How to Read Your Pay Stub
Decode every line on your pay stub, from gross pay and withholdings to YTD totals and net pay.
Gross earnings
The top of your pay stub shows gross earnings for the pay period — your regular pay, plus any overtime, bonuses, or commissions. If you're hourly, you'll usually see your rate, hours worked, and overtime broken out separately.
Taxes withheld
Next you'll see the taxes taken out: federal income tax, Social Security (often labeled 'FICA' or 'OASDI'), Medicare, and state income tax. Some cities add a local tax line. These are mandatory withholdings sent to the government on your behalf.
Deductions
This section lists voluntary and other deductions: 401(k) or retirement contributions, health, dental, and vision insurance premiums, HSA/FSA contributions, and sometimes union dues or garnishments. Pre-tax deductions reduce your taxable income; post-tax deductions come out after taxes are calculated.
Year-to-date (YTD) totals
Most pay stubs show YTD columns next to each line. These running totals for the year are useful for tracking how close you are to the Social Security wage base, how much you've contributed to your 401(k), and how much tax you've paid so far.
Net pay
At the bottom is net pay — your take-home amount for the period after all taxes and deductions. This is what's deposited into your bank account. If it looks off, compare it against our paycheck calculator using the same inputs.