What is biweekly pay?

Biweekly pay means getting paid every two weeks, resulting in 26 paychecks per year. It's the most common pay frequency in the US, used by about 43% of employers.

How does this calculator handle state and provincial taxes?

It includes 2025 tax rates for all 50 US states plus DC (including 9 no-income-tax states) and all 13 Canadian provinces/territories. Federal, state/provincial, and payroll taxes (FICA or CPP/EI) are calculated automatically.

What is net-to-gross calculation?

Net-to-gross reverses the normal calculation. Enter your desired take-home pay, and the calculator finds the gross salary needed to achieve it after all taxes. Useful for salary negotiations and budgeting.

How accurate are the tax estimates?

The calculator uses 2025 federal and state/provincial tax brackets. It's accurate for standard situations but doesn't include local taxes, tax credits, or unusual circumstances. Consult a tax professional for precise figures.

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

Biweekly pay is every 2 weeks (26 paychecks/year). Semi-monthly pay is twice per month on fixed dates (24 paychecks/year). Biweekly checks are smaller but you get 2 extra per year.

Which months have 3 paychecks with biweekly pay?

Two months each year have 3 paychecks instead of 2. The specific months depend on your employer's pay schedule and when payday falls. This calculator identifies them for you.

What is FICA and how does it affect my pay?

FICA (Federal Insurance Contributions Act) includes Social Security (6.2% up to $176,100) and Medicare (1.45%). Together, 7.65% is deducted from your gross pay before you receive it.

How do Canadian taxes compare to US taxes?

Canada uses CPP (5.95%) and EI (1.58%) instead of FICA. Provincial rates vary widely—Alberta is lowest, Quebec highest. Overall tax burden is often similar to high-tax US states.

Can I compare salaries between different states?

Yes! Change the state selection to see how the same gross salary results in different take-home pay. No-tax states like Texas and Florida can mean 5-10% more take-home pay.

How do pre-tax deductions affect my taxes?

Pre-tax deductions (401k, health insurance, HSA) reduce your taxable income, lowering your tax bill. A $500 monthly 401k contribution might only reduce take-home by $350-400 after tax savings.

Biweekly Pay Calculator

Calculate after-tax biweekly pay for US states and Canadian provinces

Instant results•No signup•Estimates only

Net-to-Gross Mode

Compare States

Pay Frequency

Annual Salary

Country

State

Filing Status

Pre-Tax Deductions

Biweekly Net Pay

$1,841

Every 2 weeks after taxes (26 paychecks/year)

Annual Income Breakdown

Federal$5K(9%)

State$2K(4%)

FICA$5K(8%)

Net Pay$48K(80%)

Take-Home: $47,859(79.8% of gross)

Annual Tax Breakdown

Gross Income:$60,000

Federal Tax:-$5,210

State Tax:-$2,341

FICA:-$4,590

Net Annual Income:$47,859

Effective Rate: 20.2%Marginal Rate: 20.0%

Pay by Frequency

Weekly

$920

Biweekly

$1,841

Semi-Monthly

$1,994

Monthly

$3,988

Daily

$184

Hourly

$23

Extra Paycheck Months (2026)

You get 2 months with 3 paychecks:

JanuaryJuly

Extra annual income vs semi-monthly: $4,615 (net: $3,681)

Estimate only. Uses 2025 federal and state tax rates. Does not account for local taxes, tax credits, or individual circumstances. Consult a tax professional for accurate calculations.

Results are estimates using current tax rates and standard deductions.

Results are estimates for informational purposes only and do not constitute tax advice. Actual tax liability may vary based on credits, deductions, and individual circumstances. Consult a tax professional for accurate filing.

How calculations work Full disclaimer

Biweekly Pay Calculator Formula

Biweekly Pay = \frac{Annual Salary}{26}

This calculator converts any pay frequency (hourly, weekly, biweekly, monthly, annual) to all other frequencies, then applies 2025 US federal, state, and FICA taxes (or Canadian federal, provincial, CPP/EI) to calculate your after-tax take-home pay. The net-to-gross mode reverses this calculation to find the required gross salary for a desired net pay.

