Payroll Clerk how-to

How to Run a Payroll Preview Check

Previews catch errors before payday.

Updated By the Career Education Institute Curriculum Team
Quick answer

Previews catch errors before payday. In short: run; compare; flag, then complete the remaining steps below.

Step by step

  1. Run the preview.

  2. Compare to last period.

  3. Flag big changes.

  4. Check new hires and terms.

  5. Check deductions.

  6. Fix and rerun.

Safety reminders for payroll clerks

  • Protect pay and Social Security data
  • Follow wage and hour laws
  • Prevent payroll fraud
  • Use secure systems

Gross pay · Net pay · Deduction · FICA · W-2 · W-4: see the full payroll clerk glossary.

More payroll clerk how-to guides

Learn this in Payroll Clerk trainingTake the practice test
Enroll in trainingTake fit quiz