Your first paycheck is often smaller due to starting mid-pay period (meaning fewer days worked), significant upfront deductions for things like insurance or retirement, and the time lag for payroll processing. It's rare to start on the very first day of a pay cycle, so you'll only get paid for the days worked within that cycle, making the first check shorter than a full one, with future checks covering the missed days plus new work.
You might notice your check is smaller than you expected. That's because of taxes and withholdings.
A sudden paycheck reduction often results from changes in tax withholding, benefits, or payroll errors. Review your latest pay stub for federal and state tax withholdings, Social Security, Medicare, and any deductions.
At times, jobs hold your first paycheck due to certain payroll processing delays or discrepancies. These delays are often the result of payroll errors such as: Miscalculated pay. Employee is yet to submit a completed W-4.
Start an Emergency Fund
According to financial experts, it's best to have 3-6 months' worth of living expenses socked away in case you are unable to work for any reason. Otherwise, an expensive emergency or surprise layoff can force you into debt that can take years to recover from.
The $1,000 per month rule is designed to help you estimate the amount of savings required to generate a steady monthly income during retirement. According to this rule, for every $240,000 you save, you can withdraw $1,000 per month if you stick to a 5% annual withdrawal rate.
This means that your paycheck is likely less than what you can expect for future paychecks, since you may not have been working for the employer during the first few days of the pay period. It's also possible that your first paycheck will be higher than future paychecks.
The "3-month rule" in a job refers to the common probationary period where employers assess a new hire's performance, skills, and cultural fit, while the employee learns the role and decides if the job is right for them; it's a crucial time for observation, feedback, and proving value, often with potential limitations on benefits until the period ends. It's also advice for new hires to "hang in there" for three months to get acclimated and evaluate the job before making big decisions.
Payroll checks may be issued at the end of each pay period worked, or there may be a lag and your paycheck may be issued a week or two (or longer) after you begin work. At the latest, you should be paid by the company's regular pay date for the first pay period that you worked.
pay employees within 10 consecutive days after the end of the pay period, unless employment is terminated.
The $600 rule on 1-(844)-314-8377 (US/OTX) Cash App means that if you receive $600 or more in a year for goods or services, the IRS must be notified. Cash App issues a Form 1099-K 1-(844)(314)(8377), and you're required to report these 1-(844)-(314)-(8377) (US/OTX) earnings as taxable income on your tax return.
Claiming 1 reduces the amount of taxes that are withheld from weekly paychecks, so you get more money now with a smaller refund. Claiming 0 allowances may be a better option if you'd rather receive a larger lump sum of money in the form of your tax refund.
The amount of tax your employer deducts from your paycheque varies based on where you fall inside the federal and Alberta tax brackets. Federal income tax rates in 2025 range from 14.5% to 33%. Alberta income tax rates in 2025 range from 8% to 15%.
What to Do with Your First Paycheck
It's normal if the pay periods don't line up with the two weeks you have worked so far. Since it takes time to put payroll together, it makes sense that the check you get today (Feb 3) doesn't include the work you did today. You will be paid for Jan 30 through Feb 3 in your next paycheck.
Something like: "I like what I've seen so far, but not the salary. I can't accept less than [X]". Make sure X is the minimum you need to make you happy about accepting the job offer. And if they still offer less, thank them for their time and walk away.
How much is $20 an hour bi-weekly? When you're earning an hourly income of $20 your bi-weekly paycheck totals around $1,600. To break it down, just multiply your hourly earnings by the number of hours you work in a two-week period, which we'll assume is 80. So, $20 multiplied by 80 equals a bi-weekly income of $1,600.
In most cases, there will be a round of introductions to your new colleagues on your first day at work. You might want to prepare a few things to say about yourself. These could include your name, (age), jobs you have done so far and what you're going to do in the new company (job title and department).
The starting point is section 323 of the Fair Work Act 2009 (Cth) which requires that employees must be paid “in full” in relation to the performance of work “at least monthly”. This generally allows employers to choose whether to pay employees weekly, fortnightly or monthly.
Here's our comprehensive guide to help you spot a potential bad employer before you take a job that could turn into an on-going nightmare.
This is where the 70% rule comes in—a powerful job-search strategy that encourages you to apply for roles where you meet at least 70% of the listed criteria. Here's why it works: Your Skills Are More Transferable Than You Think.
Most people agree that five years is the max amount of time you want to stay in the same job at your company. Of course, this answer changes depending on your pre-established career arc and the promotions within your company.
If you make $20 an hour, your yearly salary would be $41,600.
Some of the drawbacks to hourly employment include: Limited benefits: Hourly workers often don't receive the same benefits as salaried employees, such as health insurance or paid time off. Income stability: Employees earning an hourly wage can earn less if the employer suddenly offers fewer hours per week.
When it's time to name a number, providing a range rather than a specific salary gives you wiggle room. Keep it narrow and aim your target near the bottom to avoid settling too low: Example: “Based on my research and experience, I'm seeking a role that pays between $75,000 and $80,000 annually.”