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Pay Period

By , About.com Guide

A pay period is a recurring length of time over which employee time is recorded and paid. Examples of pay periods are: weekly, bi-weekly, semi-monthly, and monthly.

  • A weekly pay period results in 52 paychecks in a year
  • A bi-weekly (every other week) pay period results in 26 paychecks in a year
  • A semi-monthly (twice a month) pay period results in 24 paychecks in a year
  • And a monthly pay period results in 12 paychecks in a year.
The number of paychecks in a year is an important distinction in calculating total gross pay for a year.

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