Your paystub tells an important story about your money. Let's decode every line so you know exactly what's normal and what's sketchy.
Learn what every line on your paystub actually means
Identify what's normal vs what's sketchy or illegal
Understand what employers legally must show you
Click each section to learn what it means
123 Business St, City, ST 12345
Always save your paystubs! Keep them for at least a year. You'll need them for taxes, loan applications, and if there's ever a payment dispute.
Watch your money flow from what you earn to what you take home
This is what you actually earned
(80 hours @ $25/hr + 5 overtime @ $37.50/hr)
These are mandatory - everyone pays them
You chose these benefits
This is what hits your bank account
You keep 63.5% of your gross pay
Match each term to its correct definition
Click each paystub scenario to see if it's safe or sketchy
Don't ignore sketchy paystubs! Talk to HR first. If they don't fix it, contact your state's Department of Labor or a wage theft hotline. You have rights!
See how paystubs look in different situations
Lower income = lower tax rate. Might get full refund at tax time!
Steady paycheck every 2 weeks. Easier to budget!
No taxes taken out! Save 25-30% yourself for tax time.
Every paystub is different based on your situation, but the basics stay the same: gross pay, itemized deductions, and net pay. If yours doesn't show all three clearly, ask questions!
Test what you've learned—you need 100% to complete