What is a pay stub?
A pay stub (also called a paycheck stub, payslip or earnings statement) is the record an employer gives an employee every payday. It shows how the gross pay for the period was worked out, every tax and deduction taken from it, the resulting net pay and the totals for the year so far. Employees use pay stubs to check their pay and to prove income; employers use them to keep clear payroll records.
What a pay stub shows
- Employer and employee details – names, addresses, employee ID and the last four digits of the SSN
- Pay period and pay date
- Earnings – regular hours × rate, overtime at 1.5×, salary, bonuses, commission and tips
- Taxes – federal income tax, Social Security, Medicare and state or local income tax
- Deductions – pre-tax (401(k), health insurance, HSA) and after-tax (Roth contributions, loan repayments, garnishments)
- Net pay – what actually goes into the employee's bank account
- Year-to-date (YTD) totals for every line
How the numbers are calculated
Gross pay = regular hours × rate + overtime hours × rate × 1.5 + other earnings (or annual salary ÷ pay periods). For a $24/hour employee with 80 regular hours and 4 overtime hours on a bi-weekly schedule: 80 × $24 + 4 × $36 = $2,064.
Social Security is 6.2% of wages up to the 2026 wage base of $184,500. Medicare is 1.45% of all wages, plus an extra 0.9% on wages above $200,000 in the year. On $2,064 that is $127.97 and $29.93.
Federal income tax is estimated by annualizing the taxable pay (gross minus pre-tax deductions × pay periods), subtracting the 2026 standard deduction ($16,100 single, $32,200 married filing jointly, $24,150 head of household), applying the 2026 tax brackets and dividing back by the number of pay periods. Real withholding also depends on the employee's W-4 (extra withholding, dependents, other income), so enter the exact amount from your payroll system if you have it.
Net pay = gross pay − taxes − all deductions.
Pay frequency and pay periods
| Frequency | Pay periods per year | Typical for |
|---|---|---|
| Weekly | 52 | Hourly, construction, hospitality |
| Bi-weekly | 26 | The most common US schedule |
| Semi-monthly | 24 | Salaried office staff (1st and 15th) |
| Monthly | 12 | Some salaried roles and small employers |
Who needs a pay stub generator?
- Small employers paying a few employees by check or bank transfer without a payroll service
- Household employers paying a nanny, caregiver or housekeeper
- Owners paying themselves a salary through an LLC or S corporation
- Employees who need a clear copy of an existing payslip for their records
Many US states require employers to give employees a written or electronic wage statement every payday, and some list exactly what it must show – such as hours worked, rates, deductions and the employer's name and address. Check your state labor department's rules.
Related tools
Estimate take-home pay before you hire with the paycheck calculator, total weekly hours and overtime with the time card calculator, and convert between salary and hourly pay with the salary to hourly calculator. Contractors who are not employees should send an invoice instead of receiving a pay stub.
This tool gives estimates for record-keeping and is not tax or payroll advice. Withholding rules, local taxes and state requirements vary; check with a payroll provider or tax professional.
Frequently asked questions
Is this pay stub generator free?
Yes. It is completely free, with no sign-up and no watermark. Download as many pay stubs as you need.
Are the tax calculations accurate?
Social Security and Medicare follow the 2026 rates and wage base exactly. Federal income tax is an estimate based on the 2026 brackets and standard deduction; actual withholding depends on each employee's W-4, so enter the exact figure from your payroll records when you have it. State tax uses the percentage you enter.
Can I make a pay stub for a salaried employee?
Yes. Choose Salary as the pay type and enter the annual salary – it is divided by the number of pay periods for the frequency you pick.
How is the year-to-date (YTD) figure calculated?
It multiplies the current-period amounts by the number of pay periods so far this year, which is filled in from the pay date. If pay varied during the year, adjust the number of periods or note the real YTD totals in the message box.
Is it legal to make my own pay stubs?
Yes, for wages that were actually paid – employers do it every payday. Creating a pay stub with false income, employers or dates to obtain a loan, rental or benefits is fraud and illegal.
Is my data stored?
No. The pay stub is built in your browser and saved only on your own device so it is ready for next payday. Nothing is uploaded.
