Pay Stub Error Calculator — Estimate Missing Pay
Compare what you expected to earn against what your pay stub shows — spot payroll errors instantly. Enter your expected gross pay and the amount on your pay stub to estimate missing wages.
Formula: Expected gross pay − pay stub gross pay = estimated error. Expected pay = hours worked × hourly rate (or annual salary ÷ pay periods for salaried employees). If the difference is recurring, use the Back Pay Calculator to estimate total underpayment.
On this page: Common pay stub errors · What to do next · FAQ
Related help: Unpaid wages calculator · Back pay calculator · Overtime pay calculator · Unpaid breaks calculator
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Common Pay Stub Errors That Cause Missing Pay
Pay stubs can contain errors at multiple points in the payroll process. These are the most frequently occurring issues:
- Incorrect hours recorded: Timekeeping systems rounding down, missing clock-ins, or supervisors editing time records. If your pay stub shows fewer hours than you worked, use the Unpaid Wages Calculator for a more precise estimate.
- Wrong pay rate applied: After a raise, promotion, or rate correction, the new rate may not be entered in the payroll system in time — meaning you're paid at the old rate for one or more pay periods.
- Auto-deducted breaks not worked: Timekeeping systems that automatically deduct 30 minutes for lunch regardless of whether the employee took the break. If you worked through lunch, the deducted time is unpaid. Use the Unpaid Breaks Calculator.
- Overtime not paid or underpaid: Overtime hours paid at the regular rate instead of 1.5×, or overtime calculated on base pay only (excluding bonuses or differentials that should be included). Use the Overtime Pay Calculator.
- Incorrect deductions: Tax withholding errors, duplicate benefit deductions, or garnishment amounts exceeding legal limits can reduce net pay below what it should be. Note that this calculator compares gross pay — deduction errors require reviewing the deductions line-by-line on your stub.
- Missing pay components: Promised bonuses, commissions, shift differentials, or expense reimbursements that didn't appear on the pay stub.
- Misclassification affecting overtime: If you've been classified as exempt (salaried/no overtime) but your job duties don't meet the legal exemption test, entire weeks of overtime may be missing from your pay stub. See the Misclassification Cost Calculator.
This calculator estimates the gross pay shortfall for a single pay period. For errors spanning multiple pay periods, use the Back Pay Calculator to total the cumulative underpayment.
What to Do When You Find a Pay Stub Error
- Document the discrepancy: Keep your pay stub, your timecard or schedule, and any records supporting your expected pay. Write down the specific pay period, hours, rate, and dollar amount of the error.
- Calculate the amount owed: Use this calculator for a single pay period. For recurring errors, use the Back Pay Calculator to estimate the total across affected periods.
- Contact payroll or HR in writing: Email is preferable — it creates a paper trail. State the specific pay period(s), the error, and the amount you believe is owed. Request correction in the next pay cycle.
- Follow up if unresolved: If payroll doesn't correct the error within one or two pay cycles, escalate in writing. Keep copies of all communications.
- File a wage claim if needed: If your employer refuses to correct a confirmed error, you can file a wage claim with your state's Department of Labor or the federal Wage and Hour Division. For amounts over a few hundred dollars, consulting an employment attorney is also worth considering — many offer free initial consultations.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a pay stub error?
A pay stub error occurs when earnings, hours, or deductions listed on a paycheck do not accurately reflect work performed or agreed pay terms. Common errors include incorrect hours logged, the wrong pay rate applied, auto-deducted break time you actually worked, missing overtime premium, or incorrect deduction amounts.
What causes pay stub errors?
Pay stub errors commonly result from timekeeping system issues (rounding, auto-deductions), data entry errors when logging hours, incorrect wage rates in the payroll system after a raise, payroll processing bugs, misclassification affecting overtime eligibility, or incorrect deduction amounts for taxes, benefits, or garnishments.
How do I estimate missing pay from a pay stub?
Calculate your expected gross pay — hours worked × hourly rate, or annual salary ÷ pay periods for salaried employees — then compare it to the gross pay shown on your pay stub. The difference is the estimated error. For errors recurring across multiple pay periods, use the Back Pay Calculator to estimate cumulative underpayment.
Can pay stub errors include overtime issues?
Yes. Pay stub errors frequently involve overtime — hours paid at the regular rate instead of 1.5×, overtime not paid at all, or overtime calculated on base pay only when bonuses or shift differentials should also be included in the regular rate. Use the Overtime Pay Calculator for overtime-specific estimates.
What should I do if I find a pay stub error?
Document the discrepancy with your timecard and pay stub, then contact payroll or HR in writing requesting a correction. If unresolved after one or two pay cycles, escalate in writing and keep copies of all communications. If the employer refuses to correct a confirmed error, file a wage claim with your state's Department of Labor or consult an employment attorney. See the step-by-step guide above.
Is this calculator legally accurate?
This calculator provides an estimate for informational purposes only. It does not account for overtime rules, statutory penalties, or jurisdiction-specific wage laws and should not be relied on as legal or financial advice.
Not sure which calculator fits your situation? See all wage and pay calculators.