Reading a Paycheck: Gross vs Net Pay
⭐ FIRST PAYCHECK — A REAL-WORLD MONEY LAB ⭐
The lab
Your students think their first paycheck will be $300. It won't be. This lab walks them through what actually happens to a paycheck — and turns "reading a pay stub" into a real math skill they'll use for the rest of their lives.
What students do
- You're Hired — step into a real first-job scenario with a clear "I can" target
- Decode Your Pay Stub — read an authentic, itemized pay stub (gross, deductions, net)
- Build the Paycheck by Hand — compute all four deductions and net pay themselves, no calculator
- Your Paycheck Calculator — four "what-if" tasks in a self-calculating spreadsheet
- Two Offers, Make the Call — compare take-home pay and justify a choice with the numbers
- Show What You Know — a scored mastery check on a fresh paycheck
- Reality Check — reflection + a real-world connection
Real math, done right
The percent work (7.RP.A.3) is done BY the student — twice, by hand, and it's assessed. Social Security (6.2%) and Medicare (1.45%) are exact; federal and state income tax are clearly labeled as estimates with a teacher note, so nothing is taught as fact that isn't. Every number is verified and consistent to the cent.
Print or digital
Print-and-go, or assign the editable Word packet in Google Docs and the calculator in Google Sheets. No devices today? A Printed Calculator Readouts page lets a fully print-only class run the whole lab.
What is included
- 7-page student lab (PDF + editable Word)
- Self-calculating paycheck spreadsheet (Excel / Google Sheets)
- 2-page teacher guide with full answer key + 10-point rubric
- Printed Calculator Readouts (print fallback) + Terms of Use
More Money Labs
Standard codes refer to the Common Core State Standards for Mathematics. Math Class 678 is an independent publisher, not affiliated with, sponsored by, or endorsed by NGA Center or CCSSO. Every product is sold on Teachers Pay Teachers.