Use the figures printed on your own stub. These example numbers are only a starting point. Pre-tax items can lower Social Security and Medicare wages or not, so the checker accepts both and shows the range.
What a pay stub looks like
An example with made-up numbers. Your stub may use different names and a different order.
| Earnings | Period | YTD |
|---|---|---|
| Regular, 80.00 h at $25.002 | $2,000.00 | $40,000.00 |
| Gross pay3 | $2,000.00 | $40,000.008 |
| Taxes withheld | Period | YTD |
| Federal income tax4 | $156.15 | $3,123.00 |
| Social Security (OASDI)5 | $124.00 | $2,480.00 |
| Medicare6 | $29.00 | $580.00 |
| Net pay7 | $1,690.85 |
- 1Pay period and pay dateThe days this paycheck covers and the day the money arrives.
- 2Hours and rateHours worked and your hourly rate. Overtime hours would be a separate line at 1.5 times.
- 3Gross payEverything you earned this period, before anything comes out.
- 4Federal income taxWithheld from your W-4. A prepayment toward your yearly tax.
- 5Social Security6.2% of wages, up to a yearly limit. Sometimes labeled OASDI.
- 6Medicare1.45% of wages, with no limit.
- 7Net payWhat is deposited: gross pay minus every deduction.
- 8YTD columnThe running total for the year, including this paycheck.
The top of the stub
Gross pay is what you earned this period before anything is taken out. It is usually hours times rate, plus overtime at 1.5 times for hours over 40 in the week. Bonuses and commissions are listed separately.
Year to date, or YTD, is the running total for the calendar year including this paycheck. It is shown next to many lines so you can see your totals so far.
Taxes taken out
Federal income tax is withheld using your Form W-4. It is a prepayment toward your yearly tax, not the final amount. You settle the difference when you file.
Social Security is 6.2% of wages, up to a yearly wage base that is $184,500 in 2026. It may appear as OASDI. Medicare is 1.45% of wages with no cap. Together these are called FICA, and your employer pays a matching share. Source: IRS Topic 751.
Deductions and net pay
Pre-tax deductions such as a traditional 401(k) or health insurance lower the wages used for income tax. Some also lower the wages used for Social Security and Medicare, others do not, which is why the checker shows a range.
State and local tax varies. Texas and Florida have no state income tax on wages, so you will not see that line there. Other deductions can include union dues, garnishments or insurance premiums.
Net pay is gross pay minus everything above. It should equal the deposit in your bank. If it does not, a deduction is missing from what you typed, or something on the stub needs explaining.
Does your employer have to give you a pay stub?
Not under federal law. The Department of Labor says the FLSA does not require an employer to provide employees pay stubs, though employers must keep accurate records of hours worked and wages paid. Source: US Department of Labor, FLSA questions and answers.
Many states do have their own rules about wage statements, and they differ. Check your own state labor office using the Department of Labor's State Resources page, which links to every state's labor office. Your employer's payroll portal often shows the same information.
Overtime on your stub
Overtime hours show as their own line, often labeled OT or 1.5x. To check the amount, use the overtime calculator. For how much of an overtime check is taxed, try the paycheck calculator.
How do I read a pay stub?
Start with gross pay at the top, then follow the deductions down to net pay at the bottom. Federal income tax, Social Security and Medicare come out of nearly every paycheck. Pre-tax items such as a 401(k) or health insurance and any state tax come out too. What is left is net pay, the amount deposited.
Do employers have to give you a pay stub?
Not under federal law. The Department of Labor says the FLSA does not require an employer to provide pay stubs, although employers must keep wage and hour records. Many states have their own wage statement rules, so check your state labor department.
What is the difference between gross pay and net pay?
Gross pay is what you earned before anything is taken out. Net pay, also called take-home pay, is what you receive after taxes and deductions.
What does YTD mean on a pay stub?
YTD means year to date. It is the running total for the calendar year up to and including that paycheck, so you can see how much you have earned and paid in tax so far.
What are FICA taxes on a pay stub?
FICA is Social Security at 6.2% and Medicare at 1.45% of your wages. Your employer pays a matching amount. Social Security stops after the yearly wage base, which is $184,500 in 2026.
Why is my federal tax different from the calculator?
Withholding depends on your Form W-4: filing status, the two jobs box, credits and any extra amount. The IRS percentage method also treats each paycheck as if it repeated all year. So two people with the same pay can have different withholding.
What does a pay stub look like?
Most stubs have a header with your name, employer and pay period, an earnings section with hours, rate and gross pay, a taxes section with federal income tax, Social Security and Medicare, any other deductions, and net pay at the bottom. Many also show a year to date column.