Pay Period

A pay period is the stretch of time one paycheck covers. The four common schedules are weekly (52 paychecks a year), every two weeks (26), twice a month (24) and monthly (12).

Per-check amounts depend on it. A $60,000 salary is $2,307.69 every two weeks and $2,500 twice a month. People paid every two weeks get two months a year with three paychecks. Federal overtime is counted per workweek, even on a two-week schedule.

Withholding tables are set per pay period, so a single large check can be withheld as if you earned that much all year. See gross pay and why your paycheck is so low, and pick your schedule in the salary paycheck calculator.