Paystub decoder
A sample teen paystub with every line explained. Walk through it together before their first day on the job so the first paycheck is informative, not shocking.
Sample Paystub
From kidcashapp.com • Fictional example
Employee: Sam Rivers
Pay period: June 1 – June 14, 2026 | Pay date: June 19, 2026
Hours: 40 × 2 weeks = 80 hours | Rate: $15.00/hr
| Line item | Amount | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| Gross pay | $1,200 | What you earned before anything came out. 80 hours × $15. |
| Federal income tax | −$96 | Money to the federal government. Funds military, roads, Medicare, etc. |
| State income tax | −$36 | Money to your state. Funds schools, state parks, etc. (Some states have none.) |
| Social Security | −$74.4 | 6.2% — retirement insurance for when you're older. |
| Medicare | −$17.4 | 1.45% — health insurance for older adults. |
| 401(k) / Roth IRA | $0 | If you chose to set aside retirement money. Zero if you didn't opt in. |
| Net pay | $976.2 | What actually lands in your bank account. |
Your turn:
1. What percent of gross pay is net pay? ($976.20 ÷ $1,200 = ____%)
2. If you earn $500 gross next pay period, estimate your net pay: $__________
3. The rule of thumb is take-home is about 80–85% of gross. Does this paystub match that? ☐ Yes ☐ No
Tip: Paystubs look different between employers, but the big lines are always the same: gross at the top, deductions in the middle, net at the bottom.
Made by KidCash • kidcashapp.com