What Months Do Bi-Weekly Get Paid 3 Times?

A bi-weekly pay schedule involves receiving wages every two weeks, consistently on the same day of the week. Each pay period spans 14 days, with earnings for hours worked during this time paid out shortly after the period concludes.

Identifying Three Paycheck Months

Bi-weekly payrolls typically result in two months each calendar year having three paydays instead of the usual two. This occurs because while most months contain only two bi-weekly pay periods, the full 52 weeks in a year accommodate 26 pay periods. The exact months that receive this third paycheck depend on an individual’s specific pay schedule and when their first payday of the year falls. For instance, if an employee’s first paycheck in 2024 was on Friday, January 5th, their three-paycheck months would likely have been March and August. Similarly for 2025, if the first paycheck was on Friday, January 3rd, May and August are often the months with three paydays. If the first paycheck in 2025 was on Friday, January 10th, then May and November would usually be the three-paycheck months.

The Calendar Cycle Explanation

The occurrence of three-paycheck months is a direct result of how the calendar year aligns with this payment frequency. A standard year has 52 weeks, and since bi-weekly means payment every two weeks, dividing 52 by two yields 26 pay periods annually. This contrasts with a semi-monthly pay schedule, where employees are paid twice a month on fixed dates, resulting in exactly 24 pay periods per year. Because 12 months multiplied by two paychecks per month only accounts for 24 paychecks, the remaining two paychecks from the annual total of 26 must fall into two separate months. These are not bonuses but a natural distribution of 26 pay periods over 12 months. The consistency of bi-weekly payments on the same day of the week, such as every other Friday, means that every so often, a month will simply contain three of these designated paydays.

Personal Payday Tracking

Determining the exact months when you will receive three paychecks requires checking your individual pay schedule, as the specific months vary based on your employer’s payroll calendar and the date of your first paycheck in the year. Employers often provide a payroll calendar that outlines all pay dates for the year, which is the most reliable source. You can also track your paydays by reviewing past pay stubs or using a digital calendar to mark each payment date. By marking your first payday of the year and then every subsequent two-week interval, you can identify which months will have an additional payment. Online calendar tools can be set up with recurring reminders to help you keep track of these dates throughout the year.