About Biweekly Payroll
Upcoming Payroll Change: Transition from Semimonthly to Biweekly Payroll.
We are excited to announce a change in our payroll cycle that will take effect on Sept. 1, 2025. We are transitioning from a semimonthly to a biweekly payroll schedule to align with industry standards and enhance payroll consistency.
On Feb. 25, 2025, the Board of Trustees approved the transition to biweekly payroll for all employees.
What this means for you:
- New Pay Schedule: Employees will be paid every two weeks instead of twice a month.
- Consistent Paydays: Paychecks will be issued every other Friday (if Friday falls on a holiday, payday will be the preceding business day).
- Hourly Rate Remains the Same: Your hourly rate will remain the same for both full-time and part-time (direct wage and work study) hourly employees. There will be no change to your hourly rate of pay.
- Annual Pay Remains the Same: Your total annual salary will not change for all full-time exempt employees; however, each paycheck amount will reflect the new pay period.
- More Frequent Paychecks: Full-time employees will receive 26 paychecks per year, rather than 24. Part-time hourly employees (including direct wage and work-study) will receive paychecks based on the number hours worked in pay periods (no change from current semimonthly).
Benefits of the Change
- Easier Budgeting: Receiving a paycheck every two weeks can make budgeting and financial planning more predictable.
- Better Alignment with Overtime Calculations: For non-exempt employees, overtime calculations will align more seamlessly with the standard workweek.
- Overtime Pay: Non-exempt employees are compensated for overtime hours closer to the time they worked.
- Retirement Contributions: Some contributions to retirement plan accounts will occur to align with the biweekly payroll, allowing them to be invested sooner.
- Flexible Spending Accounts: Funds are deposited biweekly, giving employees access to those funds sooner.
- Adjustments: These will be processed in the next biweekly pay cycle, which is sooner than semimonthly.
- Enhanced Payroll Processing: The biweekly schedule streamlines payroll operations and reduces discrepancies.
When will this happen?
Effective Sept. 1, 2025, South Texas College will transition from a semimonthly payroll to a biweekly payroll for all employees. This will align with the first day of Fiscal Year 2025-2026.
- Your final semimonthly pay date will be Sept. 15, 2025, for the pay period Aug. 16 to 31, 2025.
- Your first biweekly pay date will be Sept. 26, 2025, for the pay period Sept. 1 to 14, 2025.
Please note that employees will not experience a gap in pay during this transition.
| Pay Period | Pay Date |
|---|---|
| Aug. 1 - 15, 2025 | Aug. 29, 2025 |
| Aug. 16 - 31, 2025 Final Semimonthly Pay Period |
Sept. 15, 2025 |
| Pay Period | Pay Date |
|---|---|
| Sept. 1 - 14, 2025 First Biweekly Pay Period |
Sept. 26, 2025 |
| Sept. 15 - 28, 2025 | Oct. 10, 2025 |
2026 Biweekly Payroll Calendar
Comparing Semimonthly and Biweekly Payroll
| Non-exempt | Exempt | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Salary / Hourly | Salary | ||
| Example Salary / Rate | $32,240 | $15.50 | $65,000 |
| Pay week | Monday - Sunday | ||
| Pay Periods | 1st-15th / 16th-30th | ||
| Number of Hours | Varies from 80-96 | 86.67 | |
| Gross Pay | Varies with hours | $2,708.33 | |
| Paychecks per year | 24 | ||
| Paydays | 15th and 30th | ||
| Deductions | Percentage/Flat amount deductions from all checks. | ||
| Non-exempt | Exempt | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Salary / Hourly | Salary | ||
| Example Salary / Rate | $32,240 | $15.50 | $65,000 |
| Pay week | Monday - Sunday (no change) | ||
| Pay Periods | Recurs every 2 weeks/14 days. | ||
| Number of Hours | 80 (consistent, actual worked hours) | ||
| Gross pay | $1,240 | $2,500 | |
| Paychecks per year | 26 | ||
| Paydays | Every other Friday | ||
| Deductions | Two paychecks per year will not include flat amount deductions. | ||
What do employees need to do?
- Changes in pay dates mean changes in cash flow. Plan ahead for the transition.
- Start reviewing your monthly expenses and the timing of your payments.
- Determine if changes are needed to your payment due dates.
- Review your direct deposit setup and/or tax withholdings.
If you have deposits going to multiple accounts, or if you added extra withholding on your W-4 form, those amounts will be applied every pay period.
Who is working on this project?
The Semimonthly Payroll Project Working Group is comprised of various South Texas College departments.
- Business Office Payroll: Vanessa Balderrama, Accounting Group Manager
- Human Resources Payroll: Georgina Marr, Compensation and Payroll Manager
- Human Resources Benefits: Annel Perez, Benefits Manager
Who can I contact with questions?
Please direct inquiries as follows:
- General inquiries, please send email to payroll@southtexascollege.edu
- Benefit deductions and employee leave related inquiries, please email HR_Benefits@southtexascollege.edu or call Benefits Department at 872-3804.
- Tax withholdings, garnishments and direct deposits related inquiries, please email HR_Payroll@southtexascollege.edu or call HR Payroll Department at 872-3802.
Thank you for your cooperation as we roll out this exciting change.
