Your pay schedule defines when employees work and when they get paid. It includes three key parts:
Pay Period: The timeframe the employee worked.
Pay Date: The day employees are paid for that work.
Start of Workweek: The first day of your company’s 7-day workweek used to calculate overtime (per FLSA guidelines).
👉 Paydays always fall on weekdays. If a payday falls on a weekend or holiday, the check date is moved to the previous business day.
Your direct deposit speed affects how far in advance payroll must be submitted.
Workweek Start Rules
Weekly and biweekly schedules: Start of workweek = first day of pay period.
All other schedules: Workweek starts on Sunday.
Available Pay Frequencies
Many states have legal requirements for how often employees must be paid. Be sure to review the 2025 state pay frequency requirements before choosing a schedule.
Weekly: Every week on the same day (52/year).
Example: Every Friday.
Biweekly: Every two weeks on the same day (26/year).
Example: Every other Friday.
Semi-monthly: Twice per month on specific dates (24/year).
Example: The 15th and the last day of the month.
Monthly: Once per month on the same date (12/year).
Example: On the 26th.
Quarterly: Once per quarter (4/year), matching calendar quarters.
Example: A Jan 2 pay date covers Jan 1–Mar 31.
Annually: Once per year. Always Jan 1–Dec 31.
Example: A June 30 check date covers Jan 1–Dec 31. Annual reminders will be sent.
Add a New Pay Schedule
Go to Settings → Admin → Payments & Finances → Payroll.
Select Manage Pay Schedule/s from the dropdown by Gusto Onboarding Form.
Click Edit Schedule Type.
Choose how to assign employees:
Everyone on one schedule
By compensation type
By employee (available after onboarding)
By department
Click Continue.
Choose an existing schedule or Add a new one.
🪄 Tip: Click Preview upcoming paydays to see future pay dates before saving.
Click Save, then Continue once all employees are assigned to a schedule.
Review changes and click Submit.
Preview Your Pay Schedule
Go to Settings → Admin → Payments & Finances → Payroll.
Select Manage Pay Schedule/s from the dropdown by Gusto Onboarding Form.
Click Preview Upcoming Paydays.
Change a Pay Schedule or Pay Period
Go to Settings → Admin → Payments & Finances → Payroll.
Select Manage Pay Schedule/s from the dropdown by Gusto Onboarding Form.
Click Edit next to the pay schedule you want to change.
Update the following:
Pay frequency (how often employees are paid)
Payday (day of the week)
First pay date on the new schedule
Pay period dates
Click Preview upcoming paydays to review.
Once ready, click Save.
Remove a Pay Schedule
⚠️ You must have at least one other schedule set up, and no employees assigned to the schedule you want to delete.
Go to Settings → Admin → Payments & Finances → Payroll.
Select Manage Pay Schedule/s from the dropdown by Gusto Onboarding Form.
Click Edit Schedule Type.
Reassign all employees to a different schedule.
🪄 Tip: Selecting Everyone on one pay schedule will consolidate all employees.
If no employees are assigned and there are no pending tasks, the schedule will be removed automatically.
🛟 Need more help?
Explore our Help Center articles for answers. Contact us for further assistance.