A pay stub is dense, and the abbreviations change between employers. But every stub does the same job: it starts with what you earned, takes out taxes and deductions line by line, and ends with what you were paid, with running totals for the year.
This guide explains each section and the common tax lines with the 2026 federal rules, then adds up a sample stub with a 401(k) deferral and an HSA contribution so you can see why the lines differ. It follows IRS Publication 15 and IRS Topics 751, 753 and 424.
| Section | What it tells you |
|---|---|
| Pay period and pay date | The dates the pay covers and when it was paid |
| Gross pay | Earnings before anything is taken out: hours x rate, salary, overtime, bonuses |
| Pre-tax deductions | Money taken out before income tax is figured, such as a 401(k) deferral or an HSA contribution through a cafeteria plan |
| Taxes | Social Security, Medicare, federal income tax withholding, and state or local tax |
| Post-tax deductions | Items taken after tax, such as union dues or garnishments |
| Net pay | What you actually receive |
| Year to date (YTD) | The running total of each line for the calendar year |
The layout differs between employers and payroll providers, but the lines come from the same few rules.
| Line on your stub | What it is | 2026 rule |
|---|---|---|
| FICA-SS, OASDI or Social Security | Social Security tax | 6.2% of wages up to the $184,500 wage base, then it stops for the year |
| FICA-MED or Medicare | Medicare tax | 1.45% of all wages, no wage base limit |
| Addl Medicare | Additional Medicare Tax | An extra 0.9% on wages above $200,000 in a calendar year |
| Fed W/H or FIT | Federal income tax withholding | Based on the Form W-4 you gave your employer, using IRS withholding tables |
| State or local tax | State or city income tax | Varies; some states have none |
The Social Security line stops once your year-to-date wages reach the wage base, which is why high earners see a bigger paycheck late in the year. If you never gave your employer a properly completed Form W-4, the employer must withhold as if you are single or married filing separately with no other entries on steps 2, 3 or 4.
Labels vary by employer and payroll provider: the names in the first column are common examples, not official IRS terms. Next year's limit: the Social Security wage base is $184,500 for 2026 pay only. The Social Security Administration has announced that the base will increase to $192,300 for 2027.
Take the $60,000 salary paid every two weeks from our net vs gross guide: gross pay of $2,307.69. This sample adds a 5% 401(k) deferral and a $60.00 HSA contribution through a cafeteria plan. The federal withholding of $180.00 is an assumed value from a hypothetical W-4, and the state line assumes no state income tax.
| Line | Amount | How it is figured |
|---|---|---|
| Gross pay | $2,307.69 | $60,000 / 26 |
| 401(k) deferral (pre-tax) | -$115.38 | 5% of gross |
| HSA through cafeteria plan (pre-tax) | -$60.00 | Sample |
| Wages for Social Security and Medicare | $2,247.69 | Gross minus the HSA amount; 401(k) deferrals stay subject to these taxes |
| Social Security tax | -$139.36 | 6.2% x $2,247.69 |
| Medicare tax | -$32.59 | 1.45% x $2,247.69 |
| Wages for federal income tax | $2,132.31 | Gross minus 401(k) and HSA |
| Federal income tax withholding | -$180.00 | Assumed; depends on your Form W-4 |
| Net pay | $1,780.36 | Gross minus every line above |
The 401(k) deferral reduces the wages used for income tax but not the wages used for Social Security and Medicare, while the HSA contribution reduces both. That is why the two pre-tax lines are treated differently above.
Compare the Social Security and Medicare lines with 6.2% and 1.45% of the FICA wages on your stub; a mismatch is worth asking payroll about. Check that your W-4 details are reflected in the federal withholding, that pre-tax deductions match what you elected, and that the year-to-date totals add up from stub to stub. Keep your stubs: at year end your Form W-2 should match the year-to-date figures.
IRS Publication 15 (2026), IRS Topic no. 751, IRS Topic no. 753, Form W-4, IRS Topic no. 424, 401(k) plans.