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Sample Paycheck Stub

Why Are Pay Stubs So Important?

Employees may need to use paycheck stubs for things like loans and assistance applications. Paycheck stubs can help employees keep track of hours and budget expenses. They also help the employer by making sure employee information is correct. Some employers add a line on the pay stub stating it is the employees' responsibility to inform them if there are any changes that should be made such as address and withholding information. That way it is on every single paycheck stub and it cannot be said the employee was not informed of their responsibility.

Some common abbreviations used on paycheck stubs:

  • Gross: Earnings before deductions
  • Net: Earnings after deductions
  • Current: Pay period earnings
  • YTD: Year-To-Date
  • REG: regular hours worked
  • OT: overtime hours worked
  • HOL: holiday hours worked
  • VAC: vacation time paid
  • SICK or FL: sick or family leave time paid for
  • FICA: Employee's portion of Social Security paid
  • FICA-MED: Medicare deductions
  • SWT or Fed: Federal withholding Income Tax deductions
  • SWT or State: State Tax withheld
  • LT or Local Tax: County and/or City Tax deductions
  • WC or Work Comp: workman's comp contribution, usually paid by employer
  • INS or MED: insurance or medical savings account deductions
  • Life: life insurance deductions
  • 401K or Ret: tax deferred retirement contribution
  • Garnish: garnishment being taken from employee's check due to money owed
  • Gross Pay: the amount of money you make before deductions

Sample Paycheck Stub

A sample paycheck stub shows examples of what would be on an employee's pay stub. Some deductions are taken before taxes such as insurance and 401(k). These would be deducted from the gross wages before deducting taxes. After tax deductions would be things like donations made through a company fundraiser or garnishments where the employee is still obligated to pay taxes on these deductions from their gross pay and take a deduction for some on their own personal income tax filings.

It is important to keep track of regular, overtime, sick, and vacation pay as it is taxed differently on company year-end returns. It is also necessary to record current and year-to-date (YTD) information. As this example is the employee's first paycheck of the year, they are the same.

Do not print the employee's full Social Security Number or bank account number on the paycheck stub. Employers must pay a percentage of the employee's wage for FICA and Medicare. Some employers add a section listing employer-paid taxes. This sample paycheck stub will be helpful in deciding what should be on the employee's pay stub, but each state may have other deductions that need to be tracked.  

Check with your local taxing authority to find out more.  

Additional Resources
Salary Paycheck Calculator  
Hourly Paycheck Calculator

State Unemployment Insurance (SUI) Tax Rates

Alabama

SUI Tax Rate: 0.14%-5.4%

Alaska

SUI Tax Rate: 1%-5.4%

Arizona

SUI Tax Rate: 0.05%-14.03%

Arkansas

SUI Tax Rate: 0.2%-10.1%

California

SUI Tax Rate: 1.5%-6.2%

Colorado

SUI Tax Rate: 0.81%-12.34%

Connecticut

SUI Tax Rate: 1.1%-7.8%

Delaware

SUI Tax Rate: 0.4%-5.4%

Florida

SUI Tax Rate: 0.10%-5.4%

Georgia

SUI Tax Rate: 0.04%-8.10%

Hawaii

SUI Tax Rate: 0.2%-5.8%

Idaho

SUI Tax Rate: 0.281%-5.4%

Illinois

SUI Tax Rate: 0.750%-7.850%

Indiana

SUI Tax Rate: 0.5%-9.4%

Iowa

SUI Tax Rate: 0.0%-7.0%

Kansas

SUI Tax Rate: 0.16%-6.0%

Kentucky

SUI Tax Rate: 0.3%-9.0%

Louisiana

SUI Tax Rate: 0.09%-6.2%

Maine

SUI Tax Rate: 0.00%-5.75%

Maryland

SUI Tax Rate: 0.30%-7.50%

Massachusetts

SUI Tax Rate: 0.83%-12.65%

Michigan

SUI Tax Rate: 0.06%-10.3%

Minnesota

SUI Tax Rate: 0.1%-9.0%

Mississippi

SUI Tax Rate: 0.20%-5.60%

Missouri

SUI Tax Rate: 0.0%-9.24%

Montana

SUI Tax Rate: 0.00%-6.12%

Nebraska

SUI Tax Rate: 0.0%-5.4%

Nevada

SUI Tax Rate: 0.25%-5.4%

New Hampshire

SUI Tax Rate: 0.1%-7.5%

New Jersey

SUI Tax Rate: 0.4825%-6.2825%

New Mexico

SUI Tax Rate: 0.33%-6.4%

New York

SUI Tax Rate: 2.1%-9.9%

North Carolina

SUI Tax Rate: 0.06%-5.76%

North Dakota

SUI Tax Rate: 0.08%-9.6%

Ohio

SUI Tax Rate: 0.4%-10.1%

Oklahoma

SUI Tax Rate: 0.3%-9.2%

Oregon

SUI Tax Rate: 0.9%-5.4%

Pennsylvania

SUI Tax Rate: 1.419%-14.4684%

Puerto Rico

SUI Tax Rate: 2.0%-5.4%

Rhode Island

SUI Tax Rate: 1.10%-9.70%

South Carolina

SUI Tax Rate: 0.06%-5.46%

South Dakota

SUI Tax Rate: 0%-9.35%

Tennessee

SUI Tax Rate: 0.01%-10%

Texas

SUI Tax Rate: 0.25%-6.25%

Utah

SUI Tax Rate: 0.3%-7.3%

Vermont

SUI Tax Rate: 0.4%-5.4%

Virginia

SUI Tax Rate: 0.10%-6.20%

Washington

SUI Tax Rate: 0.00%-8.12%

Washington DC

SUI Tax Rate: 1.9%-7.4%

West Virginia

SUI Tax Rate: 1.5%-8.5%

Wisconsin

SUI Tax Rate: 0.00%-12.00%

Wyoming

SUI Tax Rate: 0.14%-10.00%

This content is for educational purposes only, is not intended to provide specific legal advice, and should not be used as a substitute for the legal advice of a qualified attorney or other professional. The information may not reflect the most current legal developments, may be changed without notice and is not guaranteed to be complete, correct, or up to date

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