Because you are paid a salary, you should notice that your regular pay is in a designated area of your paystub. It should be proportionate to your pay period, and any bonuses should be listed separately.

Because you are paid an hourly wage instead of a salary, your regular pay should be the equivalent of your hourly wage multiplied by your total worked hours for the pay period.

When working overtime, your hours should be reported, and you should be compensated at your agreed rate..

You took holiday or sick time this pay period, and those hours should be reported either on a designated area of your pay stub or on a separate document.

Taxes reduce your take-home pay, and it’s important to have appropriate taxes withheld on your behalf. You currently have the necessary amounts withheld, but you can continually review them on sections of your paystub dedicated to federal income tax, state and local taxes, Social Security and Medicare.

After reviewing your prior 1040 and current year projections then determining you need to make changes to your tax withholding, it’s important to complete a new W-4. That will allow you to make necessary adjustments.

Because you have pre-tax deductions for retirement plan, FSA or HSA contributions, or other expenses like dependent care insurance premiums, you should see the savings/expenses reduce your taxable income and paycheck.

Your Roth retirement plan contributions are deducted from your paycheck after taxes, reducing the take-home pay.

After making payments for nondeductible expenses such as certain insurance premiums, you should see a reduction in your paycheck.

Employer healthcare and/or retirement contributions and fringe benefits can increase your total compensation. You should see any deductions for those benefits should they apply.

It’s important to make sure your filing status and allowances are accurate. You can complete a new W-4 to update your retirement contributions and make other changes if needed.