2027 Semi-Monthly Payroll Calendar
24 pay dates on the 15th and the last day of each month, moved to the previous business day when they fall on a weekend or federal holiday.
All 2027 semi-monthly pay dates
| # | Pay date |
|---|---|
| 1 | Fri, Jan 15, 2027 |
| 2 | Fri, Jan 29, 2027 (moved from Jan 31) |
| 3 | Fri, Feb 12, 2027 (moved from Feb 15) |
| 4 | Fri, Feb 26, 2027 (moved from Feb 28) |
| 5 | Mon, Mar 15, 2027 |
| 6 | Wed, Mar 31, 2027 |
| 7 | Thu, Apr 15, 2027 |
| 8 | Fri, Apr 30, 2027 |
| 9 | Fri, May 14, 2027 (moved from May 15) |
| 10 | Fri, May 28, 2027 (moved from May 31) |
| 11 | Tue, Jun 15, 2027 |
| 12 | Wed, Jun 30, 2027 |
| 13 | Thu, Jul 15, 2027 |
| 14 | Fri, Jul 30, 2027 (moved from Jul 31) |
| 15 | Fri, Aug 13, 2027 (moved from Aug 15) |
| 16 | Tue, Aug 31, 2027 |
| 17 | Wed, Sep 15, 2027 |
| 18 | Thu, Sep 30, 2027 |
| 19 | Fri, Oct 15, 2027 |
| 20 | Fri, Oct 29, 2027 (moved from Oct 31) |
| 21 | Mon, Nov 15, 2027 |
| 22 | Tue, Nov 30, 2027 |
| 23 | Wed, Dec 15, 2027 |
| 24 | Thu, Dec 30, 2027 (moved from Dec 31) |
9 of the 24 scheduled dates fall on a weekend or holiday in 2027 and move to the previous business day: Jan 31 → Jan 29, Feb 15 → Feb 12, Feb 28 → Feb 26, May 15 → May 14, May 31 → May 28, Jul 31 → Jul 30, Aug 15 → Aug 13, Oct 31 → Oct 29, Dec 31 → Dec 30. Download as PDF or Excel.
How semi-monthly pay works
Semi-monthly payroll pays employees twice a month on fixed dates, most often the 15th and the last day of the month (some employers use the 1st and 15th). Because the dates are fixed, there are always 24 pay periods a year, and each paycheck covers 1/24 of annual salary. That is why a semi-monthly paycheck is slightly larger than a biweekly one for the same salary: 26 (or 27) biweekly checks split the same amount into smaller pieces.
The trade-off is that semi-monthly pay periods are uneven: a period can be 13, 14, 15 or 16 days long, and for hourly staff the number of workdays in each check changes. Overtime also has to be tracked by the 7-day workweek, which does not line up with the pay period. Most companies therefore use semi-monthly pay for salaried staff and biweekly pay for hourly staff.
When the 15th or the last day is a weekend
Direct deposits only settle on banking days. If the 15th or the last day falls on a Saturday, Sunday or federal holiday, employers normally pay on the previous business day so that employees are not paid late. Some employers pay on the next business day instead; use the rule selector in the generator to see both versions.
Want a different schedule? See the 2027 biweekly payroll calendar or the 2027 weekly pay dates.