How to Make Sure Your Paycheck Is Right
Most people glance at the deposit amount and move on. But payroll mistakes happen: missed punches, overtime at the wrong rate, a raise that didn't kick in. The only way to know your paycheck is right is to check it against your own record of hours. It takes about two minutes once you know what to look at.
What you need
- Your pay stub for the period
- Your own record of the hours you worked that period
- Your hourly rate and overtime rule
If you don't keep your own record yet, that's step one. Read how to stop losing money on unpaid hours.
How to check your paycheck in five steps
1. Confirm the pay period dates
Make sure the stub covers the dates you think it does. Hours worked at the end of one period may land on the next check.
2. Compare regular hours
Does the stub's regular-hours number match your own total, minus overtime? Remember that payroll uses decimal hours. If you're unsure, see how to convert time to decimal.
3. Compare overtime hours and rate
Check the number of overtime hours and the rate. At time-and-a-half, it should be 1.5 times your regular rate. See how to calculate overtime pay.
4. Check your hourly rate
If you got a raise, confirm the new rate applied from the right date.
5. Compare gross pay
Gross pay should equal regular pay plus overtime pay, plus any other earnings listed. If gross pay is right, any difference in your deposit comes from taxes or deductions.
Then review deductions
Look for new or changed deductions, like insurance or retirement contributions. If something changed and you don't know why, ask payroll. Your take-home will always be less than gross; for a rough idea of how much, see a work hours tracker that shows after-tax income.
If something doesn't match
- Identify the exact shift or line that's off.
- Gather your record for that period, ideally as an export.
- Ask your supervisor or payroll politely and specifically.
- Confirm the fix shows up on your next check.
Our guides on what happens when you clock in wrong and how to prove your hours worked cover this conversation in more detail. If your employer won't fix a real underpayment, your state labor department is the place to ask about your options.
Make the check automatic
Hours Tracker Time Clock gives you the numbers to compare in seconds:
- Hours for any pay period, to the minute
- Overtime calculated at the right multiplier
- Live earnings so you know your gross before payday
- Rate changes that keep past periods accurate
- Missed days at a glance, so your own record has no gaps
- One-tap export if you need to show payroll your hours
Know your paycheck is right
Download Hours Tracker Time Clock on the App Store or Google Play and check your next stub against your own numbers.