how many biweekly pay periods in a year For hourly workers, biweekly pay means getting paid every 14 days, typically for 80 hours of work per cycle (assuming full-time employment). It simplifies tracking regular and overtime hours since each paycheck covers two full workweeks. This schedule is especially useful in industries with variable hours or shift work. Employees often prefer biweekly pay because it results in more frequent paychecks compared to semi-monthly. However, the number of pay periods in a month may vary—sometimes two, occasionally three.