For teachers
Reading a pay stub: free worksheet
A realistic 2026 pay stub, ten questions that build from gross pay to tax choices, and an answer key. Free to print and copy for any classroom.
Updated 2026-10-02 · 2026 tax year
Harbor & Pine Carpentry LLC418 Mill Street, Asheville, NC
| Earnings | Current | YTD |
|---|---|---|
| Regular 80h | 2,280.00 | 45,600.00 |
| Overtime 6h | 256.50 | 5,130.00 |
| Gross | 2,536.50 | 50,730.00 |
| Deductions | Current | YTD |
|---|---|---|
| Federal tax | 198.16 | 3,963.17 |
| Social Security | 151.99 | 3,039.86 |
| Medicare | 35.55 | 710.94 |
| NC state tax | 93.77 | 1,875.33 |
| 401(k) | 101.46 | 2,029.20 |
| Health | 85.00 | 1,700.00 |
Pay to the order of Jordan Ellis$1,870.58Verify at paystubline.com/verify · sample code 7KQ4P-M2XHD⑆ SPECIMEN ⑆ NOT NEGOTIABLE ⑈
Questions
- What is the employee's gross pay for this period?
- How much was withheld for Social Security? Check it: is it 6.2% of gross minus the health premium?
- Which deductions were taken before tax?
- What is the net pay, and how do you get there from gross pay?
- How many hours of overtime were paid, and at what rate?
- What does YTD mean, and what is the YTD gross?
- About how many paychecks has the employee received this year?
- If the employee raised their 401(k) to 6%, would net pay go up or down? Why?
- Which line would disappear if the employee moved to Texas?
- Why might two people with the same salary have different net pay?
Answer key
- $2,536.50 (regular $2,280.00 plus overtime $256.50).
- About $151.99. FICA wages are $2,536.50 minus the $85.00 health premium, so 6.2% of $2,451.50.
- 401(k) and health insurance.
- Net pay is gross minus federal tax, Social Security, Medicare, state tax and deductions.
- 6 hours at $42.75, which is 1.5 times $28.50.
- Year to date: totals since January 1. YTD gross is 20 times this period's gross.
- 20, because YTD is 20 times one paycheck.
- Down, but by less than the extra contribution, because 401(k) money is taken before income tax.
- North Carolina state income tax. Texas has no state income tax.
- Filing status, W-4 choices, pre-tax deductions and state and local taxes all differ.
Licensed CC BY 4.0. Related: how to read a pay stub, pay stub glossary.