Rebuild what your gross pay should be from your hours and rate — then compare it to the stub. Two minutes, and the most common errors light up.
The rebuild formula
gross = (rate × regular hrs) + ((rate + differential) × 1.5 × OT hrs) + extras
The differential inside the overtime parentheses is the detail payroll systems most often miss: federal law computes overtime on your "regular rate," which includes shift differentials and most non-discretionary bonuses — not the bare base rate. On differential-heavy schedules that shortcut quietly shaves every overtime hour.
A worked example
$22/hour, 80 regular hours, 4 overtime hours with a $1 night differential: gross should be $1,760 + ($23 × 1.5 × 4 = $138) = $1,898. A stub showing $1,892 is computing OT on base rate only — $6 this check, every check, which across a year of similar weeks is real money that a two-line email to payroll recovers.
Small errors are the tell
Big misses get noticed; systematic small ones don't, and they're where most recovered wages come from. Check one stub a quarter — after any raise, schedule change, or new payroll system especially. If your hours themselves shrink between timesheet and stub, save screenshots as you go; contemporaneous records decide those disputes.
Frequently asked questions
How do I check if my paycheck is right?
Rebuild the gross from scratch: regular hours × rate, plus overtime hours × 1.5× the rate, plus differentials and bonuses. Compare to the stub's gross line (not the net — deductions come after). Mismatch on gross means a payroll error; net surprises are usually withholding.
What are the most common paycheck errors?
Unpaid overtime (hours worked over 40 quietly logged as regular), overtime computed on base rate when a shift differential should be included, missing hours from edited timesheets, and wrong rates after a raise takes effect mid-period.
What do I do if my paycheck is wrong?
Start friendly and specific with payroll/HR: 'my gross shows X, my hours were Y at rate Z, which comes to W.' Most errors are honest and get fixed in one cycle. Patterned or resisted errors are wage theft — your state's labor department takes those complaints seriously and retaliation is illegal.
Why is my net pay different than my coworker's for the same gross?
Withholding differences: W-4 settings, pre-tax benefits (401(k), health premiums), and state taxes. Net differences are usually settings, not errors — it's the GROSS line that should match your hours math exactly.