Semi-Monthly Payroll Schedule
Semi-Monthly Pay Period Calendar 2026
The complete 2026 semi-monthly payroll schedule featuring all 24 standard pay periods. Includes observed payday rollbacks for weekends and banking holidays.
2026 Semi-Monthly Payroll Fast Facts
24 Periods
15th & 1st / End of Month
Roll back to Friday
Copy Table & CSV
All 24 Pay Periods for 2026
Showing all 24 periods for 2026 with Friday bank rollbacks.
| # | Pay Period Range | Nominal Payday | Observed Bank Payday (Friday Rollback) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Jan 1 – Jan 15 | Jan 15, 2026 (Thu) | Jan 15, 2026 (Thu) |
| 2 | Jan 16 – Jan 31 | Feb 1, 2026 (Sun) | Jan 30, 2026 (Fri) |
| 3 | Feb 1 – Feb 15 | Feb 15, 2026 (Sun) | Feb 13, 2026 (Fri) |
| 4 | Feb 16 – Feb 28 | Mar 1, 2026 (Sun) | Feb 27, 2026 (Fri) |
| 5 | Mar 1 – Mar 15 | Mar 15, 2026 (Sun) | Mar 13, 2026 (Fri) |
| 6 | Mar 16 – Mar 31 | Apr 1, 2026 (Wed) | Apr 01, 2026 (Wed) |
| 7 | Apr 1 – Apr 15 | Apr 15, 2026 (Wed) | Apr 15, 2026 (Wed) |
| 8 | Apr 16 – Apr 30 | May 1, 2026 (Fri) | May 01, 2026 (Fri) |
| 9 | May 1 – May 15 | May 15, 2026 (Fri) | May 15, 2026 (Fri) |
| 10 | May 16 – May 31 | Jun 1, 2026 (Mon) | Jun 01, 2026 (Mon) |
| 11 | Jun 1 – Jun 15 | Jun 15, 2026 (Mon) | Jun 15, 2026 (Mon) |
| 12 | Jun 16 – Jun 30 | Jul 1, 2026 (Wed) | Jul 01, 2026 (Wed) |
| 13 | Jul 1 – Jul 15 | Jul 15, 2026 (Wed) | Jul 15, 2026 (Wed) |
| 14 | Jul 16 – Jul 31 | Aug 1, 2026 (Sat) | Jul 31, 2026 (Fri) |
| 15 | Aug 1 – Aug 15 | Aug 15, 2026 (Sat) | Aug 14, 2026 (Fri) |
| 16 | Aug 16 – Aug 31 | Sep 1, 2026 (Tue) | Sep 01, 2026 (Tue) |
| 17 | Sep 1 – Sep 15 | Sep 15, 2026 (Tue) | Sep 15, 2026 (Tue) |
| 18 | Sep 16 – Sep 30 | Oct 1, 2026 (Thu) | Oct 01, 2026 (Thu) |
| 19 | Oct 1 – Oct 15 | Oct 15, 2026 (Thu) | Oct 15, 2026 (Thu) |
| 20 | Oct 16 – Oct 31 | Nov 1, 2026 (Sun) | Oct 30, 2026 (Fri) |
| 21 | Nov 1 – Nov 15 | Nov 15, 2026 (Sun) | Nov 13, 2026 (Fri) |
| 22 | Nov 16 – Nov 30 | Dec 1, 2026 (Tue) | Dec 01, 2026 (Tue) |
| 23 | Dec 1 – Dec 15 | Dec 15, 2026 (Tue) | Dec 15, 2026 (Tue) |
| 24 | Dec 16 – Dec 31 | Jan 1, 2027 (Fri, New Year) | Dec 31, 2026 (Thu) |
How Semi-Monthly Payroll Works in 2026
A semi-monthly payroll schedule is one of the most common compensation models used by corporate employers, salaried exempt workers, and professional services firms in the United States. Unlike biweekly schedules (which pay every 14 days and produce 26 paychecks per year), semi-monthly payroll disburses compensation exactly twice per month—yielding 24 paychecks annually.
The Friday Rollback Rule
When a designated pay date lands on a Saturday, Sunday, or Federal Reserve public holiday, direct deposit regulations require payroll processors to fund accounts on the preceding banking business day (usually Friday). In 2026, several paydays (such as February 15 and March 15 falling on Sunday) roll back to Friday the 13th.
Accounting & Budgeting Benefits
For finance teams, semi-monthly schedules perfectly synchronize with monthly accounting closes, financial statements, and employee benefit premium deductions, completely eliminating the accrual headaches caused by biweekly payroll cycles.