> they are going to make me pay for the background check out of my first
> paycheck if I am hired. Is this a normal practice?

It's not normal in my experience.

I have never had to pay for a background check. Nor has any company where I have worked required new hires to reimburse the cost of background checks. I've always worked in the software domain.

Seems like a very odd practice to me, but it may depend on the domain of the employer and the nature of the job.

That said, it's legal in most states. Check with your state's laws to see if yours is one of the few prohibiting that practice. I'm guessing that the company knows and is obeying the local laws.