Pay period
A pay period is the recurring block of time, such as a week or a month, for which an employer calculates and pays wages, marking the start and end dates that hours worked or salary earned during that stretch get paid for. Every paycheck an employee receives corresponds to exactly one pay period, even when the payment itself arrives a few days after the period closes.
Common pay period schedules
Employers choose from four common pay period schedules, each with different administrative and cash-flow tradeoffs. Weekly pay periods run every week, 52 paychecks a year, and are common in industries with hourly or variable schedules where employees value frequent pay. Biweekly pay periods run every two weeks, 26 paychecks a year, landing on a different day of the month each time and occasionally producing a three-paycheck month. Semi-monthly pay periods run twice a month on fixed dates, such as the 15th and last day, 24 paychecks a year, which simplifies matching payroll to monthly benefit and salary calculations. Monthly pay periods run once a month, 12 paychecks a year, and are least common for hourly workers since a full month between paychecks can strain household budgeting.
State rules on pay period frequency
Many states set a minimum pay frequency by law, commonly requiring at least semi-monthly or biweekly pay for most employees, though the specific rule and any exceptions for salaried or exempt workers vary by state. An employer operating in multiple states needs to check the minimum frequency rule in every state where it has employees, since a schedule that is legal in one state can fall short of another state's requirement. Changing an established pay period schedule also generally requires advance written notice to employees under state law, not just an internal payroll decision.
Running payroll on a shorter pay period schedule, weekly instead of biweekly or monthly, traditionally costs more in processing fees and staff time. Pay frequency is entirely configurable inside WageTime, weekly, biweekly, semi-monthly, or monthly, and a weekly schedule costs nothing extra since payroll runs are unlimited.
See how WageTime handles pay frequencyFrequently asked
Can an employer switch employees from one pay period schedule to another?
Yes, but most states require advance written notice before the change takes effect, and the employer needs to prorate any partial period created by the transition so no wages are lost or delayed.
Does a pay period have to match when the paycheck is issued?
No. A pay period is the block of time worked; the pay date is typically a few days after the period ends to allow time to calculate hours, deductions, and taxes before wages are disbursed.