What Goes on a Pay Stub and Why Each Field Exists

A pay stub is a detailed receipt for compensation. It serves both the employee who needs to verify their pay and the lender or landlord who needs to verify income. Every field has a specific purpose and regulatory requirement. Required fields A compliant pay stub typically includes: Employee information: Employee name and address Social Security number (usually last 4 digits only) Employee ID Pay period information: Pay period start and end dates Pay date Pay frequency (weekly, bi-weekly, semi-monthly, monthly) Earnings: Regular hours and rate Overtime hours and rate Gross pay Deductions: Federal income tax withheld State income tax withheld Social Security tax Medicare tax 401k/retirement contributions Health insurance premiums Other deductions Totals: Current period gross, deductions, and net Year-to-date gross, deductions, and net Year-to-date tracking YTD figures are critical for tax planning and loan applications. Lenders use YTD gross income from pay stubs to verify income. The I