When you filled out the tax forms when you got hired, how many exemptions did you claim? You can claim zero for larger deductions, but a larger refund. Maybe you claimed one exemption for larger paychecks at your previous job, but chose the "zero" option for the census job.

Even if it was for two weeks of work they might pay monthly and you just came in on the back-end of that period. That will affect the math, too.


In the end it doesn't matter. You will end up with the same amount of money in your pocket once the tax refund is factored in. I can assure you that you are not getting ripped off.