What Goes on a Pay Stub?

Employer and employee details

The statement identifies the employer and the person receiving wages. Clear names help connect the record to the correct payroll and payment.

Pay period and pay date

The pay period identifies the work dates covered by the payment. The pay date records when the wages were paid. Keeping the two distinct makes it easier to reconcile hours and payments.

Earnings

Earnings show how gross pay was calculated. For hourly work, that can include hours and rates; overtime can appear separately. Salary records show the salary amount for the period. Gross pay is before deductions.

Deductions

List each deduction on its own line so the employee can see what changed gross pay. Common lines include Social Security (6.2%), Medicare (1.45%), federal and state income tax, pre-tax deductions and other deductions. Actual withholding depends on payroll details; an estimate is not a substitute for payroll records.

Net pay and year-to-date

Net pay is the amount actually paid after deductions. Year-to-date totals add the current payday to the running totals for the year, making wages and deductions easier to review. Check the arithmetic: gross pay minus deductions equals net pay.

State requirements

Federal law doesn't require pay stubs, but many states do and set their own required items. See your state page. A household employee statement can have context-specific details; see the household employee guide rather than treating this as a complete legal checklist.

The document should make the movement from earnings to payment understandable. Put the pay period near the top, keep deduction names readable and avoid combining unrelated amounts under a vague label. Clear organization helps a reader compare the record with the payment and the employer's payroll information.

A useful next step

Compare the lines with a sample template, then use the generator only for wages actually paid. You can also use the paycheck calculator to estimate gross-to-net pay before preparing a record.

The exact layout can vary, but the purpose stays practical: identify the payday, explain the earnings, itemize deductions, state the amount paid and keep a record that can be reviewed later. Use a blank template if you need a labeled starting point, or choose an example for a household or small business situation.