Starting a new job in the US: the checklist
From the offer letter to your first paycheck: the forms you sign, the choices to make and what to check, in order.
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Time: a few days before and your first month
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The offer
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Ask whether the pay is hourly or salaried, and whether the job is exempt from overtime.
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The federal minimum is $7.25 an hour, and many states and cities set a higher one: you are entitled to the higher of the two (DOL).
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The sign-up window is often short, so ask how long you have.
Documents to bring
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You choose: one document from List A (such as a US passport), or one from List B (such as a driver’s license) and one from List C (such as a Social Security card) (USCIS).
Forms on day one
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Your employer must not ask for it before you accept the job. It confirms your identity and your right to work (USCIS).
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The employer examines the originals and completes Section 2 within three business days of your start date (USCIS).
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Start with Step 1: your name, Social Security number and filing status. Steps 2 to 4 are optional (IRS).
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Without it, too little tax is usually withheld. The IRS Tax Withholding Estimator can help (IRS).
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$2,200 for each child under 17 and $500 for other dependents, if your total income is $200,000 or less ($400,000 if married filing jointly) (IRS).
Benefits to choose
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Premiums usually come from your paycheck before tax, which lowers your income tax, Social Security and Medicare.
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If your employer matches contributions, contribute at least enough to get the full match.
The first paycheck
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The take-home pay calculator on this site shows what to expect from a salary.
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Your employer pays the same amount again on top (IRS).
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Check your withholding every January, and after a new job, a marriage, a child or a home purchase (IRS).
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Your employer files a W-2 for each employee. You need it to file your return.
First paycheck checked
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Good to know
- In the US most jobs are “at will”, and employment rules vary by state. This list covers the federal basics; your state may add forms, such as a state withholding form, and rules about pay stubs and final paychecks.
- Your employer cannot ask you to complete Form I-9 before you accept the job, and you decide which acceptable documents to show (USCIS).
- Your W-4 is only a way to split your tax between paychecks. Your real tax is settled when you file your return, and the difference is a refund or a bill.
- If you work as a contractor or freelancer rather than an employee, you do not fill in a W-4; you fill in a W-9 and pay your own self-employment tax.
- Not legal advice. For a problem with your pay or rights, the Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division, your state labor department or an employment lawyer can help.
Frequently asked questions
What forms do I fill in when I start a new job?
Form I-9 (to prove who you are and your right to work), Form W-4 (to set your federal tax withholding), a state withholding form if your state taxes income, a direct deposit form and your benefits enrollment.
What do I need for Form I-9?
Either one List A document, such as a US passport or passport card, or one List B document that proves identity (such as a driver’s license) and one List C document that proves work authorization (such as a Social Security card). You choose which to show (USCIS).
How soon must I complete Form I-9?
Section 1 no later than your first day of work. Your employer completes Section 2 within three business days of the day you start (USCIS).
What should I put on my W-4?
Your filing status in Step 1. Check the box in Step 2 if you have a second job or a working spouse. Add your children in Step 3. Steps 4(a) to 4(c) are optional adjustments (IRS).
How do I know if too much tax is being withheld?
Use the IRS Tax Withholding Estimator with your latest pay stubs. If the result differs from what is withheld, give your employer a new W-4.
Next step
I’m not an accountant or a financial advisor. This is an estimate, for information only. Check with a professional before you decide.
- The calculatorUS paycheck calculator 2026
- The short guideW-4 and withholding explained
- The calculator401(k) calculator
- The routeYour pay and taxes in the US
Sources
- IRS — Form W-4, Employee’s Withholding Certificate (2026)
- IRS — Tax Withholding Estimator
- IRS — Topic no. 751, Social Security and Medicare withholding rates
- IRS — About Form W-2
- USCIS — Form I-9, Employment Eligibility Verification
- USCIS — Form I-9 acceptable documents
- USCIS — Handbook for Employers: completing Section 2
- U.S. Department of Labor — Minimum wage
For a dispute about pay or your rights, contact the Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division, your state labor department or an employment lawyer.