What FICA actually takes
A plain read of Social Security and Medicare lines on a first trade paycheck.
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For first-year tradespeople
Trade money skills
Built for the check
The Course
Paystub skills for your money
You already joined a trade to learn the craft. Nobody enrolled you in a course that teaches the check. That is the job here.
4 plans. Clear prices.
98%
Paystub literacy
We treat a real paycheck as the primary text. Every deduction line, union dues, fringe, and abbreviation gets called out in plain language.
10K+
Plans by craft
Apprentice, Journeyman, and Master mark progress through paystub skills, not a loyalty ladder or a credential.
Courses
Courses built for the first check
Lead with the Paystub Decoder. Then the First Paycheck Plan. Then what to do when side work pays with no withholding. You type the numbers in by hand. No bank, payroll, or retirement account is ever connected.
Paystub Decoder
Every deduction line called out: federal, FICA, union dues, fringe, per diem, and travel pay, in the margin next to the stub.
You'll learn:
- Federal and FICA lines
- Union dues and fringe
- Per diem and travel pay
First Paycheck Plan
Split one check into bills, savings, tools, and spending so the first real deposit does not disappear overnight.
You'll learn:
- Federal and FICA lines
- Union dues and fringe
- Per diem and travel pay
Side work, no withhold
What changes the first time a side job pays you with nothing taken out, and how to handle that check without guessing.
You'll learn:
- Federal and FICA lines
- Union dues and fringe
- Per diem and travel pay
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The Path
Clear plans, not a loyalty scheme
step - 01
Start free on Apprentice
Start free. No payment method. Get the first Lessons that teach you to read the stub you already have.
step - 02
Get Journeyman
$9 a month or $69 a year. The apprentice paying his own way. Upgrade from Apprentice in one click.
step - 03
Work the Decoder
Open your stub. Type the lines by hand. Learn what vanished between gross and net before you spend a dollar.
step - 04
Build the Plan
Split bills, savings, tools, and spending. Pass Checks that prove you can run the numbers without a connected account.
step - 05
Get Master
$149 a year when side work is real and you want live Workshops. Still a course. Still not a license or certification.
Ready for Journeyman?
Start free on Apprentice
apprentice notes
Words from apprentices who found their footing
First-year tradespeople share what clicked once they could finally read the stub and plan the deposit.
“I thought FICA was one line. The Decoder walked every deduction. First time I knew where half my check went.”
“Side work paid me with nothing withheld. I used the plan before I spent a dollar. That alone was worth Journeyman.”
“Rent, truck, tools. The First Paycheck Plan made the split obvious instead of guessing after payday.”
“Started on Apprentice free. Moved to Journeyman when I wanted the full Courses. Clear, short, and built for the trade.”
Apprentice is free
Lessons, Courses, and Checks
Start free on Apprentice, or step into Journeyman for the Decoder and full path. Built for first-year tradespeople, not bank apps.
Ask us
Questions about the course, answered
Clear answers on plans, Lessons, Courses, side work with no withholding, and what NoVex Trade is and is not.
01
Do I need a card to start Apprentice?
No. Apprentice is free with no payment method. Journeyman and Master unlock when you are ready. Schools use Crew seats.
02
What happens in the first Lesson?
You open a Lesson, type numbers from a real stub by hand, and see what left before the deposit. No bank or payroll login.
03
How long does a Lesson take?
Lessons are short and self-paced. Most learners finish one between shifts. You set the pace, not a booking calendar.
04
How long should I stay on Journeyman?
Work at your own pace. Journeyman is month to month or yearly. Master is one year paid once. No session pack required.
05
What do the plans cost?
Apprentice is $0. Journeyman is $9/mo or $69/yr. Master is $149/yr. Crew is $12/seat/yr for schools, 20 seat minimum.
Plans & Pricing
Pick your paycheck plan
Four plans. One free start. Upgrade when the Decoder and full Courses matter. Schools get Crew seats.
* Checkout takes under 2 minutes.
Plans
Apprentice · $0
Journeyman · $9/mo
Journeyman · $69/yr
Master · $149/yr
Crew · $12/seat
Schools · 20 seat minimum, price varies
Billing Information
Most Popular · Journeyman
Journeyman · $9/mo or $69/yr
Monthly or annual billing
Card and ACH checkout
Lessons
Trade paycheck paycheck notes
Side work with no withhold
What changes when a side job pays the full amount and nothing is taken out.
Read article
Split your first deposit
Bills, tools, truck, and spending before the first check disappears overnight.
Read article
Swipe to explore →