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2026 Semi-Monthly Payroll Calendar

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📅 Pre-Filled 2026 Semi-Monthly Table

Period #Period StartPeriod EndPay DateStatus / Note
1Dec 16, 2025Dec 31, 2025Friday, January 2, 2026New Year's Day (Adjusted)
2Jan 1, 2026Jan 15, 2026Thursday, January 15, 2026
3Jan 16, 2026Jan 31, 2026Monday, February 2, 2026Weekend (Adjusted)
4Feb 1, 2026Feb 15, 2026Friday, February 13, 2026Weekend (Adjusted)
5Feb 16, 2026Feb 28, 2026Monday, March 2, 2026Weekend (Adjusted)
6Mar 1, 2026Mar 15, 2026Friday, March 13, 2026Weekend (Adjusted)
7Mar 16, 2026Mar 31, 2026Wednesday, April 1, 2026
8Apr 1, 2026Apr 15, 2026Wednesday, April 15, 2026
9Apr 16, 2026Apr 30, 2026Friday, May 1, 2026
10May 1, 2026May 15, 2026Friday, May 15, 2026
11May 16, 2026May 31, 2026Monday, June 1, 2026Memorial Day / Weekend (Adjusted)
12Jun 1, 2026Jun 15, 2026Monday, June 15, 2026
13Jun 16, 2026Jun 30, 2026Thursday, July 2, 2026Independence Day (Adjusted)
14Jul 1, 2026Jul 15, 2026Wednesday, July 15, 2026
15Jul 16, 2026Jul 31, 2026Monday, August 3, 2026Weekend (Adjusted)
16Aug 1, 2026Aug 15, 2026Friday, August 14, 2026Weekend (Adjusted)
17Aug 16, 2026Aug 31, 2026Tuesday, September 1, 2026
18Sep 1, 2026Sep 15, 2026Tuesday, September 15, 2026
19Sep 16, 2026Sep 30, 2026Thursday, October 1, 2026
20Oct 1, 2026Oct 15, 2026Thursday, October 15, 2026
21Oct 16, 2026Oct 31, 2026Monday, November 2, 2026Weekend (Adjusted)
22Nov 1, 2026Nov 15, 2026Friday, November 13, 2026Weekend (Adjusted)
23Nov 16, 2026Nov 30, 2026Tuesday, December 1, 2026
24Dec 1, 2026Dec 15, 2026Tuesday, December 15, 2026

2026 Semi-Monthly Payroll Calendar

Semi-monthly pay is the standard for salaried office employees, and it works differently from every other schedule on this site: instead of counting days, it locks to two fixed calendar dates each month - typically the 15th and the last day. In 2026, that produces exactly 24 paychecks, starting with Thursday, January 15, 2026 (covering January 1–15) and ending with Friday, January 1, 2027 for the final December period.Need to reference last year? Review the semi monthly payroll calendar 2025. Planning ahead? Check out the semi monthly pay schedule 2027. For the most common US pay cycle, see the biweekly pay schedule 2026.

Visual layout of the 2026 semi-monthly payroll calendar showing all months, payday dates, and processing periods.
Click to view or download the full-size 2026 semi-monthly payroll calendar chart.

Why the payday lands on a different weekday every month

This is the single most common point of confusion for people new to semi-monthly pay. Because the 15th and the last day of the month are fixed dates, not fixed weekdays, your payday might be a Thursday in January, a Friday in February, and a Wednesday in March. Unlike biweekly pay (always the same weekday), semi-monthly paydays bounce around the calendar - which is exactly why a semi-monthly payroll calendar is more useful to keep on hand than trying to calculate it mentally each month.

What happens when the 15th falls on a weekend

When the 15th (or last day) lands on a Saturday or Sunday, standard payroll practice moves the deposit to the preceding business day - Friday, in most cases. This is a banking rule, not a company choice: ACH transfers can't clear on weekends or federal holidays, so payroll files are submitted early enough that the money is in your account by the closest working day beforehand.

Semi-monthly vs. monthly: the real difference

Semi-monthly (24 paychecks) splits your annual salary into smaller, more frequent chunks than monthly pay (12 paychecks), while still aligning reasonably well with rent and bill due dates on the 1st and 15th. Monthly pay means larger individual checks but requires stretching that money over a full 30 days, which is harder for most people to budget against unless bills are also consolidated to once a month.

Printable 2026 Payroll Calendar

Navigate banking holidays like Memorial Day and Independence Day using a visual schedule. When a payday falls on a weekend, funds are deposited early. Download a 2026 semi-monthly payroll calendar pdf or print this page to keep your team aligned.

Frequently Asked Questions - Semi-Monthly Payroll

When is the first semi-monthly paycheck of 2026?

Thursday, January 15, 2026, covering the pay period January 1–15, 2026.

How many semi-monthly paychecks are there in a year?

Always exactly 24 - two per month, every month, with no exceptions like the "three-paycheck months" seen in biweekly schedules.

Why is my semi-monthly payday not always the 15th and the 30th?

Because "last day of the month" varies (28, 29, 30, or 31), and because weekend/holiday adjustments shift the actual deposit date earlier when the 15th or month-end falls on a non-business day.

What's the difference between semi-monthly and biweekly pay?

Semi-monthly pays on fixed calendar dates (24 checks/year, weekday varies); biweekly pays every 14 days (26 checks/year, same weekday every time, with two three-paycheck months).

Does a semi-monthly schedule ever skip a payday?

No - you always get 24 paychecks in the year, but the date may shift earlier (never later) when it would otherwise fall on a weekend or bank holiday.

Why does the final 2026 paycheck get issued in January 2027?

Because the second half of December (16th–31st) is paid on the following January 1st under most semi-monthly schedules, which in 2026's case lands on Friday, January 1, 2027.