What Should Be Included on a Pay Stub? Complete Breakdown

## Anatomy of a Pay Stub

A pay stub contains detailed information about your earnings and deductions for a pay period. Here's everything that should be included.

Personal Information Section

Employee Details: - **Full legal name** - As registered with employer - **Address** - Current mailing address - **Employee ID** - Company-specific identifier - **Last 4 of SSN** - For identification (XXX-XX-1234)

Employer Details: - **Company name** - Legal business name - **Company address** - Business location - **Phone number** - Optional but helpful - **EIN** - Employer Identification Number (sometimes)

Pay Period Information

Dates: - **Pay period start** - First day of period - **Pay period end** - Last day of period - **Pay date** - When payment is issued/deposited

Example: - Pay Period: 01/01/2025 - 01/15/2025 - Pay Date: 01/20/2025

Earnings Section

Types of Earnings:

• Regular Pay:
• Salary: Fixed amount per period
• Hourly: Hours × hourly rate
• Base compensation

• Overtime:
• Hours over 40/week (typically)
• Usually 1.5× regular rate
• Listed separately

• Bonuses:
• Performance bonuses
• Sign-on bonuses
• Holiday bonuses

• Commissions:
• Sales-based compensation
• Variable amounts

• Other:
• Tips
• Shift differentials
• Holiday pay
• PTO payout

Gross Pay: The total of all earnings BEFORE any deductions.

Deductions Section

Pre-Tax Deductions: Taken BEFORE calculating taxes

• Retirement:
• 401(k) contributions
• 403(b) contributions
• Pension contributions

• Insurance:
• Health insurance premiums
• Dental insurance
• Vision insurance
• HSA contributions
• FSA contributions

• Other:
• Commuter benefits
• Dependent care FSA

Tax Deductions:

• Federal Taxes:
• Federal income tax
• Social Security (6.2%)
• Medicare (1.45%)

• State/Local:
• State income tax
• Local/city taxes
• State disability insurance

Post-Tax Deductions: Taken AFTER calculating taxes

• Common Examples:
• Roth 401(k)
• Life insurance (above $50k coverage)
• Union dues
• Garnishments
• Charitable donations

Net Pay

What It Is: The final amount you receive after ALL deductions.

Calculation: Gross Pay - Pre-Tax Deductions - Taxes - Post-Tax Deductions = Net Pay

Example: - Gross Pay: $4,000 - Pre-Tax Deductions: $400 (401k, insurance) - Federal Tax: $350 - State Tax: $150 - Social Security: $248 - Medicare: $58 - Post-Tax Deductions: $50 - **Net Pay: $2,744**

Year-to-Date (YTD) Section

What It Shows: Cumulative totals from January 1 to current pay date.

YTD Information Includes: - Total gross earnings - Total of each deduction type - Total taxes paid - Total net pay

Why It Matters: - Track annual earnings - Verify tax withholdings - Plan for tax filing - Proof of income for loans

Hours and Rate Section

For Hourly Employees: - Regular hours worked - Overtime hours - Hourly rate - Overtime rate

For Salaried Employees: - May show equivalent hourly rate - Or just salary amount

Paid Time Off (PTO) Section

May Include: - Vacation hours available - Vacation hours used - Sick time available - Sick time used - PTO accrued this period

Pay Stub for Self-Employed

What to Include: When creating your own pay stubs:

• Required:
• Your name/business name
• Your address
• Pay period dates
• Gross earnings
• Net earnings
• YTD totals

• Optional but Helpful:
• Business type (Self-Employed, Freelancer)
• Tax estimates (if shown)
• Business expenses (if including)

Understanding Deduction Codes

Common Abbreviations: | Code | Meaning | |------|---------| | FWT/FIT | Federal Income Tax | | SWT/SIT | State Income Tax | | SS/OASDI | Social Security | | MED | Medicare | | 401K | 401(k) Contribution | | HLTH | Health Insurance | | DENT | Dental Insurance | | VIS | Vision Insurance | | LTD | Long-Term Disability | | LIFE | Life Insurance |

Red Flags to Watch

Check Your Pay Stub For: - Incorrect personal information - Wrong pay rate - Missing hours/overtime - Unexpected deductions - Calculation errors - YTD discrepancies

What to Do: Contact HR/payroll immediately if you notice errors.

Creating Professional Pay Stubs

Quick Paystub helps you create complete pay stubs:

• All required sections included
• Automatic calculations
• YTD tracking
• Professional format
• Instant PDF download

[Create Your Pay Stub Now →](/)

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*Pay stub requirements vary by state. Some states require specific information to be included.*