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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Prefer no email? The full decoder is right below — use “Print / Save as PDF.”
| 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. |
| 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 |
| 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 |
| ☐ | 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 |
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.