- Pay frequency — How often paychecks are issued. This site covers the four US frequencies: weekly, biweekly, semimonthly and monthly.
- Weekly — Paid once every week, 52 paychecks a year.
- Biweekly — Paid once every two weeks, 26 paychecks a year.
- Semimonthly — Paid twice a month, 24 paychecks a year.
- Monthly — Paid once a month, 12 paychecks a year.
- Payday — The day on which wages from a completed pay period are paid.
- State payday requirement — A state law that sets how often an employer must pay wages. The US Department of Labor compiles these by state.
- Bank holiday — A day the Federal Reserve banks are closed, so ACH direct deposits may not post. The pay-date calculator uses the Federal Reserve bank-holiday calendar.
Definitions are plain language, not legal definitions. Check your state labor office for the current rule.