Know exactly when your next paycheck lands
Payday calendars, pay-date tables and plain-English payroll guides for US workers. Free, independent and built to read in ten seconds on your phone.
- 4Pay cycles explained
- 50States covered
- 2026Calendars & holidays
- 100%Free to read
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2026 payroll calendars
Weekly, bi-weekly, semi-monthly and monthly pay period tables for the full year.
Open calendarsCompany payday schedules
Pay dates and pay frequency for large US employers, retailers and restaurant chains.
Browse employersState & federal pay dates
Government, military and state employee pay schedules, plus holiday shifts.
View pay datesPaycheck guides
Direct deposit timing, bank holidays, late paychecks and what your deductions mean.
Read the guidesThe four US pay cycles, side by side
Most confusion about payday comes down to one thing: which cycle your employer runs. Here is the difference in plain terms.
Paid every week, usually on a Friday. Common in construction, trades and hourly retail work.
Paid every other week on a fixed day. Two months each year give you three paychecks instead of two.
Paid twice a month, often the 15th and the last day. The gap between paydays changes month to month.
One paycheck a month. Typical for salaried government roles and some corporate positions.
| Pay cycle | Paychecks a year | Typical payday | Gap between paydays |
|---|---|---|---|
| Weekly | 52 | Same weekday, every week | 7 days |
| Bi-weekly | 26 | Same weekday, every other week | 14 days |
| Semi-monthly | 24 | 15th and last day of month | 13 to 16 days |
| Monthly | 12 | Last working day of month | 28 to 31 days |
Not sure which one you are on? Count the paydays on your last three pay stubs. That answers it faster than any calendar.
Bank holidays that move your payday
Direct deposit runs through the ACH network, and the ACH network is closed on federal holidays. When payday falls on one, most employers pay you the business day before.
| 2026 federal holiday | Date | What usually happens |
|---|---|---|
| Thanksgiving Day | Thursday, 26 November 2026 | Thursday paydays move to Wednesday |
| Christmas Day | Friday, 25 December 2026 | Friday paydays move to Thursday |
| New Year’s Day | Friday, 1 January 2027 | Friday paydays move to Thursday 31 Dec |
Weekend rule: if payday lands on a Saturday or Sunday, the money almost always arrives on the preceding Friday. Some employers pay the following Monday instead, so check your handbook once and you will know forever.
Common payday questions
What time of day does direct deposit hit my account?
Most banks post ACH deposits between midnight and 6 a.m. on payday. Some online banks release the money up to two days early because they post the file as soon as the employer sends it.
Why do I get three paychecks in some months?
Only bi-weekly and weekly employees see this. Twenty-six or fifty-two paydays do not divide evenly into twelve months, so two months a year end up with an extra payday.
Is semi-monthly the same as bi-weekly?
No. Semi-monthly is 24 paychecks on fixed dates. Bi-weekly is 26 paychecks on a fixed weekday. Bi-weekly paychecks are smaller but there are more of them.
My paycheck is late. What should I do first?
Check your bank’s pending transactions before anything else, then contact your payroll or HR team. Most late deposits are a bank holiday or a timing issue, not a missing payment.
Can my employer change my payday?
Employers can change pay frequency, but most states require advance written notice and a minimum pay frequency. Your state labor department publishes the exact rule.
Are the schedules on this site official?
No. We are an independent reference site. We check what we publish and link to official sources, but your employer’s own calendar is always the final word.
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Site last reviewed: 14 September 2026