Biweekly Pay Calculator 2026
Find your gross and net pay for each biweekly check. Start from an annual salary, an hourly rate, or any other pay period, choose your state, and see take-home pay after estimated federal, state, Social Security and Medicare taxes.
Your pay
Assumes a full-time year of 52 paid weeks and no pre-tax deductions, credits, or local taxes. Everything is calculated in your browser.
Estimated result
Net pay per biweekly check
$2,450.12
81.7% of gross after $14,297.00 in estimated 2026 taxes in Texas.
| Period | Gross | Net |
|---|---|---|
| Hourly | $37.50 | $30.63 |
| Daily | $300.00 | $245.01 |
| Weekly | $1,500.00 | $1,225.06 |
| Biweekly | $3,000.00 | $2,450.12 |
| Semi-monthly | $3,250.00 | $2,654.29 |
| Monthly | $6,500.00 | $5,308.58 |
| Annual | $78,000.00 | $63,703.00 |
- Federal income tax
- −$8,330.00 / yr
- Social Security (FICA)
- −$4,836.00 / yr
- Medicare (FICA)
- −$1,131.00 / yr
- Texas state income tax
- −$0.00 / yr
How biweekly pay works
Biweekly pay means one paycheck every two weeks: 26 checks in a typical year. Gross pay per check is annual salary ÷ 26, or hourly rate × hours in the two weeks. For $78,000, that is $3,000.00 gross. After estimated 2026 taxes for a single filer in Texas, about $2,450.12 remains per check ($63,703 a year). The same salary in a state with income tax would leave less.
Annual tax is estimated first and then divided by 26, so each check carries an equal share. Real withholding follows your Form W-4 and the IRS Publication 15-T method, and Social Security stops once wages pass the SSA wage base, which can make late-year checks larger for high earners.
26 vs 27 biweekly pay periods
Twenty-six 14-day cycles cover 364 days, one day short of a normal year. Every so often the pay calendar therefore lands on 27 paydays. A Friday cycle starting January 1, 2027 has 27 paydays that year; a cycle starting January 2, 2026 has 26 in 2026.
| Paychecks in the year | Gross per check on $78,000 |
|---|---|
| 26 | $3,000.00 |
| 27 | $2,888.89 |
Salaried employees usually keep the same annual pay whether the year has 26 or 27 checks, so the extra payday is not a raise. Some employers divide by 27 in those years. It also means some months have three paychecks. Enter one real payday into the three paycheck months calculator to see which months are affected for your schedule.
Biweekly take-home pay at common salaries
Texas, single filer, 2026 rules, 26 paychecks, no pre-tax deductions. For other states use the calculator above or the paycheck calculator.
| Salary | Gross per check | Net per check |
|---|---|---|
| $40,000 | $1,538.46 | $1,320.00 |
| $50,000 | $1,923.08 | $1,629.04 |
| $60,000 | $2,307.69 | $1,938.08 |
| $75,000 | $2,884.62 | $2,368.94 |
| $100,000 | $3,846.15 | $3,045.38 |
| $150,000 | $5,769.23 | $4,376.58 |
Related: monthly salary calculator, salary after tax calculator, prorated salary calculator and the methodology.
Frequently asked questions
How do I calculate biweekly pay from an annual salary?
Divide the annual salary by 26. A $78,000 salary is $3,000.00 gross per biweekly check. For a single filer in Texas the estimated 2026 net is about $2,450.12 per check after federal income tax, Social Security and Medicare (Texas has no state income tax on wages).
How do I calculate biweekly pay from an hourly rate?
Multiply the hourly rate by the hours worked in the two-week period. At $25 an hour for 80 hours, gross pay is $2,000 per check, or $52,000 a year. The estimated net in Texas for a single filer is about $1,690.85 per check. Overtime premiums are not added automatically.
Is biweekly pay every two weeks or twice a month?
Biweekly means every two weeks, which is 26 paychecks a year. Twice a month is semi-monthly pay, which is 24 paychecks a year. Biweekly checks are smaller than semi-monthly checks for the same salary because the annual amount is split into more pieces.
Do some years have 27 biweekly paychecks?
Yes. A 14-day cycle fits 26 times into 364 days, so a calendar year of 365 or 366 days can contain 27 paydays when the first payday falls on January 1 (or on January 1 or 2 in a leap year). For example, a payday on January 1, 2027 produces 27 paydays in 2027, while a payday on January 2, 2026 produces 26 in 2026. Whether your employer pays a 27th check or spreads the salary across 26 depends on its payroll calendar. Use the three paycheck months calculator to see your own dates.
Does a 27th paycheck mean I earn more?
Not for a fixed salary. Employers usually divide the annual salary by 26 (or sometimes by 27) so total pay for the year stays the same. For $78,000, a 27-check year pays $2,888.89 per check instead of $3,000.00. Hourly workers are paid for hours worked, so an extra payday does not add hours.
Why does my biweekly paycheck differ from this estimate?
Employers withhold using your Form W-4 and IRS Publication 15-T tables, and your pay stub may include pre-tax benefits, retirement contributions, local taxes or state disability and family-leave deductions that this estimate leaves out.