What Is on a Pay Stub? Every Line and Abbreviation Explained
Updated 2026-10-03 · EZStub by Buy One Media LLC
A pay stub shows who was paid, for which period, how much was earned (gross pay), every tax and deduction taken out, and the amount actually paid (net pay), each for the current period and year to date.
The main parts of a pay stub
- Header: employer name and address, employee name, last 4 digits of the SSN, pay period dates and pay date
- Earnings: regular hours and rate, overtime, bonuses, commissions and tips, with gross pay
- Taxes: federal income tax, Social Security, Medicare, and state and local tax
- Deductions: retirement contributions, health insurance, garnishments and other items
- Net pay: gross pay minus all taxes and deductions
- Year-to-date (YTD): running totals for the calendar year
Common pay stub abbreviations
| Abbreviation | Meaning |
|---|---|
| FIT / FWT | Federal income tax withheld |
| SS / OASDI | Social Security tax (6.2%) |
| MED / MEDI | Medicare tax (1.45%) |
| FICA | Social Security plus Medicare |
| SIT / SWT | State income tax withheld |
| LIT | Local income tax |
| YTD | Year to date |
| REG / OT | Regular / overtime hours |
| NET | Net pay (take-home) |
Questions
What is the difference between gross pay and net pay?
Gross pay is what you earned before anything is taken out. Net pay is what you actually receive after taxes and deductions.
What does OASDI mean on a pay stub?
OASDI stands for Old-Age, Survivors and Disability Insurance, the formal name for Social Security tax. In 2026 it is 6.2% of wages up to $184,500.
Why does my year-to-date total matter?
YTD totals show your earnings and taxes for the year so far. They should match your W-2 at year end, and Social Security tax stops once YTD wages pass $184,500 in 2026.
Related
This guide is general information, not tax or legal advice. EZStub creates documents for your records from the figures you enter; it does not file or pay taxes. Pay stubs must reflect pay that was actually made.