How to Read Your Pay Stub: A Complete Guide

David Vance, CPA

Senior Payroll & Tax Specialist · Published 2026-10-05 · 6 min read

Whether you view an electronic pay stub through ADP, Gusto, Workday, or receive a printed earnings statement, your pay stub is a vital financial and legal document. It provides a comprehensive record of hours worked, hourly rates, pre-tax deductions, tax withholdings, net pay, and Year-To-Date (YTD) cumulative amounts. Here is how to audit every section of your pay stub to catch costly payroll errors.

Section 1: General Information & Pay Period Dates

Check your legal name, last 4 digits of SSN, employee ID, and most importantly: the Pay Period Begin Date, End Date, and Check Date. Make sure hours billed match the actual period worked.

Section 2: Gross Earnings Breakdown

Lists regular hours, overtime hours, bonuses, commissions, holiday pay, and paid time off (PTO). Multiply your regular hours by your base rate to verify the math.

Section 3: Deductions and Withholdings

Separates pre-tax benefits (401k, health) from statutory withholdings (FIT, SIT, Social Security, Medicare). Compare current pay period deductions against Year-To-Date (YTD) columns.

Section 4: Paid Time Off (PTO) Balances

Displays accrued vacation, sick leave, hours used in the current period, and remaining available hours.

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Common Questions

Notify your employer's HR or payroll department immediately in writing. Employers are required by law to correct withholding errors or issue payroll adjustments.

Retain pay stubs until you receive and verify your annual W-2 form. If you plan to apply for a mortgage, lenders typically request the last 2 to 3 months of pay stubs.