Free Pay Stub Generator
Create professional pay stubs online for free. Enter employee hours, earnings, taxes, and deductions — net pay and YTD totals calculate automatically. Print or save as PDF.
Create Pay Stub →Pay Stub Generator
Enter employer and employee details, add earnings and deductions, then print or save as PDF. No account required.
Employer Information
Employee Information
Pay Period
Earnings
Taxes & Deductions
Other Deductions
Year-to-Date (Prior Periods)
Enter cumulative totals from previous pay periods. Current period will be added automatically.
What's on a Pay Stub
Employer & Employee Information
Company name, address, and EIN. Employee name, address, ID number, and last four digits of SSN.
Earnings
Regular hours and pay rate, overtime hours and rate (typically 1.5x), bonuses, commissions, and any other compensation. Shows both current period and year-to-date totals.
Taxes
Federal income tax, state income tax, Social Security (6.2%), and Medicare (1.45%). Rates vary by employee W-4 elections and state of residence.
Deductions
Pre-tax deductions (health insurance, 401k, HSA, FSA) reduce taxable income. Post-tax deductions (Roth 401k, garnishments, union dues) are taken after taxes.
Net Pay
Gross pay minus all taxes and deductions. This is the amount deposited into the employee's bank account or printed on their paycheck.
2026 FICA Tax Rates
| Tax | Employee Rate | Employer Rate | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Social Security | 6.2% | 6.2% | Up to the annual wage base limit |
| Medicare | 1.45% | 1.45% | Additional 0.9% on earnings above $200K (employee only) |
| Total FICA | 7.65% | 7.65% | Combined Social Security + Medicare |
Federal income tax rates vary based on the employee's W-4 filing status. State tax rates vary by state — nine states have no state income tax (Alaska, Florida, Nevada, New Hampshire, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Washington, Wyoming). See our state labor law guides for details.
Tips for Accurate Pay Stubs
Track time accurately
Pay stub accuracy starts with accurate time records. Use time tracking software instead of manual timesheets to capture exact hours worked, including overtime.
Keep W-4 forms current
Ask employees to update their W-4 after major life events (marriage, new child, second job). Outdated W-4s lead to incorrect tax withholdings.
Verify overtime calculations
Federal law (FLSA) requires 1.5x pay for hours over 40 per week. Some states like California also require daily overtime after 8 hours. Double-check your state requirements.
Retain pay records
The FLSA requires employers to keep payroll records for at least 3 years. Many states require longer. Store pay stubs securely and provide copies to employees.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about pay stubs.
A pay stub (also called a paycheck stub or earnings statement) is a document that accompanies each paycheck and shows a breakdown of earnings, taxes withheld, deductions, and net pay for a specific pay period. It also typically includes year-to-date totals.
It depends on the state. Most US states require employers to provide pay stubs in some form — either printed or electronic. Some states like California, Colorado, and New York mandate detailed pay stubs with specific information. Check your state labor laws for exact requirements.
A complete pay stub includes: employer name and address, employee name and ID, pay period dates, gross earnings (hours worked, pay rate, overtime), federal and state tax withholdings, Social Security and Medicare (FICA), pre-tax deductions (health insurance, 401k), post-tax deductions, net pay, and year-to-date totals.
Federal income tax is calculated based on the employee's W-4 filing status and allowances, applied to the IRS tax brackets. This generator uses a flat percentage rate for simplicity. For accurate payroll, use the IRS withholding tables or consult a payroll provider.
FICA (Federal Insurance Contributions Act) taxes include Social Security (6.2% of gross pay, up to the annual wage base limit) and Medicare (1.45% of all gross pay, with an additional 0.9% on earnings above $200,000). Both the employer and employee pay these taxes.
Pre-tax deductions (like 401k contributions and health insurance premiums) are subtracted from gross pay before calculating income taxes, which reduces your taxable income. Post-tax deductions (like Roth 401k, garnishments, or union dues) are subtracted after taxes are calculated.
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