How the Biweekly Pay Calculator Works

1Select your pay frequency (hourly, daily, weekly, biweekly, semi-monthly, monthly, or annual)
2Enter your salary or hourly rate (for hourly, also specify hours per week)
3Choose your country (US or Canada) and state/province
4For US, select your filing status (Single, Married, Head of Household)
5Optionally add pre-tax deductions (401k, health insurance, HSA)
6Toggle Net-to-Gross mode to find the gross salary needed for a target take-home pay
7View your after-tax income in all pay frequencies, plus tax breakdown

Biweekly Pay Calculator Key Terms

Biweekly Pay: Payment received every two weeks, resulting in 26 paychecks per year. Most common pay frequency in the US.
Semi-Monthly Pay: Payment received twice per month (usually 1st and 15th), resulting in exactly 24 paychecks per year.
FICA: Federal Insurance Contributions Act taxes: 6.2% Social Security (up to $176,100) plus 1.45% Medicare. Total 7.65% for most workers.
CPP/EI: Canada Pension Plan (5.95%) and Employment Insurance (1.58%). Canadian equivalents of US FICA taxes.
Net-to-Gross: Reverse calculation that determines the gross salary required to achieve a specific take-home (net) pay after all taxes.
Effective Tax Rate: Your total taxes divided by gross income—the actual percentage of income paid in taxes.
Marginal Tax Rate: The tax rate applied to your next dollar of income—your highest tax bracket.
Extra Paycheck Months: Two months each year where biweekly employees receive 3 paychecks instead of 2.

Biweekly Pay Calculator Tips

•Budget based on 2 paychecks/month, then use extra paycheck months for savings goals or debt payoff
•Use net-to-gross mode when negotiating salary to understand the gross needed for your lifestyle
•Pre-tax deductions reduce taxable income, often saving more in taxes than you contribute
•Compare job offers across states—a no-income-tax state can mean 5-10% higher take-home pay
•For Canada, Quebec has higher provincial taxes but also unique credits and benefits

When to Use This Biweekly Pay Calculator

✓Converting a job offer's salary to actual take-home pay
✓Comparing job offers across different states or provinces
✓Planning monthly budgets around biweekly income
✓Negotiating salary (use net-to-gross to find the gross you need)
✓Understanding the impact of pre-tax deductions on net pay

Biweekly Pay Calculator Examples

California Employee

Salary:$80,000State:CaliforniaStatus:Single

Result:$2,174 biweekly net

After federal (12%), CA state (9.3%), and FICA (7.65%), take-home is $2,174 every two weeks.

Texas (No State Tax)

Salary:$80,000State:TexasStatus:Single

Result:$2,356 biweekly net

No state income tax means $182/paycheck more than California on the same salary.

Ontario, Canada

Salary:$80,000 CADProvince:Ontario

Result:$2,289 biweekly net

After federal (15%), Ontario provincial (5.05-9.15%), and CPP/EI, take-home is $2,289 CAD.

Understanding Biweekly Pay in Depth

Understanding your actual take-home pay is essential for budgeting, job evaluation, and financial planning. This calculator goes beyond simple salary conversion by applying real 2025 tax rates for all 50 US states and 13 Canadian provinces.

US Tax Components

Federal Income Tax: Uses 2025 progressive brackets (10% to 37%) based on filing status. Your marginal rate is the rate on your next dollar; your effective rate is what you actually pay overall.

State Income Tax: Varies dramatically—9 states have no income tax (Texas, Florida, etc.), while California tops out at 13.3%. This difference can mean thousands in annual savings.

FICA: 7.65% flat rate for most workers (6.2% Social Security up to $176,100 + 1.45% Medicare). High earners pay additional 0.9% Medicare above $200K.

Canadian Tax Components

Federal Tax: Progressive brackets from 15% to 33%, with basic personal amount of $15,705 deducted.

Provincial Tax: Each province has its own brackets. Alberta is lowest (10-15%), while Quebec is highest (14-25.75%).

CPP/EI: Combined ~7.5% on earnings up to set maximums. Similar to US FICA but funds Canadian retirement and employment insurance.

Net-to-Gross: Negotiating Smarter

When you know you need $4,000/month to cover expenses, net-to-gross mode tells you the gross salary to request. In California, you might need $72,000 gross for $48,000 net. In Texas, perhaps only $65,000. This insight is powerful for negotiations and relocation decisions.

The Biweekly Advantage

With 26 paychecks versus 24 semi-monthly, biweekly employees get 2 "extra" paychecks per year. Budget for 2 paychecks monthly, and bank the extras—that's an automatic savings strategy built into your pay schedule.

Biweekly Pay Calculator FAQs

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Marcus Chen

Financial Analysis Specialist

Marcus has over 12 years of experience in quantitative finance and personal financial planning. He specializes in loan analysis, investment modeling, and consumer debt strategies. His methodologies incorporate industry-standard financial mathematics used by major lending institutions.

Content reviewed: January 2026Next review scheduled: 2027

Editorial Standards: All calculations use industry-standard financial formulas. Content is reviewed for mathematical accuracy and updated to reflect current market conditions. This tool provides estimates for informational purposes and does not constitute financial advice.