Every code and line on your pay stub, decoded on one printable page — so you always know exactly where your money goes.
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TruePayCalc
2026 Pay Stub Decoder
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The 5 Sections of a Pay Stub
1. Gross pay
Total earnings before deductions — salary, hourly, overtime, bonus.
2. Taxes withheld
Federal income tax, Social Security, Medicare, state/local income tax.
3. Pre-tax deductions
401(k), health premiums, HSA/FSA — lower your taxable pay.
4. Post-tax deductions
Roth 401(k), garnishments, union dues — taken after tax.
5. Net pay
Your take-home: gross minus taxes minus deductions.
Abbreviations, Decoded
Code
Meaning
FIT / FED / FITW
Federal Income Tax
FICA
Social Security + Medicare
OASDI / SS
Social Security
MED / FED MED/EE
Medicare
SIT / ST
State Income Tax
Code
Meaning
YTD
Year-to-Date total
REG / OT
Regular / Overtime hours
401K
Retirement contribution (pre-tax)
SEC 125
Pre-tax benefits (health/FSA)
NET
Take-home pay
2026 Payroll Tax Rates
Social Security (OASDI)
6.2% of wages up to $184,500
Medicare
1.45% of all wages (no cap)
Additional Medicare
+0.9% over $200,000 (single) / $250,000 (MFJ)
Combined FICA
7.65% up to the wage base
Gross vs. Net: the gap between the two is usually 20–35% — federal & state income tax, FICA, and any pre-tax benefits. Federal income tax depends on your W-4 and 2026 brackets, not a flat rate.
Check These Every Payday
☐
Hours & rate correct; overtime paid at 1.5×
☐
Filing status matches your W-4
☐
401(k) & benefit amounts are what you elected
☐
YTD totals climbing correctly
truepaycalc.com
More free 2026 tools & guides — Paycheck Calculator · Take-Home by State · Overtime & 1099 Calculators · Pay Raise Calculator · 2026 Tax Cheat Sheet
Want to confirm your net pay is right? Run your numbers through the TruePayCalc calculator — it applies the correct 2026 bracket, filing status, and state schedule and shows every line of the math.