Start With the Pay Period
Before checking every shift, make sure the pay stub covers the dates you think it covers. A paycheck may not include the most recent days you worked if those shifts fall in the next pay period.
Look for the pay-period start date, end date, check date, and any year-to-date totals that might make the stub harder to read.
Compare Your Hours
Next, compare your personal hour log against the pay stub. Check regular hours, overtime hours, break deductions, and any shift that crossed midnight.
If your records show 42 hours but the stub shows 40, identify the exact shift or break entry that explains the difference before raising the issue.
Check Rate, Overtime, and Deductions
A paycheck can look wrong even when the hours are correct. The hourly rate may be outdated, overtime may be separated into a different line, or deductions may be higher than expected.
For a basic check, estimate gross pay first. Then review taxes, benefits, retirement, garnishments, reimbursements, or other deductions shown on the stub.
- Regular hourly rate
- Overtime rate or multiplier
- Regular hours
- Overtime hours
- Double-time hours if applicable
- Pre-tax deductions
- Post-tax deductions
- Net pay
Keep Notes Before You Ask Payroll
If something still looks wrong, gather the dates, shift times, totals, and pay-stub lines involved. A clear question is easier for payroll or a supervisor to review.
Avoid relying on memory. A written or exported record helps you explain the difference without rebuilding the week from scratch.
Shift Log+ helps you compare shifts, breaks, overtime, pay periods, and estimated pay against your paycheck.
Frequently Asked Questions
What should I check first if my paycheck looks wrong?
Start with hours worked, unpaid breaks, overtime hours, hourly rate, and whether the right pay period was used.
Should I compare my pay stub to my own records?
Yes. Your own shift log can help you find missing shifts, wrong break deductions, or overtime that was not calculated the way you expected.
Can Shift Log+ help with paycheck checks?
Yes. Shift Log+ keeps shift history, pay periods, overtime settings, and estimated pay so you have a record to compare against your pay stub.