🧾 Biweekly Pay Calculator
Understand each paycheck by breaking down annual salary, deductions, and estimated taxes.
Use 27 if your employer issues an extra paycheck in leap years.
401(k), HSA, or insurance premiums deducted before taxes.
Combine federal, state, and local tax withholding.
How to Use This Calculator
Provide Annual Salary
Enter your gross annual compensation or the salary quoted in an offer letter.
Set Pay Periods
Most biweekly schedules use 26 periods. Adjust if your employer runs 27 pay cycles in certain years.
Add Deductions & Tax Rate
Estimate pre-tax benefit deductions and an average tax withholding rate for a realistic take-home projection.
Review Results
Use the gross and net values for budgeting, automated savings plans, or verifying payroll accuracy.
Formula
Gross Biweekly Pay = Annual Salary ÷ Pay Periods per Year
Taxable Pay = Gross Pay − Pre-tax Deductions
Withholding = Taxable Pay × Estimated Tax Rate
Estimated Take-home = Taxable Pay − Withholding
Replace the tax rate with your actual effective rate or use separate calculators for federal and state taxes for higher accuracy.
Full Description
Biweekly payroll is the most common pay schedule in the United States. This calculator helps employees translate annual salary into per-paycheck amounts and estimate take-home pay after standard deductions and taxes.
Use it when planning budgets, adjusting retirement contributions, or validating payroll. The tool is also handy for managers building staffing plans or entrepreneurs determining payroll outlays.
Planning Tips
- Allocate each paycheck between essentials, savings, and discretionary spending.
- Schedule automatic transfers for retirement and emergency funds the day after payday.
- Account for “extra” paychecks in months with three pay periods to fast-track debt payoff.
- Track actual tax withholding on pay stubs to fine-tune the estimated rate.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why are there sometimes 27 paychecks?
Because 365 days isn’t divisible by 14, some years accumulate an extra biweekly period. Employers may spread salary across 27 checks or treat the extra check as additional pay.
How accurate is the take-home estimate?
It’s an approximation. For precise results, use your actual withholding percentages or consult payroll documents.
Should I include employer benefits?
Employer-paid benefits (like health insurance contributions) don’t affect your paycheck directly, so they’re not included here.
Can I use this for hourly wages?
Yes—convert your hourly rate to annual pay with our annual pay calculator, then plug the salary into this tool.