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Biweekly Pay Calculator

Calculate your biweekly paycheck with tax deductions, FICA, and net pay. Convert hourly or salary to biweekly gross and take-home pay.

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Category Salary & HR
Income Details
$
Your gross hourly wage before taxes
$
Your gross annual salary before taxes
hrs
Standard full-time is 40 hours
Tax Information
%
Enter 0 for no state income tax
$
Health insurance, 401k, etc.
Quick presets:

Enter your pay details and click Calculate to see your biweekly breakdown

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About

Miscalculating biweekly pay leads to budget shortfalls, incorrect tax withholdings, and IRS penalties. A biweekly pay period spans 14 calendar days, producing 26 paychecks annually - not 24. This distinction matters: employees paid biweekly receive two "extra" paychecks per year compared to semi-monthly schedules, affecting annual gross by approximately 8.3%. This calculator applies 2024 U.S. Federal tax brackets, FICA contributions (Social Security at 6.2% up to $168,600, Medicare at 1.45%), and configurable state tax rates to derive accurate net pay.

The tool handles both hourly-to-biweekly conversions and salary-to-biweekly breakdowns. Standard assumptions include 2080 annual work hours (40 hrs/week × 52 weeks). Overtime, bonuses, and pre-tax deductions (401k, health insurance) require manual adjustment to the gross figure. Note: state tax calculations use flat-rate approximations; consult your state's progressive brackets for precision.

biweekly pay paycheck calculator salary calculator take-home pay gross pay net pay FICA tax calculator

Formulas

The biweekly gross pay calculation converts hourly or annual compensation into the 26-period annual cycle:

Gbiweekly = R × H × 2

where Gbiweekly = biweekly gross pay, R = hourly rate ($), H = hours worked per week.

For salaried employees, the conversion from annual salary uses:

Gbiweekly = Sannual26

FICA contributions are computed as:

FICA = min(Gannual, $168,600) × 0.062 + Gannual × 0.0145

Federal tax applies progressively across brackets. For income I in bracket n with threshold Tn and rate rn:

Taxfederal = n∑i=1 (Ti − Ti−1) × ri

Net biweekly pay after all deductions:

Net = Gbiweekly − Taxfederal26 − Taxstate26 − FICA26 − D

where D = additional per-paycheck deductions (health insurance, 401k contributions, union dues).

Reference Data

Pay FrequencyPay Periods/YearMultiplier from BiweeklyTypical Industries
Weekly520.5×Construction, Hospitality
Biweekly261.0×Corporate, Government
Semi-Monthly241.083×Finance, Education
Monthly122.167×Executive, Consulting
2024 Federal Tax BracketSingle Filer IncomeMarried Filing JointlyMarginal Rate
Bracket 1$0 - $11,600$0 - $23,20010%
Bracket 2$11,601 - $47,150$23,201 - $94,30012%
Bracket 3$47,151 - $100,525$94,301 - $201,05022%
Bracket 4$100,526 - $191,950$201,051 - $383,90024%
Bracket 5$191,951 - $243,725$383,901 - $487,45032%
Bracket 6$243,726 - $609,350$487,451 - $731,20035%
Bracket 7> $609,350> $731,20037%
FICA ComponentRateWage Base Limit (2024)Notes
Social Security (OASDI)6.2%$168,600Employee portion; employer matches
Medicare (HI)1.45%No limitApplies to all wages
Additional Medicare0.9%> $200,000Single filers; $250,000 married joint
Total FICA (typical)7.65% - Combined SS + Medicare
StateFlat Income Tax RateStateFlat Income Tax Rate
Alaska0%Nevada0%
Florida0%New Hampshire0% (wages)
Texas0%Tennessee0%
Washington0%Wyoming0%
South Dakota0%Colorado4.4%
Illinois4.95%Indiana3.05%
Kentucky4.0%Massachusetts5.0%
Michigan4.25%North Carolina5.25%
Pennsylvania3.07%Utah4.65%
Arizona2.5%New Mexico4.9% (avg)

Frequently Asked Questions

Biweekly pay occurs every 14 days regardless of month length. Since 52 weeks ÷ 2 = 26, you receive 26 paychecks. Semi-monthly pay (twice per month) yields only 24 paychecks. This 8.33% difference affects budgeting: biweekly earners get two "extra" checks per year, typically in months with three pay periods.
In 2024, Social Security tax (6.2%) applies only to the first $168,600 of annual wages. Once your year-to-date earnings exceed this threshold, Social Security withholding stops, increasing your net pay for remaining paychecks. This calculator assumes even distribution; actual mid-year checks may vary after reaching the cap.
Use net pay (take-home) for expense budgeting since gross pay never reaches your bank account. However, use gross pay when comparing job offers, calculating debt-to-income ratios for mortgages, or determining retirement contribution percentages, as these typically reference pre-tax figures.
Pre-tax deductions reduce your taxable income before federal and state taxes are calculated. A $500 biweekly 401k contribution at a 22% marginal rate saves approximately $110 in federal taxes per paycheck. Enter your gross pay minus pre-tax deductions, or add the tax savings manually to your net result.
Common causes include: (1) W-4 allowances affecting withholding, (2) pre-tax deductions not entered, (3) progressive state taxes vs. this calculator's flat approximation, (4) local/city taxes, (5) year-to-date bracket changes, (6) employer benefits or garnishments. This tool provides estimates; consult your pay stub for exact figures.
Multiply biweekly pay by 26 (annual), then divide by 12 (months): Biweekly × 2.167 = Monthly equivalent. Do not simply multiply by 2, as this understates income by 8.33%. Landlords often prefer annual salary ÷ 12 or may request pay stubs from multiple periods.