Hours in a semi-monthly pay period
Semi-monthly means two paydays a month, typically the 15th and the last day, for 24 periods a year. For a 40-hour week that is 2,080 hours ÷ 24 = 86.67 hours per period on average. But because months are not multiples of weeks, an actual period can hold anywhere from 10 to 12 workdays, so hourly employees on semi-monthly pay see their gross change from check to check while salaried employees see a fixed amount.
Worked example (pre-filled). A 40-hour week averages 86.67 hours per semi-monthly period, 80 per biweekly period and 173.33 per month. A period with 11 workdays of 8 hours actually contains 88 hours, 1.33 hours more than the average, which is normal.
Overtime does not care about pay periods: it is owed for hours over 40 in each workweek, and a semi-monthly period usually splits a workweek across two checks. Employers handle this by paying the overtime on the check that covers the end of that week. Georgia has no overtime law of its own; the federal FLSA rule applies: non-exempt employees earn 1.5 times their regular rate for hours over 40 in a workweek, with no daily overtime requirement (Georgia DOL).
The Georgia paycheck calculator supports semi-monthly pay directly, using the Department of Revenue's semi-monthly withholding table, and the salary-to-hourly guide compares the two paycheck sizes.
Formula and assumptions
per semi-monthly period = annual ÷ 24
per biweekly period = annual ÷ 26; per month = annual ÷ 12
this period = workdays × hours per day
- 52 weeks a year is the payroll convention; a calendar year has 52 weeks and one or two days.
- Averages are shown to two decimals; 86.67 is the familiar figure for full time.
Frequently asked questions
How many hours are in a semi-monthly pay period?
86.67 hours on average for a 40-hour week (2,080 ÷ 24). A specific period has 10 to 12 workdays, so 80 to 96 hours at 8 hours a day.
Is semi-monthly the same as biweekly?
No. Semi-monthly is twice a month (24 checks); biweekly is every two weeks (26 checks). The biweekly period is always 80 hours for full time; the semi-monthly period varies.
Why is my semi-monthly paycheck different each time?
If you are hourly, each period contains a different number of workdays. Salaried employees receive the same amount (salary ÷ 24) regardless.
How is overtime paid on a semi-monthly schedule?
Overtime is still figured per workweek (over 40 hours). When a workweek straddles two pay periods, the overtime is normally paid on the check covering the week’s end.
Related calculators
- All time & hours calculators
- Biweekly hours calculator: Hours and pay for a two-week pay period, overtime checked each week
- Work hours in a month: Weekdays and working hours in any month, with a table for the whole year
- Work hours in a year: Annual hours from your weekly schedule, minus vacation and holidays
- Georgia paycheck calculator: take-home pay after federal, FICA and Georgia tax
- Salary to hourly: biweekly vs semi-monthly paychecks
- How Georgia withholding works
Sources
- Georgia Department of Labor, Individuals FAQs: Fair Labor Standards Act
- 29 CFR 778.110, Overtime for an hourly rate employee (worked example), via Cornell LII
- Georgia Department of Revenue, Employer’s Withholding Tax Guide 2026 (revised June 2026)
This calculator gives general estimates from the figures you enter. It is not tax, legal, payroll or financial advice. See our disclaimer.