Pay Frequency Converter
Convert any pay amount between hourly, daily, weekly, biweekly, semimonthly, monthly, and annual.
Assumes standard full-time schedule: 40 hours/week, 52 weeks/year, 260 workdays/year.
How it works
This tool converts between all standard US pay frequencies using annual equivalents.
Conversion factors (periods per year):
- Hourly: 2,080 (40 hrs × 52 weeks)
- Daily: 260 (5 days × 52 weeks)
- Weekly: 52
- Biweekly: 26
- Semimonthly: 24
- Monthly: 12
- Annual: 1
The tool first converts your input to an annual amount, then divides by each period's factor.
Example: Converting a $52,000 annual salary
Start with $52,000/year and convert to every pay frequency using the standard conversion factors.
- Monthly: $52,000 ÷ 12 = $4,333
- Semimonthly: $52,000 ÷ 24 = $2,167
- Biweekly: $52,000 ÷ 26 = $2,000
- Weekly: $52,000 ÷ 52 = $1,000
- Daily: $52,000 ÷ 260 = $200
- Hourly: $52,000 ÷ 2,080 = $25.00
Notice biweekly ($2,000) and semimonthly ($2,167) are not the same — biweekly uses 26 periods while semimonthly uses 24. This is the most common source of confusion when comparing pay frequencies.
Pay frequency conversion table
| Annual | Monthly | Semimonthly | Biweekly | Weekly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| $30,000 | $2,500 | $1,250 | $1,154 | $577 | $14.42 |
| $45,000 | $3,750 | $1,875 | $1,731 | $865 | $21.63 |
| $52,000 | $4,333 | $2,167 | $2,000 | $1,000 | $25.00 |
| $65,000 | $5,417 | $2,708 | $2,500 | $1,250 | $31.25 |
| $80,000 | $6,667 | $3,333 | $3,077 | $1,538 | $38.46 |
| $100,000 | $8,333 | $4,167 | $3,846 | $1,923 | $48.08 |
Based on 40 hours/week, 52 weeks/year, 260 workdays/year.
When to use this
Comparing job offers with different pay frequencies. One offer quotes $5,400/month, another quotes $2,450 biweekly. Which pays more? Convert both to annual: $5,400 × 12 = $64,800 vs. $2,450 × 26 = $63,700. The monthly offer pays $1,100 more per year.
Budgeting when switching from biweekly to semimonthly. If your new employer pays semimonthly instead of biweekly, your per-paycheck amount increases (24 checks vs. 26) but you lose the two "extra" paychecks per year. Your monthly budget stays the same — but the timing changes, so plan for fixed expenses that land between pay dates.
Understanding "extra" biweekly paychecks. On a biweekly schedule, 10 months have 2 paychecks and 2 months have 3. Those two extra paychecks are not bonus money — they are already part of your annual salary. But if you budget around 2 paychecks per month, the third paycheck in those months is effectively free to direct toward savings or debt.
FAQ
What is the difference between biweekly and semimonthly?
Biweekly = every 2 weeks (26 times/year). Semimonthly = twice per month (24 times/year). Biweekly gives 2 extra paychecks per year.
How do I convert biweekly to monthly?
Biweekly × 26 ÷ 12 = monthly. Don't multiply by 2 — that underestimates by ~8%.
How many work hours in a year?
2,080 standard (40 hours × 52 weeks). Some use 2,000 (accounting for 2 weeks vacation).
Does this account for taxes?
No. Use our Paycheck Estimator for after-tax calculations.
Why are there 26 biweekly pay periods, not 24?
There are 52 weeks in a year, and 52 / 2 = 26 biweekly periods. Semimonthly pay (twice per month) gives 24 periods. The difference means biweekly pay of $2,000 equals $52,000/year, while semimonthly pay of $2,000 equals only $48,000/year.
Related tools
- Salary to Hourly Calculator — convert annual salary to hourly rate
- Hourly to Salary Calculator — convert hourly rate to annual salary
- Paycheck Estimator — calculate take-home pay after taxes
- Pay Raise Calculator — see before/after pay for any raise
Conversions assume standard full-time hours. Adjust for your actual work schedule using our Salary to Hourly Calculator.