A pay stub has three parts: what you earned, what was taken out, and what you received. The gap between the first and last numbers is usually 20% to 35% of gross pay for a typical full-time worker.
Gross pay
Gross pay is your salary divided by the number of pay periods, or your hourly rate times hours worked, plus any overtime, bonuses, commissions or tips your employer reports. On a $60,000 salary paid every two weeks, gross pay is $2,307.69 per paycheck.
Pre-tax deductions
Some deductions come out before income tax is figured, which lowers your taxable wages:
- Traditional 401(k) or 403(b) contributions reduce federal and most state income tax, but not Social Security or Medicare.
- Health, dental and vision premiums paid through a Section 125 cafeteria plan reduce income tax and, usually, FICA too.
- HSA and FSA contributions through payroll are also pre-tax.
Taxes
- Federal income tax is withheld based on your Form W-4. The 2026 brackets run from 10% to 37%, and the standard deduction is $16,100 for single filers and $32,200 for married couples filing jointly.
- Social Security (OASDI) is 6.2% of wages up to $184,500 in 2026. Once you pass that amount during the year, it stops.
- Medicare is 1.45% of all wages, plus an extra 0.9% on wages over $200,000.
- State income tax applies in most states. Nine states do not tax wages.
- State programs such as disability insurance or paid family leave show up as separate lines in states like California (SDI), New York (PFL and DBL), New Jersey, Washington, Oregon, Massachusetts and Colorado.
- Local taxes apply in some cities and counties, including New York City, Philadelphia, many Ohio and Pennsylvania municipalities, and Maryland and Indiana counties.
Post-tax deductions
Roth 401(k) contributions, union dues, wage garnishments and some insurance premiums come out after taxes.
Net pay and year-to-date totals
Net pay is what is deposited. The year-to-date (YTD) column adds up every paycheck since January 1, which helps you check whether Social Security has stopped and whether your withholding is on track for tax time.
Check your numbers
Use the paycheck calculator to compare your stub with an estimate. A big gap usually means a W-4 setting, a pre-tax benefit or a local tax the calculator doesn't include. If federal withholding looks off, the IRS Tax Withholding Estimator can help you adjust your W-4.