What s the difference between bimonthly and semimonthly?

The difference between bimonthly and semimonthly is that bimonthly means every two months, while semimonthly means twice per month. Bimonthly, like biweekly, means every two; something that happens bimonthly happens every two months. Semimonthly, on the other hand, is twice a month, as semi means half.

Is it better to get paid weekly or biweekly?

It isn't necessarily better to get paid weekly or biweekly. A lot of this boils down to personal preference and how you budget and pay your bills. With weekly payments, you get more paychecks but less money each time.While Biweekly, there are more checks with more money per check. Both are typically paid out on Fridays, but most people find weekly easier to keep track of, as you don't have to count weeks.However, depending on how you budget, getting a small amount of money each week can make it difficult to save up for larger bills, like the rent.

Semimonthly Vs. Biweekly Payroll: What’s The Difference?

Business Terms

Different employers will have different payroll schedules, and you may wonder exactly what the differences and pros and cons are. The most typical schedules are weekly, biweekly, semimonthly, and monthly. In this article, we’ll explore the differences between a semimonthly and a biweekly payroll.

The most obvious difference is that a semimonthly payroll is paid out twice a month, while a biweekly payroll is paid out every two weeks. That means that in a semimonthly pay schedule, you get paid 24 times a year, and with a biweekly schedule, there are 26 pay periods.

Key Takeaways:

Semimonthly	Biweekly
Pay is paid out twice per month.	Pay is distributed every two weeks.
A semimonthly schedule has 24 pay periods per year.	There are 26 pay periods per year on a biweekly schedule.
The day of the week you’re paid on will vary, as it is typically paid out on the 15th and last day of the month.	Biweekly pay schedules are always paid out on a Friday every other week.
Due to months not having the same number of days, the number of your checks can vary, even if you work a consistent schedule or are salaried.	As biweekly checks are always the same number of days, you get consistent amounts of pay every payday if you work a regular schedule.

What Does Semimonthly Mean?

Semimonthly literally means twice per month, which translates to 24 paychecks per year. In this case, the prefix “semi” has the same meaning as in semicircle – as in precisely half of. Now, of course, in a semimonthly schedule, it isn’t precisely half of the month due to the fact that the number of days in a month varies from 28 to 31.

Typically, in a semimonthly pay scheme, paychecks are deposited on the 15th and last day of the month. That means that you can end up being paid on any day of the week, depending on when the 15th and last days fall. If it falls on a weekend day, then it’s usually paid the Friday before.

There are some benefits to this schedule, as you always know what day is payday – there’s no keeping track of the weeks or when you received your last paycheck. In terms of bookkeeping, this is also true, and it’s easier for accounting to plan for deductions.

The issue with semimonthly pay is that it can get a bit complicated for hourly workers. As the number of days in a month varies, how much pay you get will also change. The number of days in the last half of the month will usually either be 15 or 16.

However, in February, it’s only 13. That means that tracking your hours is a bit more complex, and you can’t count on the paycheck always being the same each month, even if your number of hours is consistent.

What Does Biweekly Mean?

Biweekly, or more rarely fortnightly, means every two weeks, which works out to 26 paychecks per year. While biweekly may sound like it means twice per week, the correct term for that would be semiweekly. The prefix “bi” means two, so it’s a one-word way of saying two weeks.

Paychecks on a biweekly pay schedule are paid out every other Friday. This means that your paycheck lands on the same day every time, unlike semimonthly. However, the days of the month vary, and even the number of times per month you get paid can change. A couple of months out of the year, you will get three paychecks as opposed to just two.

A biweekly schedule does require some more attention in order to keep track of when you’re paid, as the pay dates shift. However, the amount that you’re paid won’t vary (assuming you work consistent hours), making keeping track of your hours and overtime easier.

That makes a biweekly schedule better for hourly workers, as hours are easier to track and paychecks are more consistent. The trade-off is the fact that when you’re paid varies continuously.

Semimonthly vs. Biweekly FAQ

What’s the difference between bimonthly and semimonthly?

The difference between bimonthly and semimonthly is that bimonthly means every two months, while semimonthly means twice per month. Bimonthly, like biweekly, means every two; something that happens bimonthly happens every two months. Semimonthly, on the other hand, is twice a month, as semi means half.
Is it better to get paid weekly or biweekly?

It isn’t necessarily better to get paid weekly or biweekly. A lot of this boils down to personal preference and how you budget and pay your bills. With weekly payments, you get more paychecks but less money each time.

While Biweekly, there are more checks with more money per check. Both are typically paid out on Fridays, but most people find weekly easier to keep track of, as you don’t have to count weeks.

However, depending on how you budget, getting a small amount of money each week can make it difficult to save up for larger bills, like the rent.

Business Terms

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Author

Di Doherty

Di has been a writer for more than half her life. Most of her writing so far has been fiction, and she’s gotten short stories published in online magazines Kzine and Silver Blade, as well as a flash fiction piece in the Bookends review. Di graduated from Mary Baldwin College (now University) with a degree in Psychology and Sociology.

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