice

California Requirements

Legal Requirements

California payroll frequency laws

Minimum Frequency: Semi-monthly for salary
Hourly Workers: Weekly or biweekly
Final Pay: Immediately upon termination
Overtime Calculations

How biweekly affects overtime pay

Daily OT: Over 8 hours per day
Weekly OT: Over 40 hours per week
Calculation: Per workweek, not pay period

Biweekly Pay Examples

Salary Employee Example

Position: Office Manager

Annual Salary: $52,000

Pay Schedule: Biweekly (26 periods)

Biweekly Calculation:
Annual Salary: $52,000
Pay Periods per Year: 26 periods
Biweekly Gross Pay: $52,000 ÷ 26 = $2,000.00
Biweekly Paycheck: $2,000.00

Hourly Employee Example

Position: Customer Service Rep

Hourly Rate: $22.00/hour

Hours: 40 hours per week

Biweekly Calculation:
Hourly Rate: $22.00/hour
Hours per Biweekly Period: 40 × 2 = 80 hours
Biweekly Gross Pay: 80 × $22.00 = $1,760.00
Biweekly Paycheck: $1,760.00

Hourly with Overtime Example

Position: Warehouse Worker

Hourly Rate: $18.50/hour

Hours: 45 hours per week (5 OT)

Biweekly with Overtime:
Regular Hours (80): 80 × $18.50 = $1,480.00
Overtime Hours (10 @ 1.5x): 10 × $27.75 = $277.50
Total Biweekly Gross: $1,480.00 + $277.50 = $1,757.50
Biweekly Paycheck: $1,757.50

Part-Time Employee Example

Position: Part-Time Cashier

Hourly Rate: $17.00/hour

Hours: 25 hours per week

Part-Time Biweekly:
Hourly Rate: $17.00/hour
Hours per Biweekly Period: 25 × 2 = 50 hours
Biweekly Gross Pay: 50 × $17.00 = $850.00
Biweekly Paycheck: $850.00

Biweekly Pay Insights

Extra Paycheck Months

With biweekly pay, you receive 26 paychecks per year instead of 24. This means two months will have three paychecks instead of two.

  • Most months: 2 paychecks
  • Two months: 3 paychecks each
  • Total annual: 26 paychecks
  • Great for saving or debt payment
Budgeting Strategy

Use the "extra" paychecks strategically for financial goals since your monthly expenses are covered by two paychecks.

  • Budget based on 2 paychecks per month
  • Use 3rd paycheck for savings
  • Pay down debt with extra income
  • Build emergency fund faster
Pay Date Consistency

Biweekly pay provides consistent timing, making it easier to plan finances compared to semi-monthly schedules.

  • Same day every two weeks
  • Predictable pay dates
  • Easier than varying semi-monthly dates
  • Better for automatic bill payments
Annual Income Planning

Calculate your true annual income by multiplying your biweekly pay by 26, not 24.

  • Biweekly pay × 26 = Annual income
  • Don't use monthly × 12 calculation
  • Account for overtime variations
  • Plan for irregular pay months

Frequently Asked Questions About Biweekly Pay

You receive 26 biweekly paychecks per year. This means most months you get 2 paychecks, but twice a year you'll receive 3 paychecks in a single month, which can help with budgeting and savings goals.

Divide your annual salary by 26 pay periods. For example, $52,000 ÷ 26 = $2,000 per biweekly paycheck. This is your gross pay before taxes and deductions.

Biweekly pay offers more consistent timing (every 14 days) and gives you 2 extra paychecks per year compared to semi-monthly. However, semi-monthly aligns better with monthly bills since you're paid twice per month.

Overtime is calculated per workweek, not per pay period. In California, you earn 1.5x pay for hours over 8 per day or 40 per week, regardless of your pay schedule being biweekly.

Important Biweekly Pay Disclaimer

This calculator provides gross pay estimates based on standard biweekly calculations. Actual paychecks will be lower due to taxes, deductions, and benefits. Overtime calculations follow California labor laws requiring 1.5x pay for hours over 8 per day or 40 per week. Pay dates may vary due to holidays and company policies. Always verify calculations with your HR department and consider all deductions when budgeting.