Updated June 16, 2026 · 6 min read
A pay stub is the breakdown that comes with your paycheck. It answers the big question — *why is my deposit smaller than my salary?* — by listing your gross pay at the top, every tax and deduction taken out, and your net pay (take-home) at the bottom. Most stubs also show year-to-date (YTD) totals. Here's a labeled example, then every line explained.
Gross pay
Before taxes (this paycheck)
$2,307.69
Federal income tax
Withheld per your W-4
− $193.08
Social Security
6.2% — part of FICA
− $143.08
Medicare
1.45% — part of FICA
− $33.46
California tax
State income tax / SDI
− $99.33
Net pay
What lands in your account
$1,838.75
Gross pay is your earnings before anything comes out — your salary divided by the number of pay periods, plus any overtime, bonuses, or commissions. Net pay (take-home) is what's left after taxes and deductions. The gap between them is everything in the middle of the stub.
Deductions split into two groups. Pre-tax deductions come out before taxes are calculated, so they lower your taxable wages — 401(k), HSA/FSA, and health insurance premiums are the common ones. Post-tax deductions (Roth 401(k), garnishments, union dues) come out after taxes and don't reduce your tax bill.
Most stubs show two numbers per line: this pay period and the running year-to-date total. YTD is useful for checking whether you've hit the Social Security wage base, tracking 401(k) progress toward the annual limit, and estimating your total tax before filing.
A pay stub shows your gross pay, each tax withheld (federal income tax, Social Security, Medicare, and state/local tax), any pre-tax and post-tax deductions, and your net (take-home) pay. Most also include year-to-date totals for each line.
Gross pay is your earnings before any taxes or deductions. Net pay is what remains after federal and state taxes, FICA, and deductions are subtracted — the amount actually deposited to your account.
FICA is the combined Social Security (6.2%) and Medicare (1.45%) payroll tax, totaling 7.65% of your wages. Some stubs label them separately as OASDI and Medicare.
Federal income tax, FICA (7.65%), and often state tax come out of every paycheck, along with any pre-tax deductions like a 401(k) or health insurance. Together these commonly take 20–35% of gross pay.
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