Paystub Powerhouse

This unit demystifies the transition from gross salary to net take-home pay, helping students understand earnings, mandatory taxes, and deductions. Students will learn to calculate gross pay, interpret tax forms, and audit their own paystubs for accuracy.

The Gross Growth Base

Students learn the difference between hourly wages, salaries, and overtime pay to calculate total gross income. They practice converting annual salaries to bi-weekly and monthly gross amounts to establish a baseline for deductions.

The Tax Cut Tracker

Learners investigate Federal, State, and Local taxes. The lesson breaks down how tax brackets work simply and explains the purpose of the W-4 form in determining withholding amounts.

Social Safety Net Savings

This lesson focuses on FICA (Social Security and Medicare). Students calculate these deductions and discuss the societal benefits these taxes fund.

Paystub Treasure Hunt

Students engage in a forensic analysis of complex sample paystubs, identifying year-to-date (YTD) totals, current period amounts, and various deduction types.

The Payroll Audit Challenge

Students act as payroll auditors to check for common mistakes in calculation or withholding, learning how to advocate for themselves if their pay is wrong.