Paycheck Breakdown Guide: Read Every Line of Your Pay Stub

Understanding Your Paycheck

Your paycheck contains a wealth of information. Here's a line-by-line guide to understanding every section.

Section 1: Personal Information

• Employee name and address
• SSN (usually last 4 digits: XXX-XX-1234)
• Employee ID number
• Department or cost center

Section 2: Company Information

• Employer name and address
• EIN (Employer Identification Number)
• Pay date and check number

Section 3: Pay Period Details

• Pay period start and end dates
• Pay frequency (Weekly/Bi-Weekly/Semi-Monthly/Monthly)
• Hours worked (regular and overtime)

Section 4: Earnings

Section 5: Deductions

Pre-Tax Deductions

• 401(k) / 403(b) contributions
• Health/dental/vision insurance
• HSA / FSA contributions
• Commuter benefits

Tax Withholdings

• Federal income tax (FIT)
• Social Security (SS/OASDI)
• Medicare (MED)
• State income tax (SIT)
• Local taxes (if applicable)

Post-Tax Deductions

• Roth 401(k) contributions
• Life insurance (excess of $50k)
• Union dues
• Garnishments

Section 6: Summary

• Gross pay — Total before deductions
• Total deductions — All deductions combined
• Net pay — Your take-home amount

Section 7: Year-to-Date (YTD)

Cumulative totals for the calendar year. Compare your final YTD to your W-2 for accuracy.