Ontario Paycheque Gross Pay Checker
Pay stubs are hard to audit because gross pay is several rules added together. This checker rebuilds the gross line from its parts under Ontario’s Employment Standards Act — regular hours, weekly overtime, public holiday pay, premium pay for working a holiday, and vacation pay paid on each cheque — then compares it with what your stub says. It stops at gross pay: CPP, EI and income tax are deducted afterwards and are not estimated here.
Official sources
- Ontario — Your guide to the ESA: Overtime pay
- Ontario — Your guide to the ESA: Public holidays
- Ontario — Your guide to the ESA: Vacation
- Ontario — Your guide to the ESA: Minimum wage
Limitations
- Ontario, hourly employees, one rate of pay. Salaried, commission and piece-rate pay are not modelled.
- Assumes you are covered by ESA overtime (44 h) — many jobs are exempt or have special rules.
- Minimum-wage check uses the general and student rates only; liquor servers, homeworkers and guides have their own rates.
- Gross pay only. Deductions (CPP, EI, income tax, union dues, benefits) are a separate calculation.
Results are estimates for general information and are not legal, tax, payroll or financial advice. Employment contracts, collective agreements and individual circumstances can change what you are owed.
What the checker adds up
for each work week: regular pay = min(hours, 44) × rate overtime pay = max(hours − 44, 0) × rate × 1.5 + public holiday pay (from the holiday pay calculator) + premium pay = hours worked on the holiday × rate × 1.5 + other earnings = wages before vacation pay + vacation pay = wages before vacation pay × 4% (or 6% / contract rate), if paid each cheque = GROSS PAY
Worked example — biweekly, $20/hour, Canada Day in the period
| Week 1: 32 h regular (holiday on Wednesday) | $640.00 |
| Week 2: 40 h regular | $800.00 |
| Public holiday pay (previous 4 weeks: $3,200 + $128 vacation pay ÷ 20) | $166.40 |
| Worked 8 h on the holiday at 1.5× ($30.00) | $240.00 |
| Wages before vacation pay | $1,846.40 |
| Vacation pay 4% | $73.86 |
| Gross pay | $1,920.26 |
Reading an Ontario pay stub
Ontario employers must give a written or electronic wage statement each payday showing the pay period, the wage rate, the gross amount and how it was calculated, each deduction, and the net amount. If the statement does not show how gross pay was calculated, you are entitled to ask.
Build the inputs with the other tools
- Biweekly timesheet → weekly hours.
- Public holiday pay calculator → the holiday pay amount.
- Vacation pay calculator → which rate (4% or 6%) applies to you.
- Overtime calculator → averaging agreements and salaried overtime.
Frequently asked questions
Why does my gross pay not match the checker?
The usual reasons: overtime was calculated over the two-week period instead of per week; vacation pay was left off a cheque that should include it; public holiday pay was missed for a holiday on a day off; or hours were rounded down. Compare line by line — the checker lists each component separately.
Is vacation pay included in gross pay?
If you have agreed (in writing or electronically) to receive vacation pay on every cheque, yes — it appears as a separate line, usually 4% or 6% of the other earnings. If your employer pays it as a lump sum before vacation instead, untick the option.
Should overtime be in the vacation pay base?
Yes. Under the ESA, vacation pay is calculated on gross wages including overtime pay and public holiday pay (but not on vacation pay itself).
What is the Ontario minimum wage right now?
The general minimum wage is $17.95 per hour from October 1, 2026 (it was $17.60 from October 1, 2025). The student rate for those under 18 working 28 hours a week or less is $16.90 (previously $16.60). Rates are adjusted every October 1 for inflation.
My employer paid me less than this. What can I do?
Start by asking payroll for the calculation in writing. If it is still wrong, Ontario’s Ministry of Labour has a free Employment Standards Self-Service Tool and a claims process; most claims must be filed within two years.