Employees who receive biweekly paychecks might find it easier to tackle post-holiday expenses without the added stress in the new year.
In most months, employees are paid twice. But in 2025, several months will feature a third payday -- depending on the start of their pay cycles.
For employees whose first paycheck of the year is on January 3, 2025, they can expect two extra paydays that month: one on January 17 and another on January 31.
These employees can also expect a similar payday pattern in August, with three paychecks set for the 1st, 15th and 29th, providing an additional financial boost mid-year.
The timing of these "extra" paychecks depends on the employer's payroll calendar, which can vary based on the company's specific pay cycle.
Employees whose payday falls on January 10, for example, will not receive a third paycheck in January. Instead, their first month with three paychecks will be in May, when the pay dates fall on the 2nd, 16th and 30th.
Workers on this cycle will also see three paychecks in October, with payment dates on the 3rd, 17th and 31st, offering financial relief before the holidays.
These extra paychecks occur because a calendar year has 52 weeks, which equals 26 biweekly pay periods. Since 26 pay periods don't perfectly fit into 12 months of the year, the "extra" paychecks are distributed across the year, typically falling in months that have three paydays instead of the usual two.