Semi-Monthly Pay Calculator Canada 2026
Semi-monthly means paid twice a month on fixed calendar dates, 24 paycheques a year, not to be confused with biweekly’s 26. This calculator shows exactly what your semi-monthly paycheque looks like: gross pay, every deduction, and net pay, for any salary and province.
Semi-Monthly Pay Calculator
+ Advanced options (overtime, bonus, TD1, RRSP)
Independent estimate based on 2026 CRA federal/provincial payroll formulas, Revenu Québec figures, and published CPP/CPP2/QPP/QPP2, EI and QPIP rates. Taxable benefits are assumed pensionable (count toward CPP/QPP) but not insurable (excluded from EI/QPIP), treatment varies by benefit type in practice. RRSP/pension contributions reduce taxable income only, not CPP/QPP or EI/QPIP earnings, matching standard payroll treatment. Not affiliated with the CRA or Government of Canada. Actual payroll may differ based on your employer's specific deductions and other factors. This tool does not constitute tax or financial advice.
Independent estimate of statutory employer payroll costs (CPP/QPP, EI, QPIP) based on 2026 published rates. Does not include optional employer costs such as extended health benefits, pension matching beyond CPP/QPP, workers' compensation premiums, or vacation pay accruals, which vary by employer and province. Not affiliated with the CRA or Government of Canada.
Select “Semi-monthly (24/yr)” under “Show results per” in the calculator above to see your gross pay, every deduction, and net pay for a single semi-monthly paycheque.
What Semi-Monthly Pay Actually Means
Semi-monthly is exactly twice a month, on fixed calendar dates, commonly the 1st and 15th, or the 15th and the last day of the month. This produces 24 pay periods a year, always. It’s genuinely different from biweekly, which pays every two weeks on a rolling schedule for 26 periods a year. The two are easy to confuse since both sound like “twice-ish a month,” but they’re calculated differently and produce different paycheque sizes for the same salary.
Because semi-monthly dates are fixed to the calendar rather than a rolling cycle, the number of days between paycheques varies slightly, a paycheque covering the 1st to the 15th spans 15 days, while one covering the 16th to the end of a 31-day month spans 16 days. This is normal and doesn’t affect the amount you’re paid, since semi-monthly pay is based on a fixed period amount (annual salary ÷ 24), not on the exact number of days worked.
When Pay Dates Fall on a Weekend
Since semi-monthly dates are fixed (like the 15th), they occasionally land on a weekend or statutory holiday. Most employers handle this by moving payment to the closest preceding business day, so you’re never left waiting past your expected pay date. Check your specific employer’s policy, since practices can vary slightly.
Semi-Monthly Pay by Salary
| Annual salary | Semi-monthly gross | Semi-monthly net |
|---|---|---|
| $40,000 | $1,666.67 | $1,354.81 |
| $50,000 | $2,083.33 | $1,660.52 |
| $60,000 | $2,500.00 | $1,951.79 |
| $75,000 | $3,125.00 | $2,348.57 |
| $100,000 | $4,166.67 | $3,060.83 |
Full Semi-Monthly Paycheque Breakdown
Every deduction, itemized, for a $75,000 salary in Ontario paid semi-monthly:
| Line item | Amount |
|---|---|
| Gross pay | $3,125.00 |
| Federal tax | −$386.16 |
| Ontario tax | −$166.54 |
| CPP | −$176.27 |
| CPP2 | −$0.67 |
| EI | −$46.79 |
| Total deductions | −$776.43 |
| Net pay | $2,348.57 |
Semi-Monthly vs. Biweekly Pay
On the same $75,000 salary, semi-monthly net pay ($2,348.57) is noticeably larger than biweekly net pay ($2,167.91), purely because semi-monthly has 2 fewer pay periods per year (24 vs. 26) dividing up the same annual total. Semi-monthly also has the advantage of always landing on the same two calendar dates, making budgeting simpler than biweekly’s rolling schedule, though biweekly never produces an oddly-spaced pay period like semi-monthly’s 15-vs-16-day gaps. See our Biweekly vs. Semi-Monthly guide for a deeper comparison, or our Biweekly Pay Calculator.
Semi-Monthly Pay by Province
A $60,000 salary, semi-monthly net pay by province:
| Province | Semi-monthly net pay |
|---|---|
| Ontario | $1,951.79 |
| British Columbia | $1,943.55 |
| Alberta | $1,937.04 |
| Quebec | $1,841.75 |
Does Semi-Monthly Pay Change Your Tax?
No. Your annual tax liability, federal tax, provincial tax, CPP, and EI, is calculated on your total yearly income and is identical no matter which pay frequency your employer uses. Semi-monthly simply divides that same annual total into 24 fixed periods instead of 26 rolling ones. The total amount you pay in tax over the year never changes based on pay frequency.
Frequently asked questions
How many semi-monthly paycheques are there in a year?
24, exactly twice a month, on fixed calendar dates (commonly the 1st and 15th, or the 15th and last day of the month). This is different from biweekly, which pays every two weeks for 26 payments a year.
Is semi-monthly the same as biweekly?
No, and they’re frequently confused. Semi-monthly means twice a month on fixed dates (24 payments/year); biweekly means every two weeks on a rolling schedule (26 payments/year). Because semi-monthly has fewer pay periods, each semi-monthly paycheque is slightly larger than the equivalent biweekly one for the same salary.
How do I convert my annual salary to a semi-monthly amount?
Divide your annual salary by 24. A $75,000 salary works out to $3,125.00 gross per semi-monthly period before tax.
What happens if a semi-monthly pay date falls on a weekend?
Since dates are fixed (like the 15th or the last day of the month), employers typically move payment to the closest preceding business day when the scheduled date falls on a weekend or statutory holiday.
Does semi-monthly pay mean I pay less tax?
No, your annual tax liability is calculated on your total yearly income and stays exactly the same no matter how many paycheques it’s divided into. Semi-monthly simply divides the same annual total into 24 larger periods instead of 26 smaller ones.
Which pay frequency is more common: semi-monthly or biweekly?
Biweekly is more common overall in Canada, but semi-monthly is widely used too, particularly for salaried professional and office roles where predictable, fixed calendar-date pay is preferred over a rolling schedule.